Skis 'r SO heavy!

fatlazyless · 10-12-2025, 09:48 AM

Downhill skis have become SO unbelievably flipp'n heavy. Looking at many different used downhill skis with bindings at a local community tent sale, I was really impressed with their weight. They are incredibly heavy, like maybe ten pounds per ski and binding, each. That's a lot of weight to control while skiing downhill.

Prices were mostly $100-$200/pair with some at $250/pair for good quality second hand, used skis.

Cross country skis are the opposite, they are very light weight.

So, what do I do? Go downhill or go cross country? For twenty bucks I bought a pair of used but in excellent condition, Alpina Approach 210-cm cross country touring skis w/ bindings with mucho spring tension at the middle.

Is easy to see why downhill skiers are always breaking their legs, knees, and hips because all their equipment, skis, boots and bindings is SO flipp'n heavy. With skis SO heavy, are you controlling the skis or are the skis controlling you?

8gv · 10-12-2025, 02:21 PM

Get some snow blades.

They are more fun for tricks like going down the mountain backward.

As an additional feature they are one of the quickest rides to the hospital!

fatlazyless · 10-13-2025, 07:36 AM

I figure that skis, boots, and bindings all together weigh in at 25 to 30-lbs, total.

A good pair of athletic/walking sneakers made by New Balance or Skechers probably weigh maybe 1 1/2-lb/pair sneakers. That's like a huge huge difference of 1.5-lbs vs 25 to 30-lbs for walking vs skiing.

Downhill skis, boots and bindings used to be a lot lighter but somehow they have morphed into some heavy weight skiing equipment.

10-12-2025, 09:48 AM	#1
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,907 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 304 Thanked 1,048 Times in 764 Posts	Skis 'r SO heavy! Downhill skis have become SO unbelievably flipp'n heavy. Looking at many different used downhill skis with bindings at a local community tent sale, I was really impressed with their weight. They are incredibly heavy, like maybe ten pounds per ski and binding, each. That's a lot of weight to control while skiing downhill. Prices were mostly $100-$200/pair with some at $250/pair for good quality second hand, used skis. Cross country skis are the opposite, they are very light weight. So, what do I do? Go downhill or go cross country? For twenty bucks I bought a pair of used but in excellent condition, Alpina Approach 210-cm cross country touring skis w/ bindings with mucho spring tension at the middle. Is easy to see why downhill skiers are always breaking their legs, knees, and hips because all their equipment, skis, boots and bindings is SO flipp'n heavy. With skis SO heavy, are you controlling the skis or are the skis controlling you?

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

10-12-2025, 02:21 PM	#2
8gv Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 2,127 Thanks: 64 Thanked 753 Times in 487 Posts	Get some snow blades. They are more fun for tricks like going down the mountain backward. As an additional feature they are one of the quickest rides to the hospital!

10-13-2025, 07:36 AM	#3
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,907 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 304 Thanked 1,048 Times in 764 Posts	I figure that skis, boots, and bindings all together weigh in at 25 to 30-lbs, total. A good pair of athletic/walking sneakers made by New Balance or Skechers probably weigh maybe 1 1/2-lb/pair sneakers. That's like a huge huge difference of 1.5-lbs vs 25 to 30-lbs for walking vs skiing. Downhill skis, boots and bindings used to be a lot lighter but somehow they have morphed into some heavy weight skiing equipment.