Who's been to Colorado/Skiing?

[GeorgeG.]

We're getting ready for our little vacation and have never been skiing. The wife found a resale shop in Plano that sells used ski clothes/gear. We found some good deals for the pants, jackets and gloves. I already have my base layer from my hunting gear and I've ordered a helmet and goggles on ebay.

Only thing left is boots. I really don't want to buy a pair of snow boots to use one time, or at best a handful of times if I go back over the years. I'm wondering how well would my Thinsulate-lined hunting boots would hold up. The last pair I bought was from Academy and the water proof membrane must have developed a crack cause they leak a little. I'd prefer to invest in a pair of boots that be can used for other activities(hunting).

Anyone know?

[whitetrash]

if you mean boots for the skis just rent them. thats what i did when i went snowboading in NM. outside of that i just wore plain boots around town

[GeorgeG.]

no, not ski boots. We're planning on renting the those with the ski's. I'm talking about boots to just walk around in...to and from restaurants, stores, etc.

So plain boots was good enough and kept the water out? I'm assuming tennis shoes are out?

[whitetrash]

yeah thats all i had and was fine. its not like you will be walking through 6 inches of snow everywhere. they shovel and plow.

[slow99]

I just got back from Breckenridge yesterday. Crazy amounts of snow, couple feet deep several places we went. Breckenridge set the record for January snowfall and they had about 36 inches the days before and while we were there. I bought a pair of Brazos waterproof work boots from Academy for $29.99 and was perfectly fine ... better off than my buddies with high dollar boots.

Thick ski socks are a must as well.

[txsr20de]

no, not ski boots. We're planning on renting the those with the ski's. I'm talking about boots to just walk around in...to and from restaurants, stores, etc.

So plain boots was good enough and kept the water out? I'm assuming tennis shoes are out?

Any insulated waterproof boots would be fine. As long as you aren't planning on trudging through deep snow, I usually get by with rubber soled cowboy boots. Walking from the car into restaurants, stores, etc.

[slow99]

How much skiing do you plan on doing? We had zero and negative temps and I was damned glad I purchased the whole-head/face balaclava.

[GeorgeG.]

How much skiing do you plan on doing? We had zero and negative temps and I was damned glad I purchased the whole-head/face balaclava.

I really have no idea. We'll be there for 4 days so at least two of them will be skiing. I thought about those balaclava's but wasn't sure if it was necessary...I'll check them out.

[slow99]

I really have no idea. We'll be there for 4 days so at least two of them will be skiing. I thought about those balaclava's but wasn't sure if it was necessary...I'll check them out.

Was my very first time skiing too - I was done with it after about 30 minutes, lmao.

[95ragtop]

We've had a ridiculous amount of snow the past 2 weeks, but like whitetrash said, most places will shovel/plow the walkways so you don't need anything crazy. Just don't wear tennis shoes.

[GeorgeG.]

Was my very first time skiing too - I was done with it after about 30 minutes, lmao.

awe man... that's discouraging, lol. Hopefully we'll have a good time.

Thanks for the info guys.

[slow99]

awe man... that's discouraging, lol. Hopefully we'll have a good time.

Thanks for the info guys.

I started on a run that was way too advanced for a beginner. We followed the judgment of a friend who'd been to Breck before rather than asking around about the correct slope. I'll go again and start on a beginner run.

[GE]

Suck up the pride and take lessons. As a first timer, probably should have rented/borrowed a lot of that stuff. As said earlier, most places have most/all of the snow shoveled out of the way. If you rent gear at the mountain, you can store your shoes/snow boots at the place you rent from. And like Jody said, get good ski socks, you can get them at Warming Hut in Richardson for about $16/pair.

[Lone Sailor]

I started on a run that was way too advanced for a beginner. We followed the judgment of a friend who'd been to Breck before rather than asking around about the correct slope. I'll go again and start on a beginner run.

Nothing like getting duped by a friend.

[Baron Von Crowder]

When I went, I went to ski school and it was well worth it. It came pretty natural for me, so I ended up getting signed off on early and was on the blacks with my dad by the end of the second day.