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That box in the loft has been sitting there since April, and if you're anything like most skiers and boarders, you won't think about it again until the night before you fly. We see it every winter at Snowtrax. Gear gets dragged out at the last minute, and someone discovers a seized binding, a mouldy boot liner, or edges you could run your finger along without a scratch. The good news is that almost all of it is fixable, as long as you catch it early.
So before the season creeps up on you, pull everything out now and run through this 10-point check. It only takes twenty minutes, and it'll tell you exactly what's still good to go, what needs a trip to our workshop, and what's finally reached the end of the road.
The short version: check your boot shells, buckles, bases, edges, bindings, touring kit, helmet, goggles, gloves and outerwear, then re-check the fit of anything belonging to a growing child. Here's how to do each one properly.
1. Boot Shells
Start with your boots, because they're the most important bit of kit you own and the one people overlook most. Look over the plastic shell for hairline cracks, especially around the buckles and the flex zone at the ankle, then press the liner to see if it's packed out and lost its shape. Crucially, check the soles. Worn, rounded toe and heel lugs stop your bindings releasing correctly, which is a real safety issue rather than ordinary wear and tear. If the soles are worn or the shell is cracked, come and talk to us about a new pair from our ski boots range.
2. Boot Buckles & Straps
A boot is only as good as the bits that hold it shut. Work every buckle through its full range and check the micro-adjust threads still turn smoothly rather than seizing or slipping. Give the power strap a firm pull to make sure the stitching and Velcro haven't perished. The good news is that a snapped buckle or worn strap almost never means a new boot. Most are replaceable, so pop in with your boots or give us a call and we'll try to find a replacement part.
3. Ski & Board Bases
Lay your skis or board base-up in good light and look across the surface. A few light scratches are normal and nothing to worry about, but deep gouges that reach down to the core need repairing before they let water in and cause bigger problems. A chalky, greyish-white base is a sign it's dried out and ready for a wax. With years of experience in our workshop, anything more than a surface scratch is usually something we can put right before you go away.
4. Edges
Run a fingernail (carefully) along the edges. They should feel clean and defined, not rough with burrs or dotted with orange rust. Blunt or rusted edges are the number one reason skis feel like they're skidding and won't grip on hard, icy pistes, and it usually gets mistaken for bad technique. A professional edge tune brings them back to life and completely changes how the ski holds a turn. It's one of the most worthwhile jobs we do.
5. Bindings
Click into your bindings (boots on, on a flat floor) and check they engage cleanly and the brakes snap down when you step out. Look for cracked plastic or corrosion around the springs. One firm rule here: never adjust your own DIN settings. The release values that keep you safe depend on your weight, height, ability and boot sole length, and they need to be set and tested by a trained professional. Bring your skis in and our technicians will check and set them properly as part of a service. It really isn't a DIY job.
6. Touring & Splitboard Kit
If you head off-piste, give your specialist kit the same attention. Check climbing skins for glue that's lost its tack and for tips or tails that are lifting, then make sure leashes, brakes and any release mechanisms move freely. Skins in particular don't like being stored damp, so if yours have seen better days, take a look at our climbing skins and crampons before your first tour.
7. Helmet
Here's one people don't want to hear: helmets don't last forever. Check the shell for cracks and the internal foam for any crushing or compression, and be honest about its history. If it's taken a significant knock, it's done its job and needs replacing even if it looks fine, because the protective foam only works once. As a rule of thumb, most manufacturers suggest replacing a helmet every three to five years anyway. If yours is ageing or has had an impact, browse our ski helmets.
8. Goggles
Hold your goggles up to the light and check the lens for delamination, which looks like a cloudy, bubbling layer inside the lens. Check whether the foam around the frame has gone hard or started to crumble too. Give the inside a gentle look while you're there, because once the anti-fog coating wears off you'll spend your holiday skiing blind through a misted-up lens. If the foam's perished or the anti-fog has given up, it's worth a fresh pair from our ski goggles range.
9. Gloves & Outerwear
Pull out your jacket, pants and gloves and check the waterproofing still works. Flick a few drops of water on the fabric and see if it beads up or soaks straight in. Test every zip, and look over the taped seams inside for any that are lifting. Gloves are usually the first to go, with worn palms and leaky seams. A wash-in reproofer can restore tired outerwear brilliantly, and you'll find everything you need in our garment care collection, along with fresh ski gloves if yours are past saving.
10. Fit Check for Growing Feet
Last one, and it's for the parents. Kids can jump a shoe size or more between seasons, and last year's boots being even slightly too small will make them miserable on the mountain: cold, cramped and put off skiing altogether. Have them try on boots and check ski length while you're at it. If anything's snug, our Boot Lab team will get them into the right size properly, so the whole trip goes better.
Why Trust Snowtrax?
We don't just sell this gear. We live in it, we test it, and we fix it every single day. Our workshop technicians service hundreds of pairs of skis and boards each season, and our Boot Lab team has fitted more feet than we could ever count. #WeTestWeKnow isn't a slogan for us; it's how we've always worked. So when we tell you a base needs repairing or a helmet's had its day, it's advice built on decades of hands-on experience rather than a sales pitch.
What To Do Next
Once you've been through all ten points, everything you've found will fall into one of two piles.
We can sort this for you: base repairs, edge tuning, hot waxing and binding safety checks are all everyday jobs in our workshop, and turnaround is quickest now, before the pre-season rush. Snapped buckles, worn straps and tired outerwear are cheap, easy fixes too.
Time to replace: cracked boot shells or worn soles, a helmet that's taken a knock, delaminated goggles, or kids' boots that no longer fit. These are the safety-critical items where it really isn't worth the risk.