National Geographic Traveller (UK)
Rent & return
AS MORE RETAILERS OFFER TOP-QUALITY SKI GEAR FOR HIRE, LOOKING STYLISH ON THE SLOPES JUST GOT MORE AFFORDABLE. WORDS: ABIGAIL BUTCHER
Although renting ski kit is not a novel concept, the leasing of good quality, high-performance skiwear and accessories is new terrain. With the fashion industry championing rental schemes as a way to combat global carbon emissions, the outdoors and sportswear industry is now following suit. Start-up enterprise EcoSki launched skiwear rental for men, women and children in September 2021 in conjunction with My Wardrobe HQ, a project that soon mushroomed. Last Christmas and New Year, and then again over the February 2022 half-term, almost every item in its range was booked.
“We’re envisaging rental to grow far bigger than sales,” says EcoSki founder Rachael Westbrook. “People are interested mainly from a fashion perspective, but find it fulfils environmental ethics, too. It also works well as a try-before-you-buy option.”
Decathlon swiftly followed suit in January 2022, linking with Hirestreet to trial the rental of 18 different styles for women; the French sporting goods retailer has said it plans to extend its rental programme to offer ski clothing rental for men and children. Then in March, equipment manufacturer Rab launched a rental system for clothing, sleeping bags and backpacks.
Picture Organic — which launched a kit rental service in France last year — is expected to bring the concept to the UK before long. Picture Organic customer Laura Christopherson recently rented ski clothing from the company, and from EcoSki for her sons, 10 and 13, who had outgrown everything from their last ski trip. “They never wear the same things a year later,” says Laura. “I was frantically trying to borrow ski gear as it never sits well to buy for one year’s use only.”
Laura says she managed to rent outfits, including ski gloves, goggles, salopettes and ski jackets at a lower cost than she would have spent buying the cheapest gear.