Buying Skis for Kids

Selecting the right skis for your kids will help them progress and, most importantly, have fun. You should choose skis suitable for on-piste, as this is where your child can easily learn and develop their skills, unless they have already specialized in a particular discipline. When choosing skis for your kids, it's also important to select skis appropriate for their experience level, as beginner skis are softer and more forgiving compared to advanced skis.

Renting equipment is always an option, but buying a pair for your kids will let them get familiar with the skis and be confident on them. Plus, you can avoid the busy rental shops at the start of your holiday!

PISTE SKIS - The best skis for staying on-piste

Piste skis are an excellent choice for your child to spend time on the piste practicing the basics or perfecting their technique in a learner-friendly environment. These skis are narrow in design, providing maximum grip and control on the snow.

ALL MOUNTAIN SKIS - The best all-round skis for kids

All Mountain skis are also beginner-friendly as they are very forgiving, and their design enables adventurous kids to better handle some off-piste conditions, allowing easier turns in heavy snow.

Shop for Kids Skis

We also have specialized types of skis for kids who are already experienced and want to try different types of skiing such as Park, Racing, or Freeride. If that's something that interests you, we recommend reading our Ski Buying Guide for Experienced Skiers, where we describe these types of skis in more detail.

Choose the Right Ski Length

Ensuring your child is using the correct skis for their size and ability will help them learn faster and enjoy more. The most determining factor is height, and since most children are height and weight proportioned, a ski that falls between their chest and eyebrows is acceptable.

A child learning to ski for the first time should have skis that reach closer to their chest height. Similarly, an experienced and advanced child should use skis that reach closer to their eyebrow height.

The picture illustrates the ski length for a beginner (your height minus 35 cm)

	Kid's skis
First-timer	Your height minus 40 cm
Beginner	Your height minus 35 cm
Intermediate	Your height minus 30 cm
Advanced	Your height minus 15 cm
Expert	Your height minus 5 cm

Skis With or Without Bindings

Kids' skis can come with or without bindings, but we generally advise selecting skis with bindings as they are easily adjustable and ensure good performance. This option is suitable for all ski abilities and particularly beneficial for beginners to intermediates.

Skis without bindings are typically found in specialized categories like Park, Freeride, and Touring, where purchasing bindings separately is required. If your child is intermediate or above, selecting skis and bindings separately is a good option as you can customize the equipment. More information on bindings can be found in the Buying alpine ski bindings guide.

Other Ski Equipment

Ski Boots

Boots can significantly impact a child's skiing experience, and rental boots can often be uncomfortable. When investing in a pair, the most important factor is to get the correct size and boot type.

The boot size is measured in centimeters and represents the length of the foot from the back of the heel to the tip of the toe. You can measure your child's feet using a ruler or tape measure. Children's boots are generally soft in flexibility and can have between 1 and 4 buckles.

There are also race boots for advanced children interested in racing. They are significantly more expensive and have a high boot flex (60 to 90).

Ski Poles

If your child is new to skiing, you do not need to invest in ski poles right away. A good time to introduce poles will be after they have learned the basics and are skiing confidently.

Tip: Introducing your kids to ski poles. Ensure that once you introduce your kids to ski poles, they use them correctly, and they are not holding them loosely or dragging them behind, as it will be more difficult to unlearn these mistakes afterward.

To find the right size of ski poles, you can refer to our Ski Pole Length Size chart.

Helmet

This is an essential piece of equipment that your child must have. Regardless of whether they are a novice or a pro, the risk of injury remains the same. In addition to protecting the head, it can provide warmth and boost your child's confidence, which are great added benefits. Many countries have laws mandating that children wear helmets for skiing. For more information, you can read How to wear your helmet or Lifespan of helmets.

Goggles, gloves, and suitable clothing are some of the other essentials you'll need to enjoy your time on the slopes. You can find all of these on our website: The ultimate ski and snowboard goggles guide.

Check out our selection of skiwear and snow clothing

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