Key takeaway: On October 16, 2026, the biggest gaps between listed price and list price among the deals in this guide were on last season's (2025/2026) snowboards, boots and bindings, about 40% below list, so if you need a specific size, now is a strong window; if you're flexible, late-season sales (March–April) may go lower, and local swaps this month are a good bet for used and kids' gear.
Disclosure: Powder Deals earns a commission when you buy through some links on this page, at no extra cost to you. Each affiliate link below carries the same note.
Start here: new to skiing or riding, or kitting out a first-timer? Our First Day on Snow checklist covers what you need before you shop the sales below.
The Short Answer: When to Buy Ski Gear
The only price numbers in this guide come from one data series: the merchant product pages for the deals linked below, checked October 16, 2026, comparing each item's listed price with the merchant's list (compare-at) price on that day. The month-by-month table names the dated public source behind each timing note and has no price figures. Everything else is general retail-season guidance, not figures from our data.
Snow's coming and the wall of new skis is going up. The best time to buy depends on what you're buying and how picky you are about the exact model and size. Here's the season at a glance:
- October (preseason): best for last season's skis, boards, boots and bindings, plus local ski swaps. Sizes are still decent.
- Black Friday to Cyber Monday: good for outerwear, helmets, goggles and accessories, and sometimes a first markdown on current-season gear.
- Post-holiday (January): mixed. Some leftover gift-season stock gets marked down, but this is peak riding season, so popular sizes go fast.
- End of season (March–April): often the deepest markdowns on whatever is left of the current line, but size runs are thin.
If you need a specific ski in a specific length, buy earlier. If you'll take whatever's left in a size close to yours, wait.
Month-by-Month: When Each Category Goes on Sale
Skis, snowboards and boots have historically been discounted hardest in spring (late March to May), while October is the month for the best size selection, last season's models and ski swaps. The table shows the months each category has been discounted according to the dated public sources named in each row, plus our Buy-or-Wait read for today, October 16, 2026. These sources describe past seasons; they don't promise what 2026-27 prices will do.
Last season's models are where most of the discounts sit right now. Among the deals we checked on October 16, the biggest gaps from list price were on 2025/2026 and past-season gear: the same skis and boards from the previous model year, priced to make room for the new line.
| Category | When discounts have shown up (source) | Buy or Wait (Oct 16, 2026) | Live listings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skis | Late March through April is the spring "sweet spot," with sales running March to May (PTO Ski & Snowboard, May 25, 2026). SnowBrains (April 1, 2026) also puts ski sales at the end of the season, as spring approaches. | Buy now if you need a specific length for this season and last season's model comes in your size. Wait for spring if you're flexible on model and length. | Browse skis (affiliate links: we may earn a commission) |
| Snowboards and bindings | End-of-season sales typically start in early April and cover boards, boots, bindings and jackets; the new season's gear lands around September or October at full price (SnowBrains, April 5, 2026). | Buy now if last season's board is listed in your length. Wait until April if you'll take whatever's left near your size. | Browse snowboards (affiliate links: we may earn a commission) |
| Boots | Posters on the SkiTalk forum (thread from March 2, 2026) said the best prices come at the end of the season and the best selection and boot-fitter availability come in October. PTO Ski & Snowboard (May 25, 2026) lists boot markdowns in April and May. | Buy now if you need boots this season: fit matters more than price, and fitters get booked up once lifts open. Wait for spring only if your current boots will last the season. | Ski boots and snowboard boots (affiliate links: we may earn a commission) |
| Outerwear | Retailers start putting winter coats on clearance in January, and most coat clearance happens in the first three months of the year (The Krazy Coupon Lady, updated December 1, 2021). PTO Ski & Snowboard (May 25, 2026) includes outerwear in its March-to-May sale window. | Wait for Black Friday or January if your current jacket and pants still work. Buy now if you need a specific size before your first trip. | Browse outerwear (affiliate links: we may earn a commission) |
| Kids' gear | KATU News (Portland, January 2, 2014) advised starting the hunt for used kids' gear in mid-October, when selection is best. The swaps listed below run in late October. | Buy now, used at a swap or last season's model new. Kids outgrow gear fast, so the current season's model rarely pays off. | Browse kids' gear (affiliate links: we may earn a commission) |
The live listings links search Powder Deals for that category. Results can include accessories and items that have since sold out, so check the size and stock on the merchant's page before you buy.
Preseason (October): Last Season's Gear Is the Sweet Spot
Among the deals we checked on October 16, 2026, the biggest gaps between listed price and the merchant's list price were on last season's models. Several 2025/2026 snowboards, boots, bindings and skis at Equipe Sport were listed about 30–40% below list, and Black Diamond's past-season Impulse skis were listed about 30% below list. The current 2026/2027 Volkl Manta 84 was listed about 14% below list.
That's the model-year changeover at work: shops want last year's stock gone before the new line takes over the wall, and you get new, never-ridden gear for less. Sizes are still reasonably deep in October, which is why it beats waiting for spring if you have a specific length in mind.
If you're weighing a past-season, blem or demo deal, our guide to blem vs past-season vs demo gear explains what each label really gets you.
Ski Swaps This Season
Swaps are one of the cheapest ways to kit out kids or grab a used setup, and two big ones are still ahead. Dates as of October 18, 2026, from each organizer's page. Confirm with the organizer before you go.
- Community Ski & Sport Swap (Steamboat Springs, CO): Saturday, Oct 24, in Olympian Hall and on the back lawn at Howelsen Hill. Early-bird shopping 10 to 11 a.m. ($15 at the door), free public shopping 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Organizer's page
- Avalanche Sale (Phoenix, AZ): Friday, Oct 30, to Sunday, Nov 1, at the Phoenix Convention Center South Building. Organizer's page
Not sure what to buy used and what to buy new? Our ski swap season guide breaks it down by category. Short version: fast-growing kids' gear and poles are great swap buys; helmets and avalanche beacons are better bought new.
Black Friday: Best for Outerwear and Accessories
Black Friday is a timing call, not a price promise: it's a good week to shop jackets, pants, helmets, goggles and gloves, and it's often when current-season hardgoods see their first promotions. Many retailers run sitewide promotions that cover soft goods and accessories, and those categories don't depend on finding one exact ski length. This is general retail-season guidance, not a figure from our data.
The catch is timing, not price: last season's skis and boards that are marked down in October may be sold out in common sizes by late November. If you've found last season's model in your size now, waiting means betting your size is still there after Thanksgiving. Set a price alert on anything you're watching, and look at its recent prices on the deal page before you buy.
Post-Holiday (January): Mixed Bag
January can bring markdowns on leftover gift-season stock, but it's not a reliable bargain window for hardgoods. It's peak riding season, so popular sizes may not need a price cut to sell. It's worth a look for outerwear and accessories. Don't wait until January for a specific ski you need for opening day.
End of Season (March–April): Deepest Cuts, Thinnest Sizes
Late season often brings the deepest markdowns on the current line, as shops typically clear inventory before the next model year arrives. The trade-off is selection: common sizes go first, and you'll be daydreaming about first chair all summer. It's a great window if you're flexible, or if you're buying for next season and don't mind waiting to ride it.
Model-Year Changeover, Explained
Ski and snowboard brands release a new line each season, and the arrival of the new line is usually what pushes last season's gear onto sale. A "2025/2026" board and a "2026/2027" board can be nearly identical, with only new graphics, or the newer version can have a new shape, core or construction.
- Carryover models with new graphics only: the past-season version is basically the same ride for less.
- Updated models: read what changed and decide whether the update matters to you.
What to Look For Before You Buy
- Size first, price second. A ski or board in the wrong length or a boot in the wrong size is no deal at any price.
- Model year. Check which season it is and what changed in the newer version.
- Binding compatibility. Make sure ski bindings match your boot sole (alpine, GripWalk, touring) and that snowboard bindings fit your boot size.
- Recent prices. Each Powder Deals deal page shows the prices we've recorded for that item. If it was listed lower in the past few days, consider setting an alert and waiting. If the price has held steady and your size is still listed, buying now is reasonable.
- Return policy. Read it before you buy, especially for boots.
Deals Worth a Look Right Now
Prices and sizes below were listed at each merchant on October 16, 2026 and can change at any time. Every link goes to the deal on Powder Deals. Our deal pages update when the merchant's feed does, so a deal page can briefly show an older price; the price at the merchant's checkout is the one that counts.
Past-season and 2025/2026 skis
- Black Diamond Impulse Ti 98 Skis (Past Season): listed at $559.97 (list $799.95) at Black Diamond Equipment, in 182 and 189 cm. Best for an all-mountain daily driver. See the deal (affiliate link: we may earn a commission)
- Black Diamond Impulse Ti 104 Skis (Past Season): listed at $594.97 (list $849.95) at Black Diamond Equipment, in 172, 179 and 186 cm. Best for riders who want more float on storm days. See the deal (affiliate link: we may earn a commission)
- Volkl Revolt 96 Flat Skis (Winter 2025/2026): listed at $419.99 (list $599) at Equipe Sport, in 157 and 165 cm. Best for a playful twin tip that splits time between the park and the rest of the mountain. See the deal (affiliate link: we may earn a commission)
Last season's snowboards, boots and bindings
- Burton Rewind Camber Snowboard (Winter 2025/2026): listed at $317.97 (list $529.95) at Equipe Sport, in the 148 cm length only. See the deal (affiliate link: we may earn a commission)
- GNU Wagyu Snowboard (Winter 2025/2026): listed at $329.99 (list $549.99) at Equipe Sport, in 155 and 158. Best for park and all-mountain freestyle. See the deal (affiliate link: we may earn a commission)
- Burton Men's Ruler BOA Snowboard Boots (Winter 2025/2026): listed at $215.97 (list $359.95) at Equipe Sport, in sizes 8 and 11.5. See the deal (affiliate link: we may earn a commission)
- Burton Women's Escapade Re:Flex Bindings (Winter 2025/2026): listed at $239.97 (list $399.95) at Equipe Sport, in M and L (black). See the deal (affiliate link: we may earn a commission)
- Burton Kids' Smalls Snowboard (Winter 2025/2026): listed at $209.97 (list $349.95) at Equipe Sport, in 130, 134 and 138. Best for a growing grom. See the deal (affiliate link: we may earn a commission)
Volkl skis
- Volkl Mantra Ski: the 88 mm width listed at $574.97 (list $849.99) and the 102 mm width at $644.97 (list $949.99) at Gravity Coalition. See the deal (affiliate link: we may earn a commission)
- Volkl Manta 84 Flat Skis (Winter 2026/2027): listed at $749.99 (list $870.00) at Equipe Sport, in 163 to 184. See the deal (affiliate link: we may earn a commission)
Helmets and poles
- Pret Epic Helmet: listed at $65.97 (list $119.99) at Outdoor Gear Exchange, in medium only. See the deal (affiliate link: we may earn a commission)
- Black Diamond Traverse Ski Poles (Past Season): listed at $80.47 (list $114.95) at Black Diamond Equipment, in 140 and 155 cm. See the deal (affiliate link: we may earn a commission)
Browse everything on the Powder Deals deals page.
Read next: heading out for the first time this season? Run through our First Day on Snow: The Complete Ski and Snowboard Checklist before you pack the car.
FAQ
What month is cheapest to buy skis?
Late season (March–April) often has the deepest markdowns on the current line, but sizes are thin. For last season's models in a good range of sizes, October and early November are a strong window.
Is it better to buy ski gear on Black Friday?
Black Friday is a good week for outerwear, helmets, goggles and accessories. For skis and boards it's a timing trade-off: last season's models are already marked down in October, and common sizes can sell out before late November.
Should I buy skis used at a ski swap?
Swaps are great for kids' gear, poles and budget setups. Have a shop check any used bindings, and buy helmets new.
When do ski boots go on sale?
Boots have been discounted most in spring (April and May, per PTO Ski & Snowboard's May 2026 guide), but October has the best selection. If you need boots this season, buy for fit now rather than waiting on price.
Can a sale price go back up?
Yes, sometimes overnight. Black Diamond Equipment listed the past-season Impulse Ti 98 at $399.98 on October 12 and $559.97 on October 13. Check the price history on the deal page before you buy, and set a price alert if you can wait.
Prices were listed on October 16, 2026 and may have changed. Swap dates are as of October 18, 2026, from each organizer's 2026 page; confirm with the organizer before you go. Timing sources: PTO Ski & Snowboard, "When Do Skis Go on Sale?" (May 25, 2026); SnowBrains, "End-of-Season Ski Gear Sales" (April 1, 2026) and "The Best Time to Buy Snowboard Gear" (April 5, 2026); SkiTalk forum, "Best time of year to buy boots" (March 2, 2026); The Krazy Coupon Lady, winter clearance guide (updated December 1, 2021); KATU News, "How to carve out savings on kids ski gear" (January 2, 2014). Powder Deals earns a commission on some purchases made through links on this page.