*****CRUNCHIE!!!*****

[WendyWeber]

Hello!

I know you are the queen of skiing and of sourcing great stuff cheap (eg tents ) so could you please advise on good cheap brands/websites for skiing gear?

DS1 is going to be a snow bunny (oh, OK then, ranger) with Esprit this winter and although they get kit provided they need off-duty stuff too; we saw some real bargain pants in Sports World a couple of weeks ago (about £15, Unitech I think?) but they are bound to have gone now although we could go and look again I spose.

Also, what do people wear on their feet when they're not skiing?

TIA

[WendyWeber]

I found this package at Outdoor Megastore but he says salopettes are uncool

[JustineMumsnet]

Tchibo have ski stuff in right now - we have kids' gear and is excellent.

[PestoPyromaniacMonster]

Sorry to but in, but couldn't resist chipping in. You could try the Next Directory for children's ski wear at a reasonable price. And for walking around the resort when not skiing I would suggest warm apres-ski boots, like moon boots.

[WendyWeber]

Thanks, Justine, but Tchibo don't appear to have any men's stuff - only ladies and kids

He's over 6' and size XL, PPM and I think moonboots are uncool too...

It's difficult (the fact that he has virtually no money doesn't help - thank goodness for parents, eh? )

[JustineMumsnet]

Oh my goodness - he's a man boy.

[lapsedrunner]

Tchibo will have a seperate Mens range in soon, need to keep checking their website. They stock it every year, just on a different week to the ladies stuff.
Have you tried TKMax? Also for a good quality/value brand see if you can find the Columbia brand www.columbia.com

[LIZS]

TKMaxx are good for brands . Also try Decathlon and look out for bargains on Dare2Be on internet atm. For apres ski just regular stuff ,a decent jacket (perhaps down filled ) and leather boots (Timberland type perhaps) or walking trainers with a chunky grip and goretex. Decathlon and GO Sport are budget warehouse-style stores with loads of outlets in France so he may have access to one of those while there.

[LIZS]

here, here and good range of brands here

[StripeyKnickersSpottySocks]

All rangers I've seen either wear hiing boots or trainers on their feet when not skiing, depending how much snow on pavements.

[StripeyKnickersSpottySocks]

Hiking boots even.

[crunchie]

WW where will he be??

We are going to Val d'isere with Esprit next year??

On his feet I suggest good walking boots, you can get ones that are waterproof these aren't too pricey or these if you don't want leather

TKMAXX is good for stuff, basically he will want a pair of trs and jkt for skiing - look for snowboard style stuff Here looks like a good package for just over £100 ski wear The braces are detachable

Tchibo when they do there mens suff is good, we also go to factory outlets like Braintree freeport as they have a few shops too.

I would see what gear he is given first as if he is skiing he should get some stuff

Bear in mind though he will be there ALL season so a GOOD jacket would be worth looking for, like a north face or columbia, TKMAXX have stuff oin now

[WendyWeber]

That's really helpful, thanks everybody!

crunchie, he's going to Chamonix (to Chalet Hotel Sapinière). He can't even ski yet but a friend was going to teach him for a few hours at Xscape in Castleford this afternoon (tomorrow he will be walking on water ). They do get a uniform but obv don't want to wear it when off-duty, so he'll need his own as well.

We have a TK Maxx quite near so we'll go and have a rummage there next week (no time this week). We will def look for a good quality jacket. I'll keep an eye out for Tchibo stuff too - he doesn't go until 1st Dec so we have a while yet.

He has got some cheap walking boots, we may look at buying a more expensive pair. He's joined a couple of forums and the major advice on there seems to be to bring about 50 pairs of socks

[LIZS]

Hope the Sapiniere has been upgraded since we visited ! When Esprit first took it over it was "tired", the baby/toddler playrooms small and a mouse in the dining room ! Manager was sh!te too !

Good resort for long term, nightlife looked good, although not much easy skiing for a first timer so hope he learns fast to take advantage. They will keep the paths and roads cleared, not too much snow on the ground at resort level, so walking boots should be fine for everyday wear. There is a large GoSport off the motorway towards Geneva, 20 mins or so drive, and Geneva itself is an hour or so by car or train with plenty of sports shops and dept stores.

[WendyWeber]

I hope so too, Liz - some of the comments on MN about Esprit are a bit worrying so I hope he's lucky with his manager and accommodation!

[LIZS]

Tchibo men's skiwear

[WendyWeber]

Oooooh, it has arrived! Thank you, Liz!

(I do get their emails but since I bought a table from there which was totally crap not very good I'd stopped looking!)