When buying new skis, emotions must be kept in check in favor of cold-hearted analysis.
Periodically I visit a ski shop just to stare at the shiny new skis all lined up on the ski wall.
All those goods-virginal, pretty and beckoning with a subliminal Siren's song-are just so damned appealing, even if I don't necessarily need them. More than need, it's just the idea of them.
Males, I might dare to day, harbor this fascination with hard goods. Could be in the ski shop. Or, could also be in the hardware store, the electronics emporium, and (Lord helps us) the car dealership. Most males, anyway.
I mean, who can resist those pristine objects? They're just crying out to us "Use me! Abuse me! Dent me, bend me, smash me, crash me until you've had your fun and can justify buying another me!"
So, even if I don't need new skis (three pairs are already leaning against my garage wall), I can't resist the urge to lust after them.
And it's just that lust that must be controlled when you actually do need new skis.
First it must be controlled against your wallet. Could very well be that the skis you most lust after are beyond your budget.
Secondly, control must be exerted in the other direction: a bargain's not a bargain if you save money on the wrong product.
Third, the urge to respond to alluring eye-candy must be curbed. Those graphics, that color-they're not the reason to make the purchase.
No, indeed, buying a pair of skis comes down to cold, hard-hearted analysis and calculation. Combine the factual issues that must be addressed (type of skier you are, expertise level, preferred types of turns and terrain, how often you ski and how long you intend to use this pair) with the hard reality of your buying budget, and you'll come up with a workable purchase.
The good news? A number of skis will be available to you after you've done the cold analysis. At that point, you can give into the pure craving of it and pick your new love by color, graphics or just plain lust.
Related Article: How To Buy Skis - A Primer
