Whether it’s your first or 50th visit to Park City, you know having the right gear is essential to a safe and successful ski trip. Once you arrive in town, the last thing you want to do is scramble for your ski rentals. Like most trips, planning ahead and booking things in advance saves you time, money and gives you peace of mind. For those planning annual holiday travel or a quick weekend getaway, let’s dive into when to reserve ski rentals in Park City. Once you’ve got your gear and your lift ticket the fun can begin!
Plan Ahead
Ski trips are logistically heavy. You’ve got to book your flights, transportation, buy lift tickets and find a place to stay. Booking all of these reservations ahead of time helps ensure you can get your desired itinerary, pay a competitive price, and avoid last minute stress.
Book in Advance
It is best practice to reserve your ski rentals when you make your travel and lodging reservations, months in advance. In fact, many seasoned skiers consider reserving 1–3 months prior a “sweet spot” for reserving rentals, especially during holidays and peak winter weeks. Booking in advance when you complete other travel tasks streamlines your experience so you can keep all your receipts together and avoid delays in the rental process.
Thankfully, most shops like Jans have an easy-to-find online booking platform where you can browse rental options and reserve your ski gear. When you make your reservation, you will pay for your rental in order to “lock-in” your reservation and the best price. Some shops even offer promotions or discounts when you book online for an even better price for rentals.
After you reserve your chosen rental, you’ll receive your reservation details and order number for reference. If you have any questions about rentals and want to speak with one of our experts, you can call 435-649-4949.
Why Timing Matters
Because Park City is a popular skiing destination, everyone visiting is working towards the same goal: get my gear and get on the slopes! When you book rentals months in advance, your vacation benefits:
- You have one less travel logistic knowing your equipment is secured with advanced payment.
- You will spend less time in the ski shop since they have your reservation.
- You will be able to spend more time on the slopes.
Peak Season Means High Demand
If you’re like most winter enthusiasts, you are going to want to visit Park City during the winter season which spans from around late November through March. People come from all over the world and things can get busy! Town fills up and in turn, rental shops get crowded.
Of course, no ski shop would ever “run out” of rental gear, especially in Park City. Town during peak season can be magical, Main Street is bustling with people from all over the world. Tourists and locals come together and connect over fantastic food, drinks and of course the amazing snow. Being a part of the crowd or waiting in line can an opportunity to connect with like-minded people and get some good info on where the powder stashes are.
When booking your travel and rentals, keep in mind the following “hot spots” throughout winter that may sway which dates you choose to come ski.
Weekends, Holidays & Snowstorms, Oh My!
During the winter season, there are several popular times where rental shops see an especially high demand:
- Weekends
- Most people that work during the week and have kids who go to school on that same schedule seek out their weekends for dedicated ski days, both locals and tourists
- Holidays
- Several Holidays throughout winter like Martin Luther King Jr. and President’s Day are popular long weekend trips for families and groups.
- Snowstorms
- Sometimes unpredictable, but snow storms are also busy times. Both for skiers that live locally and the strategic tourists who have been watching the forecast for weeks before traveling to town for powder.
Multi-day Trips
If you’re lucky to be here in Park City, it is advantageous to book your rentals for a multi-day package. Jans offers a tiered rate where you receive a discount on rental packages longer than three and seven days. Renting a multi-day package removes unnecessary logistics of needing to go to the rental shop each morning before you can actually ski.
Families and Groups
Large groups and families with kids also benefit from booking ski rentals in advance. It streamlines the process and ensures everyone in your party has the gear they need at all ability levels.
What Happens If You Don’t Reserve?
If you wait until you’re in town to book gear, you’re more likely to face:
- Long lines at the rental counter
- One more logistic you need to take care of
- Less time on the mountain
If you’re last minute, don’t worry you will still be able to rent gear. Plan to arrive at the shop the day before you plan to ski. Though if you’re really on a crunch, plan to arrive right when the rental shop opens in the morning. You may have to wait in line and you may have to pay a bit more for your rentals, but you still will be able to get on the slopes. Hopefully you will make note to book your rentals in advance for your next ski trip.
What to Expect When You Arrive
Once you get to town and are settled in your accommodation, you’re ready to pick up your rentals so you can gear up. If your travel plans allow, it is ideal to pick up your rentals the day before you plan to ski. This takes the urgency and stress out of the process so you can take your time.
Since you booked a rental reservation ahead of time, you can arrive at the shop and staff will be able to pull up your reservation and get you fitted. If you’re in need of a boot fitting, a designated staff will help you find a boot that fits well. If you’re just in need of skis and poles, a ski tech will adjust your rental skis to your boots.
More Tips for Success
- Sign up for our newsletter and receive a 10% discount code that can be used to purchase products at jans.com, including rentals. After you sign up, send an email to paretnals@jans.com to have your discount code applied to your rental reservation for extra savings.
- Book your travel for middle of the week so you can optimize pricing and have fewer crowds. It’s not always feasible but worth it if your schedule allows.
- Need lessons? Ski lessons are also best booked months in advance, add those to your list when booking rentals.
Planning for these logistics ahead of time allows you to actually do what you came here to do, ski!
Final Thoughts
- Book earlier than “last minute” — ideally at the same time you reserve lodging
- Use the online reservation system (and pay ahead) so you lock in gear — especially during peak season
- Remember that cancellations require plenty of notice for refunds
Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or gearing up for your first Park City powder day, smart planning equals better gear and more time on the snow.
