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Its that time of the season again. My facebook feed is full of "Best ____ for 2015" post from Powder, Freeskier, Transworld, etc. The buyers guides have arrived in the mail. Sponsored athletes are dropping posts all over their instagram feeds about their companies new products. Etc
It got me wondering where NS goes when research buying decisions...
For the last couple seasons I pretty much just ski until my shit breaks, walk into a boardshop, pick out a random ski that I can afford, walk out, repeat.
I still follow trends because what else are you supposed to do in the off season? But I never really understood the hype behind it unless its something groundbreaking coming out.
im sure im subconsciously affected by all the advertising and stuff, but i definitely don't trust any media hype about products until ive talked to real skiers who have used the product
my least favorite people in the skiing world are people trying to peddle something. that and shop workers who think they know a lot about skiing because they can regurgitate all the ad-speak the brand reps feed them.. "elf foot technology!" "Line's fatty base and edge!!"
iLLbiLLyIts that time of the season again. My facebook feed is full of "Best ____ for 2015" post from Powder, Freeskier, Transworld, etc. The buyers guides have arrived in the mail. Sponsored athletes are dropping posts all over their instagram feeds about their companies new products. EtcIt got me wondering where NS goes when research buying decisions...
You forgot our review section!
https://www.newschoolers.com/reviews
Yes, yes... still needs a bit of work.
Mr.BishopYou forgot our review section!https://www.newschoolers.com/reviews
Yes, yes... still needs a bit of work.
It won't let me add a new option to the poll, but I think that would be grouped in with consumer reviews.
I always like reading all the reviews In magazines and I use those to base what I am going to demo first. But demoing Is what I trust. I won't buy a ski I have not skied as you have no idea what up are getting. Reviews here can be useful but I fin so much inconsistency here as people givin the reviews have simply not skied enough differnt skis to give a good opinion. I would love to see a new schoolers demo tour. Get some brands involved then take a demo tour round places where it's harder to try skis. It would be both a goo way to meet other ns members but also test some skis.
This season I'm really stocked on the skis available. There are 3 pairs I want from Salomon alone this season so I would say this is a good year to be buying kit.
tomPietrowskiI always like reading all the reviews In magazines and I use those to base what I am going to demo first. But demoing Is what I trust. I won't buy a ski I have not skied as you have no idea what up are getting. Reviews here can be useful but I fin so much inconsistency here as people givin the reviews have simply not skied enough differnt skis to give a good opinion. I would love to see a new schoolers demo tour. Get some brands involved then take a demo tour round places where it's harder to try skis. It would be both a goo way to meet other ns members but also test some skis.This season I'm really stocked on the skis available. There are 3 pairs I want from Salomon alone this season so I would say this is a good year to be buying kit.
I should have added an option for "I only buy what I've demo'ed". Although thats a bit more specific to hard goods. Unless your demoing jackets, pants, googles, etc.
Also should have added "I only buy last years shit".
Mr.BishopI know, I'm just giving you shit. Want me to edit the poll?
You can if you want, although i added it in the () under consumer review. If you do, also add options for the other 2 mentioned above.
Blister Gear reviews are the best source of information IMO. Them and the review section here at NS are the only places that actually do a proper review. Not just some random guy going "yeah this ski is great, it's really soft and stuff go buy it at my website xyz.com" in less than 30 seconds.
I also base a lot of my decision purchases on what experiences my friends have had with their gear. If my friends have had great experiences with certain brands it makes me a lot more likely to buy it.
Nacho_Macho_manBackcountry customer reviews are where the truth is really told. If the item looks good there, and I like the reviews, I simply get what best suits my needs
Sometimes. You also have to consider that sponsored athletes (both backcountry.com and sometimes the brand themselves) are required to write positive reviews about the products they use.
iLLbiLLySometimes. You also have to consider that sponsored athletes (both backcountry.com and sometimes the brand themselves) are required to write positive reviews about the products they use.
Ya for sure I take that into consideration. Most of the time they'll say if they are affiliated with any group or something.
I also think that simply knowing the technology of gear is a huge factor. If you know what your jacket is made of and how it differs from different fabrics, you can choose the perfect jacket.
Beam_erMagazine buyers guides are just paid for by the companies. The more momey in, the better the review coming out in the mag.
You'd be surprised how often this doesn't happen. Our Overload 120 just won the Freeskier Editor's Pick and I can for sure as shit tell you that was not purchased nor planned. I was pleasantly surprised and stoked that it won.
onenerdykidYou'd be surprised how often this doesn't happen. Our Overload 120 just won the Freeskier Editor's Pick and I can for sure as shit tell you that was not purchased nor planned. I was pleasantly surprised and stoked that it won.
How much does it cost to get you're skis in to be reviewed in the first place?
Just wanted to point out. Out of 90 votes, not a single person selected the ski mag buyers guide.
I personally feel as though the past issues of Freeskiers Buyers Guide has continued to sellout more and more. It's basically 100% ads at this point. Not to take anything away from the people who worked hard on the skis that have won awards and high rankings.
But it's sort of the same effect advertising has on news. If Coke is a major advertiser in the Washington Post, they likely aren't going to publish a story about how bad coke (-a-cola) is for you.
That's a bit of an exaggeration but companies are paying money to Freeskier to have their products reviewed. Some are paying more than others to also have brand pages and so on. If Freeskier gives a low ratings to specific brands, then they are less likely to want to spend money to get their products featured.
I think the same can even be applied to any gear review where the brand has sent the gear to review for free. Even if the gear is shit, your not going to say so because you want to maintain a positive relationship with that company. I think its much less a factor, because the reader traffic is driving the review, not the brand themselves.
Obviously, if a pro is skiing on something then that must mean its good right? Except sometimes pros get completely different builds of a consumer ski (not sure how often this actually happens). They are also required to not talk bad on their brand, even when shit breaks or doesn't preform.
Consumer reviews are helpful but there's nothing to say that the reviewer really knew what he was talking about. Since they aren't typically getting the product ahead of time, you'll have to wait till the follow year to get any kind of feedback.
iLLbiLLyJust wanted to point out. Out of 90 votes, not a single person selected the ski mag buyers guide.I personally feel as though the past issues of Freeskiers Buyers Guide has continued to sellout more and more. It's basically 100% ads at this point. Not to take anything away from the people who worked hard on the skis that have won awards and high rankings.
But it's sort of the same effect advertising has on news. If Coke is a major advertiser in the Washington Post, they likely aren't going to publish a story about how bad coke (-a-cola) is for you.
That's a bit of an exaggeration but companies are paying money to Freeskier to have their products reviewed. Some are paying more than others to also have brand pages and so on. If Freeskier gives a low ratings to specific brands, then they are less likely to want to spend money to get their products featured.
I think the same can even be applied to any gear review where the brand has sent the gear to review for free. Even if the gear is shit, your not going to say so because you want to maintain a positive relationship with that company. I think its much less a factor, because the reader traffic is driving the review, not the brand themselves.
Obviously, if a pro is skiing on something then that must mean its good right? Except sometimes pros get completely different builds of a consumer ski (not sure how often this actually happens). They are also required to not talk bad on their brand, even when shit breaks or doesn't preform.
Consumer reviews are helpful but there's nothing to say that the reviewer really knew what he was talking about. Since they aren't typically getting the product ahead of time, you'll have to wait till the follow year to get any kind of feedback.
One thing I want to point out is when you say they won't say when a ski is shit. I have been to quite a few tests and they often have the rule that there are no bad skis just skis that will suit differnt skiers. If your testing and giving reviews just saying this ski sucks, it does not help so testers are trained to look for the positives of a ski and identify if there is a downside do them personally who that may appeal too. I have been on tests where if you were overheard saying you did not like a ski you had to buy a round for all testers. My point is tests reviews in mags ect pick out what a ski does well and who it will suit. There is no point freeskier putting out that a certain park ski is bad because it's too stiff for butters ect as that exact characteristic may be exactly what someone else is looking for. So learn to interpret reviews. If a review mentions a lot of characteristics your looking for then try this skis out.
I think it doesn't make a difference for two HUGE reasons:
1. People buying skis need to change their perception of skis. I buy skis like I buy shoes. Even if a ski has a similar pattern flex, size, and dimensions it's still going to ski totally different then the similar ski from a different company. This all has to do with the way skis are made, who made them, where they were made, etc.
2. I never trust people testing skis because you never know who the testers are, and how they ski. Shit I know that I get more ski days in then many of the ski testers in a few mags...thus the editor's choice might not mean shit fuckall because they don't really push skis into that 50 plus day area, or they are just throwing turns around. Or they don't really ski that hard.
Basically it's up to you to be objective and demo as many skis as you can to make a choice. Just because the internet or a mag hate a particular ski doesn't mean that's not the ski for you.