Member of the Month

GayWolf420
June, 2025

Online

Welcome to the Newschoolers forums! You may read the forums as a guest, however you must be a registered member to post. Register to become a member today!

How to demo smaller brands?

profile picture
Blameablenewt
Posts: 13 - Karma: 238
I’d rather bomb through some glades with my pole straps on than drop $800-1000 on skis I’ve never ridden…how is someone supposed to get a feel for J’s, Moments, ON3Ps, etc… before buying? Online reviews are impossible to rely upon; I don’t care what someone else’s experience was, I need to feel it for myself.

I also want to support these smaller companies more so than some rossi/head mass produced pair. And nothing against those brands in particular, I understand their purpose, but I want to keep my money in the community so to speak.


Thanks for reading, love ya!
4 years ago
26 0
profile picture
muffMan.
Posts: 2916 - Karma: 27,884
Just send it, trust the reviews imo.

but idk where you are but I can demo ON3P and could demo j skis two years ago (covid stopped it) but just gotta look.

I bought some jeffereys just cause of the reviews like blister, here, and others to get a feel for it. I’m sure I’m going to love it
4 years ago
16 1
profile picture
armchair_skier
Posts: 2724 - Karma: 34,935
why would i take pole strap off in trees
4 years ago
14 0
profile picture
Blameablenewt
Posts: 13 - Karma: 238
armchair_skierwhy would i take pole strap off in trees


So your thumbs don’t go booboo ouchies
4 years ago
26 1
profile picture
Quaggy
Posts: 1152 - Karma: 19,198
Gonna just have to jump in with 2 feet OP, maybe if your buddy has a pair and your boot is the same size? That's how my friends and I try out skis.
It's a tough decision to make but there's gotta be a reason you see so many people on ON3P, Vishnus, J-Skis... Either righteous fanboys or people buying a quality product, it's a fine line though!
4 years ago
9 0
profile picture
Blameablenewt
Posts: 13 - Karma: 238
Coleg55Just send it, trust the reviews imo.

but idk where you are but I can demo ON3P and could demo j skis two years ago (covid stopped it) but just gotta look.

I bought some jeffereys just cause of the reviews like blister, here, and others to get a feel for it. I’m sure I’m going to love it


Hell yeah man, hope they’re a dream! Have a good season.
4 years ago
4 0
profile picture
Blameablenewt
Posts: 13 - Karma: 238
QuaggyGonna just have to jump in with 2 feet OP, maybe if your buddy has a pair and your boot is the same size? That's how my friends and I try out skis.
It's a tough decision to make but there's gotta be a reason you see so many people on ON3P, Vishnus, J-Skis... Either righteous fanboys or people buying a quality product, it's a fine line though!


Yeah I guess that’s the consensus - I’ll have to mingle with some core kids 😬

Thanks for the reply, have a great season my doode
4 years ago
11 0
profile picture
Biffbarf
Posts: 7579 - Karma: 80,850
If I have to buy a ski I can't demo, which is most of em, I nerd out over the specs. The reviews don't matter much to me because it's all subjective but I can somewhat know how a ski will feel if I know waist width, materials, camber profile, sidecut, mount point and weight. Once you get a feel for a few different types of skis, you can then try to figure out what properties you like and what you don't to influence your next ski purchase.
4 years ago
8 0
profile picture
Biffbarf
Posts: 7579 - Karma: 80,850
Also feel free to reach out to the customer service of some brands. I know I've talked to Moment a bit and they're really good at pointing in the direction of ski you may want based on your style, ski area location, and skis you currently like/dislike.
4 years ago
6 0
profile picture
BrandoComando
Posts: 1486 - Karma: 18,805
If you got the money and time for it, that's what the Blister Summit is for. A ton of indie brands demoing gear at one event.

Look local. No matter where you are in the country, there's a local shop making badass skis for your local mountains. J, Shaggy, Moment. ON3P, Romp, Sego, etc. Visit their factories and ask for a demo. They'd be stoked to lend you a pair.
4 years ago
13 0
profile picture
Blameablenewt
Posts: 13 - Karma: 238
BiffbarfAlso feel free to reach out to the customer service of some brands. I know I've talked to Moment a bit and they're really good at pointing in the direction of ski you may want based on your style, ski area location, and skis you currently like/dislike.


Hell yeah man, I’ve actually talked to Scott at ON3P and some of the moment guys - I just know they all love their own skis so much :) thanks man, have a killer season
4 years ago
7 0
profile picture
Blameablenewt
Posts: 13 - Karma: 238
BrandoComandoIf you got the money and time for it, that's what the Blister Summit is for. A ton of indie brands demoing gear at one event.

Look local. No matter where you are in the country, there's a local shop making badass skis for your local mountains. J, Shaggy, Moment. ON3P, Romp, Sego, etc. Visit their factories and ask for a demo. They'd be stoked to lend you a pair.


Holy shit man I’ve lived in Denver for forever and have never heard of this event - I’m definitely gonna check that out!! Hell yeah, thanks! Have a stoke filled season my guy
4 years ago
5 0
profile picture
Non_State_Actor
Posts: 5101 - Karma: 18,715
Powder7 in Golden has a fair number of brands in house including Moment and some more obscure smaller brands like movement and majesty and also some that don't start with the letter M. They do a lot of demo skis.
4 years ago
3 0
profile picture
tominiemenmaa
Posts: 573 - Karma: 3,387
How to demo any brands is the question here in Finland. Few of the biggest resorts, all far north, offer some testers but there's very little chance that the ski you are looking to buy is available for testing. Southern Finland has a few demo days per season on the biggest resorts but they offer one brand at a time and they are like Elan and Nordica etc. most of the time.
4 years ago
0 0
profile picture
Blameablenewt
Posts: 13 - Karma: 238
mystery3Powder7 in Golden has a fair number of brands in house including Moment and some more obscure smaller brands like movement and majesty and also some that don't start with the letter M. They do a lot of demo skis.


Dope doode, I’ll check em out. I appreciate the tip!
4 years ago
1 0
profile picture
Blameablenewt
Posts: 13 - Karma: 238
tominiemenmaaHow to demo any brands is the question here in Finland. Few of the biggest resorts, all far north, offer some testers but there's very little chance that the ski you are looking to buy is available for testing. Southern Finland has a few demo days per season on the biggest resorts but they offer one brand at a time and they are like Elan and Nordica etc. most of the time.


Yeah but you get to live in Finland so I’d still call that a win haha, have a sick season from the states 🤙
4 years ago
2 0
profile picture
lil.Boye
Posts: 2792 - Karma: 12,682
just have to send it. even though i take ski reviews with a grain of salt, i still trust them. in most instances you will get used to a ski. when i got my poachers a couple years ago i hated them because they were so much stiffer and clunkier than my bdogs. but time went by and i ended up loving them.

send it, you won't be disappointed with any of the brands you named.
4 years ago
2 0
profile picture
tominiemenmaa
Posts: 573 - Karma: 3,387
Anything south of Ruka has actually very shitty winters. Imagine like ice coast on steroids. Northern Finland is on another level of course as you know, but way over 90% of Finns live 250+km from Ruka etc.

But that's why I've already spent 2 weeks over at Ruka this season & my home town hasn't any snow nor below freezing temps so far. Have a good one you too!

BlameablenewtYeah but you get to live in Finland so I’d still call that a win haha, have a sick season from the states 🤙
4 years ago
2 0
profile picture
ericforman
Posts: 722 - Karma: 6,213
Bentgate mountaineering in Golden has moment demos pretty sure or at least they did in years past. And yea blister summit seems like a good option. It’s only in its 2nd year which maybe is why you don’t know about it.
4 years ago
2 0
profile picture
GilsonSkis
Posts: 738 - Karma: 9,715
Where are you located? We have done cross country demos tours in the past. This year we are doing a little more in depth of half day demo rides days, would love to get you on a pair
4 years ago
6 0
profile picture
J_skis
Posts: 1147 - Karma: 16,646
BlameablenewtI’d rather bomb through some glades with my pole straps on than drop $800-1000 on skis I’ve never ridden…how is someone supposed to get a feel for J’s, Moments, ON3Ps, etc… before buying? Online reviews are impossible to rely upon; I don’t care what someone else’s experience was, I need to feel it for myself.

I also want to support these smaller companies more so than some rossi/head mass produced pair. And nothing against those brands in particular, I understand their purpose, but I want to keep my money in the community so to speak.


Thanks for reading, love ya!


Awesome point! Demos are SUPER tough as a small brand since we don't have countrywide reps to sling them and building up multiple demo fleets is a lot of product to not sell.

That problem is what led us to our 100% Money Back Guarantee. You buy the skis, mount them and ride them for up to 5 days on hill to give them a true test. Your own mountain, your own bindings, your own time. After 5 days (doesn't matter when these days are btw, if you buy in August but don't ski until February it's all good) you can hit us up for a different size, model or full refund. We want everyone to be super stoked on the skis they get from us so if that's not how you're feeling it's no worries, we'll make sure to get you taken care of.

Obviously way different than hot lapping on a dozen pairs back to back like you could at a demo day but from the experience we've had with customers doing this they're super stoked to really get to know a ski without any risk at all
4 years ago
15 0
profile picture
doubleblackjack
Posts: 627 - Karma: 6,723
Honestly, these days if you get the correct ski for what you want to do (park, powder, all mtn…) you cant really go too wrong

i mean, read reviews, but after some research I’d just buy the skis. They are just some sticks attached to your feet at the end of the day
4 years ago
1 1
profile picture
Chrischi69
Posts: 652 - Karma: 5,064
I usually find friends w some pair i want to try and use them for a few runs
4 years ago
1 0
profile picture
BradFiAusNzCoCa
Posts: 7550 - Karma: 67,103
This is the move. Plus, you’ll adapt to a ski, OP.
BiffbarfIf I have to buy a ski I can't demo, which is most of em, I nerd out over the specs. The reviews don't matter much to me because it's all subjective but I can somewhat know how a ski will feel if I know waist width, materials, camber profile, sidecut, mount point and weight. Once you get a feel for a few different types of skis, you can then try to figure out what properties you like and what you don't to influence your next ski purchase.


I live in Denver and almost exclusively ski Indy brands so if you ever want to try some I have, give me a ring. I’ve got some Fauna’s, RMUs, Deviation works and Slants.

Plus, there’s so many Indy brands in greater front range area you could hit up. Most are down with a free demo as long as you leave a credit card or Id or deposit
BlameablenewtHoly shit man I’ve lived in Denver for forever and have never heard of this event - I’m definitely gonna check that out!! Hell yeah, thanks! Have a stoke filled season my guy
4 years ago
1 0
profile picture
KCoCM
Posts: 963 - Karma: 8,787
poacher was first ski i bought new and i didn’t really vibe with them at the time but now that i’ve skied a lot more since then i feel like i would appreciate them a lot more
lil.Boyejust have to send it. even though i take ski reviews with a grain of salt, i still trust them. in most instances you will get used to a ski. when i got my poachers a couple years ago i hated them because they were so much stiffer and clunkier than my bdogs. but time went by and i ended up loving them.

send it, you won't be disappointed with any of the brands you named.
4 years ago
1 0
profile picture
KilaTsunami
Posts: 3361 - Karma: 32,457
Ask ppl you see rocking them in the lift line/on the hill.. Skiers usually live to go on and on about their gear lol
4 years ago
3 0
profile picture
CalumSKI
Posts: 4379 - Karma: 26,123
Hopefully some of the smaller demos start up now cause covid is dwindling
that's probs your best bet
4 years ago
2 0
profile picture
IsaacNW82
Posts: 780 - Karma: 6,776
Haha a few years ago me and a friend snuck into an SIA industry event at Copper to try to finesse some demos. All the bigger brands like Volkl/Atomic/Armada/whatever absolutely weren't having it but Moment and some other small brands let us demo their skis. It's been a while so the details are iffy but I remember a conversation with the Moment rep going something like:

"can I demo a pair of Deathwish's?"
"did you sneak in? Do you have like a credit card or something for collateral?"
"...nah but I got my skis" (I was like 17)
"our skis are better"
"fair enough, how about my skis, license, and hotel room card?"
"okay whatever. sign here" (goes on to enthusiastically rant and rave about how great Moment is)

So the TL;DR is the small brands are usually chill and want you to demo skis, its just harder bc they don't have these huge networks like J said.

Also S/O Moment y'all are chill and make sick skis
4 years ago
6 0
profile picture
ShadowXVX
Posts: 216 - Karma: 1,027
If you live near a Moment rep they will hook you up with a pair for a day. Send them an email, or their website may even have a page to request a demo, I don't remember
4 years ago
2 0
profile picture
PimpChimpin
Posts: 1287 - Karma: 12,586
I got the same thing bro, like how tf do I demo yo momma
4 years ago
1 0
profile picture
mountaindewgirl
Posts: 2317 - Karma: 21,132
Reach out to them on their website if they have any shops in the area that offer demos.

Go to the Outdoor Retailer on snow demo
4 years ago
1 0
profile picture
Blameablenewt
Posts: 13 - Karma: 238
@ericforman Hell yeah Eric, that would probably be why aha - have a dope season, don't let Red ride your ass to much
@GilsonSkis That's sick - I'm out here in Denver, I'll be on the lookout if you go to any of the Ikon mountains :) Thanks!
@J_skis Jason once again proving he is the freaking MAN - thanks for all you've done for the community and I'll have to keep that 5 day guarantee in mind. Though I would feel like quite a choch if it didn't work out. Have a sick season :D
@BradFiAusNzCoCa Ah dude that is the nicest offer ever! I think I'm definitely gonna check out the Blister summit, but I hope we can shred together sometime! :)
@KilaTsunami Aha I am 100% guilty of overloading the other lift passengers with gear talk. Have a sick season my guy!
@IsaacNW82 That is freaking awesome man haha "our skis are better", sounds like the moment reps I've chatted with online. Have a dope season!
@ShadowXVX Yeah I should have done some googling, there seem to be a bunch of places to demo moments in Denver. Have a killer season!
@PimpChimpin Fortunately yo mama is big and well known enough, no issue in demoing atm
@mountaindewgirl Yee, thanks for the tip! Have a dope season.
4 years ago
7 0
profile picture
sexyjulian
Posts: 873 - Karma: 11,245
demo? best I can do is the sovl 7

4 years ago
4 0
profile picture
GilsonSkis
Posts: 738 - Karma: 9,715
We have a date for Loveland in Dec. Trying to nail down Copper or Eldora around then as well.
Blameablenewt@ericforman Hell yeah Eric, that would probably be why aha - have a dope season, don't let Red ride your ass to much
@GilsonSkis That's sick - I'm out here in Denver, I'll be on the lookout if you go to any of the Ikon mountains :) Thanks!
@J_skis Jason once again proving he is the freaking MAN - thanks for all you've done for the community and I'll have to keep that 5 day guarantee in mind. Though I would feel like quite a choch if it didn't work out. Have a sick season :D
@BradFiAusNzCoCa Ah dude that is the nicest offer ever! I think I'm definitely gonna check out the Blister summit, but I hope we can shred together sometime! :)
@KilaTsunami Aha I am 100% guilty of overloading the other lift passengers with gear talk. Have a sick season my guy!
@IsaacNW82 That is freaking awesome man haha "our skis are better", sounds like the moment reps I've chatted with online. Have a dope season!
@ShadowXVX Yeah I should have done some googling, there seem to be a bunch of places to demo moments in Denver. Have a killer season!
@PimpChimpin Fortunately yo mama is big and well known enough, no issue in demoing atm
@mountaindewgirl Yee, thanks for the tip! Have a dope season.
4 years ago
2 0
profile picture
Blameablenewt
Posts: 13 - Karma: 238
GilsonSkisWe have a date for Loveland in Dec. Trying to nail down Copper or Eldora around then as well.


Hell yeah, I’ll keep my eyes peeled for the Copper and Eldora dates. Checked out your website - those are some damn beautiful skis y’all make! Cheers my doodes 🤙
4 years ago
1 0
All times are Eastern (-4); Currently it's 7:42PM