Native Vail Gal
Banned
When you are looking at buying a new pair of skis, and you get it down to 2 pair that are equally fabulous....what is the deciding factor for YOU?
Looks or Performance????????
Looks or Performance????????
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Final Decision...Look or Performance?
- Thread starter Native Vail Gal
- Start date
num
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
For me it's usually price 
On the looks or performance note, personally looks only matter when performance is already settled. In other words, performance is a necessity, looks are a bonus. If two skis really performed equally well for me and I got equal grins from them, and they were equal in price and every other variable, then I'd go for the ones I like the looks of more.
On the looks or performance note, personally looks only matter when performance is already settled. In other words, performance is a necessity, looks are a bonus. If two skis really performed equally well for me and I got equal grins from them, and they were equal in price and every other variable, then I'd go for the ones I like the looks of more.
climber.girl1
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
Definitely performance first! Then price second. And looks, for me as for Num, are just an extra bonus! 
Actually, I guess performance and price are sort of tied in together, and performance has to be blow-me-out-of-the-water AMAZING in order for me to pay anywhere close to full price! That's how my Karhus are!
Actually, I guess performance and price are sort of tied in together, and performance has to be blow-me-out-of-the-water AMAZING in order for me to pay anywhere close to full price! That's how my Karhus are!
The factors are:
Performance
Price
Looks
That said, I've gone with my 2nd choice ski because the price was so much better and performance was "good enough". With boots - last time I purchased I did finally go with 100% performance, price is no object. Which ended up being totally worth it, but I just don't have the money to do that with most things. And then if it comes down to several skis in the same performance range but one looks better than the other, I might spend a little more for the one I like the look of better. Though I've owned skis I HATED the graphics on, just because I loved the way they skied and they were a good deal, so I'd say that's the least influential factor.
Performance
Price
Looks
That said, I've gone with my 2nd choice ski because the price was so much better and performance was "good enough". With boots - last time I purchased I did finally go with 100% performance, price is no object. Which ended up being totally worth it, but I just don't have the money to do that with most things. And then if it comes down to several skis in the same performance range but one looks better than the other, I might spend a little more for the one I like the look of better. Though I've owned skis I HATED the graphics on, just because I loved the way they skied and they were a good deal, so I'd say that's the least influential factor.
jaydog
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
My biggest deciding factor is also price. Appearance doesn't matter much to me so long as there aren't garish floral graphics. If I can find a well-performing ski at a great price, I'm happy.
Shopping for AT skis, however, was different. One ski on my list had the best dang topsheet of any ski I'd ever seen, so I researched extra hard to make sure I wasn't snubbing a better-performing ski. (It was only available to demo with tele bindings) And what led me to find a super deal on it? A cosmetic blemish due to the topsheet's color being slightly off!
Shopping for AT skis, however, was different. One ski on my list had the best dang topsheet of any ski I'd ever seen, so I researched extra hard to make sure I wasn't snubbing a better-performing ski. (It was only available to demo with tele bindings) And what led me to find a super deal on it? A cosmetic blemish due to the topsheet's color being slightly off!
MaineSkiLady
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
What altagirl said. I'd hate to fall in love with a ski that was mega-bucks (one reason I haven't demo'd Volkl's - that and not being in the right place/right time). It was bad enough to love a K2 - no major deals on those either. However, have to say that it would be rough if I loved the performance characteristics of a ski as ugly as this year's Salomons. Good grief, some of them look like Jackson Pollock on acid, in motion 
I'm not crazy about the "goth" look either (some 09 models, forgot, pics in reviews).
I'm not crazy about the "goth" look either (some 09 models, forgot, pics in reviews).Native Vail Gal
Banned
Good grief, some of them look like Jackson Pollock on acid, in motion
Sooooooooooo True! :ROTF:
I like my K2 Hawaiian look ski! Makes me happy! (and the proceeds went to breast cancer research!)
MaineSkiLady
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
Ah, the pink ribbon at the tail. I remember how impressed I was by these when they first came out a few years back with the symbol. Good for K2. But I have to say that the Salomons would be so distracting to me, I might have an attack of vertigo just glancing at the tips. Whoaaaaaa. Dramamine. Who designed those skis? 
Are they selling? Seems like they would languish, but they haven't. I haven't seen many out there. Where did they go. The Met? MoMA? To take notes?
Are they selling? Seems like they would languish, but they haven't. I haven't seen many out there. Where did they go. The Met? MoMA? To take notes?Definitely performance. The rest is not as important. I tend to have little gear, and replace it only when necessary - so when I do buy, I'll get what I want w/o worrying about price too much. I don't even really notice what a ski looks like, come to think of it. I still have memories of Killington type places as a teen - people that had awesome gear that matched so nicely, and then see they could hardly ski and spent more time in the lodge (while I was on hand-me-down equipment but could ski pretty well). So I've always had some notion that if you try to look too good, it must be because you can't ski too good...lol.
My new skis look 'rad' though, according to my 12yo DD. Guess that's a compliment. They're volkl AC30s, and are dark gray, pretty boring looking. My last were volkl 5 stars, that had graphics that made them look old. Thank goodness, because I beat those skis up, and they had chunks taken out of them...but you could hardly notice - if they were shiny skis, they'd have looked horrible. (ETA - I bought my skis for 40% off MSRP - couldn't stomach paying more this winter...so I just held out until 2 weeks ago, bought the first day they went on sale to be sure I'd snag my length).
My new skis look 'rad' though, according to my 12yo DD. Guess that's a compliment. They're volkl AC30s, and are dark gray, pretty boring looking. My last were volkl 5 stars, that had graphics that made them look old. Thank goodness, because I beat those skis up, and they had chunks taken out of them...but you could hardly notice - if they were shiny skis, they'd have looked horrible. (ETA - I bought my skis for 40% off MSRP - couldn't stomach paying more this winter...so I just held out until 2 weeks ago, bought the first day they went on sale to be sure I'd snag my length).
MaineSkiLady
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
Bingo on the bases (and edges). Or you could go the snowboard route and plaster with stickers. This is a frequent snowboard deterrent. And something of an art, according to my son. Good. As long as they don't look like Salomon Jackson Pollocks. I mean, okay, cool graphics are one thing, but COME ON...Have you seen those things??
My '07-'08 Burnin Luvs are my first pair, so I don't have much experience. However, I'd say performance first, with price and looks almost tied. I'd pay more for a ski I like than one I don't - and I must admit that a really bad topsheet would probably cause me to veto a ski...
If they're equally fabulous, price is the deciding factor.
If not, then performance comes first, followed by price, then looks.
I'm not thrilled with the look of my Queen Attivas (very plain and very brown), for example, but I only paid $200. for them. That goes a looooong way with me.
If not, then performance comes first, followed by price, then looks.
I'm not thrilled with the look of my Queen Attivas (very plain and very brown), for example, but I only paid $200. for them. That goes a looooong way with me.
Solincia
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
I'm in the same boat. I bought my k2 one luv's this year based on 1. reviews <I didn't have a chance to demo but wanted get skis before the deals went away> 2. definately price <a pretty good deal> 3. I liked their look, so that was a bonus.
Being my first year back after 11 years, I was in ski-confusion anyway. I don't really think any of the skis are ugly... and my last pair were long black sticks with pink and purple! <rossi's> so it didn't really matter.
I will, however, be excited to demo skis next year when our hill has demo days, and I wont shy away from buying a pair of skis that I find I like <performance wise> better.
BTW, MSL... I love jackson pollock's artwork, just not the crazy womanizing drunk that he was..
sibhusky
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
Ditto. Performance, price, looks. Frankly, it's never come down to that, really. Once I'd tried the Phat Luvs and loved them, but hated the graphics (back during the hibiscus period) and asked to try other skis. Tried the XP's, loved them even more for the job I was looking for, and didn't even ASK the price difference. Since then, I've been in a K2 rut until I tried the Auras this year. Would own them if I hadn't already purchased Outlaws at the time.For me it's usually price
On the looks or performance note, personally looks only matter when performance is already settled. In other words, performance is a necessity, looks are a bonus. If two skis really performed equally well for me and I got equal grins from them, and they were equal in price and every other variable, then I'd go for the ones I like the looks of more.
Years ago, my skis were Fischer "Weapons" with CAMO all over them! I HATED the graphics, but I liked the skis (very strange things with a narrow tip and a FAT tail) and they were FREE from a guy who owned a ski shop. So, I overlooked the graphics.
Quiver Queen
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
Gotta admit, S.D., the guy that came up with those graphics (especially for a ski named "Queen!") definitely was out of touch with his feminine side!
