Demo Ski Rentals in Salt Lake City: Try Before You Buy

A demo ski rental in Salt Lake City at The Lifthouse is $70 the first day, $65 the second, $60 for day three and after. That is current-season, top-of-the-line inventory — the same class of ski we would put ourselves on — not last year's leftover with a “demo” sticker. We do not currently advertise a demo-credit-toward-purchase program. If evo or Canyon Sports will credit the day, and you already know you are buying from them, use that.

What a demo is for

Utah snow punishes the wrong waist width. A 88mm frontside ski on a Little Cottonwood storm is a slog. A 120mm powder ski on a firm Brighton groomer is a slog in the other direction. One demo day in the conditions you actually ski is cheaper than a $700 mistake hanging in the garage.

Tell us where you are going and how you ski. We will not hand you the graphic you liked on Instagram if it is the wrong tool. Read which ski brand is best for Utah snow first if you want the short version of that argument, then come stand on the wall.

Waist width, Cottonwood version

• ~85–95mm — groomers, harder snow, mixed days at Solitude or a low-tide Brighton. Performance package can cover this; demo if you are shopping a specific carver.
• ~100–110mm — the Utah daily driver for most strong intermediates. Bent Chetler 100, Rustler, Revolt in this neighborhood. Demo this width before you buy “a powder ski” you will hate on Tuesday.
• ~112–121mm — storm days, Little Cottonwood, the ski you want in the truck when the UAC is interesting. Koala, Revolt 121, bigger Bents. Rent it. Do not make it your only ski unless you only ski those days.

Length still comes first. Ski sizing, then width, then brand. Brand pages: /brands.

How to use the day

Reserve the demo. Pick up the night before a powder morning. Ski it in the snow you bought it for, not the parking lot. If it is wrong, come back — exchanges depend on inventory, and we would rather swap you than have you buy the wrong ski because you were polite. Performance packages ($50) exist if you want a better-than-sport ski without the current-season demo price. Sport ($35) is the right call for a first day or a family member who is along for the ride.