Summer has arrived, but if a ski holiday is on your calendar for this winter, there’s no reason to leave your hire equipment to the last minute. The ski hire shops on alpy.com are already open for winter 2026/27 bookings — meaning you can browse, compare, and reserve your skis or snowboard right now, months before the first snow of the season.
Booking ski hire online is one of the simplest ways to save money and make your winter sport holiday run more smoothly. You avoid long queues at the rental counter on your first day of skiing, you arrive at the resort with your gear already reserved, and — because free cancellation is available until the day before pickup — there’s genuinely nothing to lose by getting organised now.
Whether you’re planning a ski holiday in Austria, France, Italy, or Switzerland, your location is almost certainly already live and ready to hire.
Which Ski Resorts Are Already Open to Book?
Hundreds of ski resorts across Europe are live on alpy.com for winter 2026/27 right now. Whether you’re heading to St. Anton am Arlberg, Ischgl, or Mayrhofen in Austria, visiting the best ski resorts in the French Alps, or exploring the slopes of Italy or Switzerland — partner ski hire shops in your destination are already accepting reservations.
alpy.com works with over 1,150 hire shops across 11 countries. Many of these shops are located right at the mountain base, so you can pick up your hire equipment and be on the snow within minutes of arriving. Simply enter your resort and rental dates on the site to see all available options, compare packages, and book in just a few minutes.
What Equipment Can You Hire?
A quality ski hire package covers everything you need for a great day of skiing or snowboarding. On alpy.com, you can hire:
- Hire skis — from beginner-friendly all-mountain skis to performance carving skis, freeride skis for off-piste riding, and ski touring setups for those venturing beyond the marked runs
- Snowboard hire — including all-mountain boards, freestyle setups, and freeride snowboards for powder days
- Ski boots — professionally fitted to your foot for comfort and control throughout the rental period
- Helmets — a must-have for all ages and ability levels, available to hire alongside your ski or snowboard package
- Poles — lightweight aluminium and carbon poles to match your hire skis
All hire equipment on alpy.com comes from top brands — the same high quality equipment you’d find in any specialist ski hire shop at the resort, reserved exclusively for your rental dates.
Alpy Tip: Renting ski equipment is particularly cost-effective for beginners and occasional skiers who don’t need to own their own gear. Hiring also means you always ride on well-maintained, up-to-date equipment — no storage, no servicing, no hassle. If you’re not sure which skis are right for you, our online ski rental guide walks you through the full process — from choosing equipment to collecting your gear at the resort.
Getting the Right Gear and the Perfect Fit
One of the biggest advantages of booking ski hire online — rather than walking into a hire shop on the day — is the time you get to think about what you actually need. On alpy.com, you enter your personal measurements when booking: height, weight, boot size, and skiing or snowboarding ability level. This means the specialists at your chosen hire shop can prepare your equipment in advance, so it’s correctly fitted and waiting for you on arrival.
Getting the right fit matters most for ski boots. A boot that’s too loose causes poor control; too tight and your first day of skiing is an uncomfortable one. Booking online and entering your measurements in advance gives the hire shop time to prepare the right boot and make any adjustments before you visit.
For snowboarders, your stance matters too — whether you ride regular (left foot forward) or goofy (right foot forward), note this in your booking so your board is set up correctly from the start.
Professional advice is always available at the hire shop when you collect your gear. The ski hire specialists at alpy.com’s partner shops are there to make sure you ride away with the right equipment for your level, the snow conditions, and the resort you’re visiting.
Why Book Ski Hire Online Rather Than Walk In?
Booking your ski or snowboard hire online before you travel — rather than walking into a hire shop on arrival — makes a real difference to your holiday. Here’s why:
Save money on every rental. Booking online through alpy.com saves up to 65% compared to walk-in rental prices at the resort. There are no booking fees on alpy.com, and the best price is available directly on the site without needing to call or visit in person.
Skip the queues. Rental shops at busy ski resorts can have long queues on peak mornings — particularly on Saturdays and the first day of school holiday weeks. With reserved equipment and a confirmed booking, you go straight to the collection point. Less time queuing, more time on the slopes.
Guaranteed availability. Securing rental equipment online means your specific gear is held for your rental dates. During peak season, popular sizes and performance categories fill up fast. Booking in advance means you get exactly the right gear — not whatever’s left.
Pick up the afternoon before. Many of alpy.com’s partner ski hire shops allow you to collect your reserved equipment the afternoon before your rental period begins. That means you can fit your ski boots and check your gear before your first day of skiing, rather than sorting it all out on the morning.
No hidden costs. The price you see when booking on alpy.com is the price you pay. No surprise charges, no walk-in premium, and free cancellation if your plans change — simply cancel before the day before pickup at no charge.
The Rental Process: How to Book on alpy.com
The rental process is straightforward and takes just a few minutes on any device:
- Find your location. Go to alpy.com and enter your ski resort and rental dates. You’ll see all available ski hire shops for your destination with live availability for your chosen dates.
- Choose your hire equipment. Select ski or snowboard hire packages that suit your ability level and group. Filter by equipment category — from beginner skis to freeride skis, or all-mountain snowboards to touring setups. Add ski boots, helmet, and poles as needed.
- Enter your measurements. Provide your height, weight, boot size, and ability level so your equipment is prepared correctly. For snowboarders, note your stance (left foot forward or right).
- Create your customer account and confirm. Complete your booking through your customer account on alpy.com. You’ll receive instant confirmation and your reserved equipment is held for your rental dates.
- Add optional protection. At checkout you can add ALPINGUARANTY, ALPINSAFETY, or ALPINFLEXI for additional peace of mind (see below).
That’s the full rental process — done. Your hire equipment is secured and you’re ready for winter.
Optional Protection: Cover Your Hire Before You Travel
alpy.com offers three optional protection products you can add when booking your ski or snowboard hire:
- ALPINGUARANTY — breakage and theft waiver. If the hire equipment gets damaged or goes missing, you’re covered. Costs 15% of your rental price.
- ALPINSAFETY — personal injury and mountain rescue cover. Costs €1.35 per person per day — particularly worth adding for family ski holidays or longer rental periods.
- ALPINFLEXI — cancellation protection for your hire booking. Costs 5% of your rental price.
All three are optional add-ons with no booking fees. You can read more about how ski rental protection works in our guide to ski rental insurance and damage waivers.
Why Book Through alpy.com?
alpy.com has been connecting skiers and snowboarders with quality ski hire specialists since 2006. Over 3.2 million customers have booked their winter sport hire through the platform, which holds a 4.7-star rating based on more than 12,000 verified Trustpilot reviews.
The platform is fully independent — alpy.com doesn’t own or operate hire shops. That means the pricing and selection you see reflects genuine options from local ski hire specialists across the best ski resorts in Europe, with no single provider’s inventory dominating the results. It’s a proper comparison site for ski hire, built around giving you the best price and the right gear for your holiday.
You can read verified reviews from other travellers at trustpilot before you book.
FAQ
Can I book ski hire now for winter 2026/27?
Yes. Ski hire and snowboard hire shops for winter 2026/27 are already open for bookings on alpy.com. You can search your resort, select your rental dates, choose your hire equipment, and confirm your reservation today. Free cancellation is available until the day before pickup, so there is no risk to booking ahead.
Is it cheaper to book ski hire online in advance?
Yes. Booking ski hire online through alpy.com saves up to 65% compared to walk-in prices at resort hire shops. There are no booking fees, and the saving applies whenever you choose to book online rather than walking in without a reservation.
What if my rental dates change after I’ve booked?
alpy.com offers free cancellation until the day before your rental starts. Simply cancel your existing booking at no charge and rebook with your updated dates, subject to availability at your chosen ski hire shop.
What hire equipment is available on alpy.com?
You can hire skis (all-mountain, carving, freeride, and ski touring), snowboards, ski boots, helmets, and poles through alpy.com’s partner ski hire shops. All equipment is from top brands and maintained to a high quality standard by specialist hire shops at or near the mountain.
Can I hire snowboards as well as skis?
Yes. alpy.com supports both ski hire and snowboard hire across all partner resorts. When searching, select snowboard hire from the equipment options alongside your destination and rental dates. You can specify your stance (left foot forward or right foot forward) when entering your measurements.
Is renting ski equipment worth it compared to buying?
For most recreational skiers and snowboarders — especially beginners or those who ski once or twice a year — renting ski equipment is significantly more cost-effective than purchasing. Ski hire also means you always ride on well-maintained, up-to-date gear from top brands, without the cost of storage or servicing.
Conclusion
Winter 2026/27 is closer than it seems, and the ski hire shops are already open. Whether you’re after hire skis for an all-mountain adventure, a freeride snowboard for powder days, or a complete hire equipment package for the whole family — you can book it now on alpy.com, secure the best price, and arrive at the resort with everything sorted.
Save up to 65% compared to walk-in rental prices, choose from 1,150+ ski hire shops across the best ski resorts in Europe, and enjoy free cancellation until the day before pickup if your plans change.
Book ski hire and snowboard hire for winter 2026/27 → alpy.com
With 12,000+ Trustpilot reviews and a 4.7-star rating, over 3.2 million skiers and snowboarders have already put their foot forward with alpy.com.
