Andorra Ski & Snowboard Hire FAQs: Everything You Need to Know Before You Book
Sorting your ski or snowboard hire before you travel is one of the easiest ways to save time and money on your Andorra trip. But if it’s your first time renting equipment – or your first time skiing in Andorra specifically – you probably have a few questions. Here’s everything we get asked most often about hiring skis, boards and boots across Soldeu, El Tarter, Pas de la Casa and Arinsal.
General Equipment Questions
Should I hire equipment or bring my own?
Unless you ski or snowboard often enough to justify owning your own gear, hiring in resort is almost always the easier and better value option. You avoid the hassle of transporting bulky ski bags on your flight and rental shops can adjust boots, bindings and settings specifically for your height, weight and ability – something your own kit won’t do if you’ve grown, changed weight, or improved since you bought it.
How much can I save by pre-booking my ski hire?
Pre-booking online gets you a minimum 30% discount off standard resort prices across Soldeu, El Tarter, Pas de la Casa, Arinsal and all the ski resorts in Andorra, whatever your ability level or however long your trip. These discounts are only available for pre-booking with Andorra Resorts.
Which hire shops do you work with in each resort?
We only work with shops we trust to look after our customers properly:
- Soldeu: Sports Calbo, located right in the centre of the village in the same building as the gondola – the closest hire shop to the slopes.
- El Tarter: Nordic Esports, right next to the pistes near the ticket windows.
- Pas de la Casa: Rentaski, Shusski and Pic Negre, with seven shops around town so you can collect wherever’s most convenient, right next to the chair lifts or your hotel, you choose!
- Arinsal: St Moritz, with three shops – one in the village centre near the gondola, one at the top of the gondola on the slopes, and one at the top of the village by the six-man chairlift.
Can I collect my equipment before my rental starts?
Yes – all of our hire shops let you collect your pre-booked skis or snowboard the afternoon before your rental period begins (normally from around 4pm), so you can get straight up the mountain first thing rather than losing your first morning to fitting.
Is there a discount for booking equipment with my lift pass?
Yes. Booking your ski or snowboard hire alongside your lift pass – and lessons, if you need them – as a package typically unlocks extra savings compared to booking each separately and it’s one less thing to arrange once you’re in resort. It’s worth checking the special offer packages for your resort before booking each item individually.
Boot Fitting & Sizing
What information do I need before I arrive?
Have your height and weight ready, ideally in metric measurements. If you only know them in imperial, don’t worry – hire shop staff have conversion charts on hand.
This small amount of information helps ensure your equipment is correctly set up, so you can spend less time in the shop and more time on the slopes.
How are ski boots fitted differently from snowboard boots?
Ski boots are hard-shelled and usually fasten with buckles, however newer ski boots are starting to use the “dial-up” twist system (Boa), while snowboard boots are softer and fasten either with laces or a “dial-up” twist system (Boa). Whichever you’re using, correct fitting matters for both comfort and safety, so the boot fitter will make sure they fit properly before moving you on to your skis or board.
Many of our partner shops also use advanced boot-fitting technology, scanning your feet to recommend the best-fitting ski or snowboard boots for maximum comfort and performance.
What is a DIN setting and why does it matter?
The DIN setting controls how much pressure it takes for your ski to release from the binding – usually when you fall. It’s set according to your weight and experience, so it’s important to be honest with your fitter about your ability level. Get it wrong and you risk either the ski releasing too easily or not releasing when it should.
Regular or goofy – what does it mean for snowboarders?
If you’re snowboarding, you’ll be asked whether you ride “regular” (left foot forward) or “goofy” (right foot forward), so your bindings can be set up correctly. If you’re not sure which feels natural, it’s worth thinking about this before you arrive – most people can tell by imagining sliding across a floor in socks and noticing which foot naturally goes first.
Don’t worry if it doesn’t feel quite right once you’re on the mountain. Your bindings can be adjusted at any time during your holiday by the hire shop to ensure you’re as comfortable as possible.
How do I know my ski poles are the right length?
With your boots on, turn the pole upside down and place your hand just under the basket (the plastic disc near the bottom). If your arm forms roughly a 90-degree angle, the length is right for you.
Helmets, Lockers & Keeping Track of Your Gear
Do I need to wear a helmet in Andorra?
Helmets aren’t compulsory on the slopes in Andorra, but they’re strongly recommended and have become the norm for most skiers and boarders in recent years. You can add a helmet to any ski or snowboard rental at the point of booking.
Are helmets free for children?
Yes – when you hire equipment for children (3-11yrs), you’ll get a free helmet included for the full duration of the rental across all the ski resorts, from Arinsal to Pas de la Casa. We know the importance of staying safe on the mountain, which is why we recommend everyone wears a helmet whilst skiing or snowboarding.
Should I book a helmet in advance?
We’d recommend it. In busy weeks, hire shops can sell out of helmets, so pre-booking will allow the shops to manage stock more efficiently across their locations.
During peak periods, please note that helmets may occasionally need to be transferred between shops, depending on where customers choose to collect their equipment. Pre-booking gives the hire shop the best opportunity to have everything ready for your arrival. to collect their equipment from.
Should I hire a locker?
It depends on your accommodation. Some hotels and apartments offer their own ski storage – worth checking before you book anything extra. Some customers prefer the convenient location of lockers, right next to the slopes so you’re not carrying kit far at the start and end of each day. Where available, lockers can be pre-booked alongside your equipment.
How do I make sure I don’t pick up the wrong skis or board?
All rental equipment has a serial number etched or stuck onto it – make a note of yours as soon as you collect your gear. Lots of rental kit looks near-identical in communal storage areas/ slope side restaurants, so this is the easiest way to be sure you’re picking up your own equipment (and not someone else’s) throughout your stay. Hire shops will also check that you’re returning the correct equipment at the end of your rental.
Booking & Practical Questions
Can I hire equipment for just one day?
Yes – rental bookings are completely flexible, from one day up to two weeks or more and you’ll still get the same discount regardless of how long you book for.
What happens once I’ve booked?
You’ll get access to a customer account area where you can view your booking and print your voucher. Simply take that voucher into your chosen hire shop and their team will kit you out with your booked equipment.
No printer? No problem. You can save your voucher to your phone and show it on arrival. As mobile data in Andorra can be expensive, we recommend downloading your voucher before you travel or connecting to Wi-Fi in resort before opening it.
What if I have questions once I’ve booked?
Each resort has a dedicated team on hand, both before you travel and in resort, to help if anything comes up with your equipment booking.
Ready to Book Your Equipment?
Sort your skis, board and boots before you travel and save yourself both time and money once you’re in resort;
