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building a box to ship skis-have you done it?

#1
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10/9/09 at 7:52am
  • Joined: December 2001
  • Location: Maine
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 I will be traveling to Tahoe this winter to ski.  I will be shipping 3 pairs of skis.  I know there are bags which handle 3 pairs, but they are a bit pricey and I can not insure my skis if they are in a bag.  So I am thinking about custom building a box using rigid foam from Home Depot.  Still in the head stages, but I would have a top and bottom piece of foam with cut pieces to customize around the skis.  I would then get a refrigerator box and cut the cardboard to dimension and securely tape.  Alternatively I could cut luan.  Thoughts?
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#2
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10/9/09 at 8:20am
  • Joined: October 2007
  • Location: Tahoe
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lumber yards use large flat sheets of cardboard for Top Sheets of stacks of plywood and would probably give you one. refrig. box ought to work as well. You might cut foam or wood to support/brace the tips as they are most vulnerable.
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#3
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10/9/09 at 9:21am
  • Joined: July 2002
  • Location: MA
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Quote:
Originally Posted by davluri View Post

You might cut foam or wood to support/brace the tips and bindings as they are most vulnerable.

Fixed it for 'ya.
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#4
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10/9/09 at 9:41am
  • Joined: August 2004
  • Location: N. Lake Tahoe
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So, help me understand, .  You are going to ship them in foam/fur lined luxury to avoid any damage - then you are going to get here and ski the ass off them    ???

Some disconnect here

Takes me back to the signature someone used to have here "ski them like you stole them" (or like they are demos!)

Cardboard should do fine Maineac.  I would probably just use bubble wrap, that is how I usualy ship them .  Keeps the shipping weight down as well.

In fact given some of the airline charges may be getting closer to a wash to ship them now. 

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#5
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10/9/09 at 9:55am
  • Joined: October 2004
  • Location: Ann Arbor MI
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Saran wrap does a nice job of keeping the skis from "scissoring" around.  I usually start at section near the contact points.  once tight, at least they dont bounce around within box/bag
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#6
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10/9/09 at 10:34am
  • Joined: December 2001
  • Location: Maine
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So, help me understand, .  You are going to ship them in foam/fur lined luxury to avoid any damage - then you are going to get here and ski the ass off them    ???
 Yeah all of my skis instantly become rock skis once bought because I will always sacrifice the skis for the skiing.  That being said, I did not know of a box which would hold 3 skis.


In fact given some of the airline charges may be getting closer to a wash to ship them now. 

Looking on the websites it appears there is a serious upcharge for oversize packages.  I have flown with skis several times before, but it seems baggage is being treated as an income source now by the airlines.
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#7
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10/9/09 at 11:53am
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I just cross posted on a similar issue. Many replied with the suggestion getting some cardboard boxes from a ski store and using bubble wrap. You could try this or just buy a new or used sport tube.  Im going to try my luck shipping fed ex ground, with a bag this year and carrying on the airline on the way back..

FYI they have an el cheapo "high sierra bag" on Sierra trading post for like 35 dollars shipped. You could buy two and not worry when the air line trashes it.  Im not a fan of that brand but for airport destruction its worth a shot.
************

Edit sport tubes were on sale at my local shop for 20 percent off. I took the plunge. hope i wont regret it as it looks difficult to pack. Maybe ill get the hang of it. .....



Edited by kbuzz - 10/11/09 at 8:15pm
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#8
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10/9/09 at 12:05pm
  • Joined: October 2009
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You could also check out your local ski shop to see if they have any boxes to give you.  I did this with my local shop (I give them lots of business though) and they were cool with giving me a box.  Shipping skis can be tricky and the last time I shipped three pairs of skis it cost me about $30.
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#9
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10/9/09 at 12:36pm
  • Joined: September 2009
  • Location: Boulder, Colorado
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With the oversize fee that Fedex or UPS will charge, it's going to be expensive!

Patrick
877-325-3231 (toll free)
AlpineSportsOutlet.com
Boulder, CO

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#10
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10/9/09 at 5:29pm
  • Joined: August 2008
  • Location: Newport Beach, California
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I ship using a large ski bag (usually two pr skis, but I've made it work with a 3rd pr offset). I use foam pipe insulator (from Home Depot) cut lengthwise in half, then again in lengths that fit above and below the bindings. I use cheap velcro straps (again Home Depot) to hold each pr of skis together and keep the foam in place. There may not be enough room to wrap any protection around the bindings but they're made to endure impact and the compression keeps them in a solid position. If you have any room left around the bindings stuff/wrap a couple of shop towels around them. I wrap a few shop towels around the tips and tails too. When home I keep the foam & straps stored in the bag to use again. I typically do this when I check my bags and it has worked well when I have shipped.

This method will protect from the normal abuse from baggage handlers and shippers.

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#11
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10/11/09 at 5:13pm
  • Joined: March 2004
  • Location: Virginia
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Maineac View Post

Looking on the websites it appears there is a serious upcharge for oversize packages.  I have flown with skis several times before, but it seems baggage is being treated as an income source now by the airlines.

Even with the new baggage fees, the combination of (1 ski bag + 1 boot bag) still counts as one regular-size checked luggage item, so the fee will be the same as a regular suitcase.  Just keep it under 50 lbs (not a problem for most people).  

Sports equipment is normally not classified as oversize cargo/luggage.
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#12
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10/12/09 at 8:18pm
  • Joined: October 2007
  • Location: Iowa
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Saran Wrap is good idea but i use the wrap sold on by Home Depots, Lowe's etc used for wrapping lumber (shippers use the 3 foot wide stuff) and its a useful 6 inches wide with cardboard handle, around $7bucks.  I can orient skis with out edges out, the wrap holds them in place to one another and you can use the wrap to add padding if you need to. 

done this with all my ski's, poles, etc when putting them in bags for the airlines, keeps em ganged together effectively stronger and not banging against one another.   Toss the stuff in the bag when done.  Also useful (especially for airlines) to wrap up a business card or address directly to the ski ... you can read through the rap when they loose em ; (

given ski's strength, you'd likely be paid out for damage, but who really wants that ; )

i "sharpie' my name and zip on the ski's and poles ... but again, you my gather i'm a bit paranoid .. and geek

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