What a fair price looks like
Condition on WishThrift is described by the seller against five grades, and nobody inspects it on your behalf — so the description and the photographs are what you are buying on.
| Condition | Typical | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| New with Tags | £350 (~$466) | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | £298 (~$396) | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | £228 (~$303) | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | £158 (~$210) | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | £88 (~$117) | Not working or incomplete, sold as seen |
Sterling guide ranges with an approximate US dollar equivalent at £1 ≈ $1.33 (July 2026). Sellers set their own asking price; these are a starting point for judging an offer. All five grades explained.
The checklist before you pay
Getting it home — large gym equipment is a collection sale and usually needs two people and a van. On boards and hulls, water ingress that has already softened the core.
Run through these before money changes hands — they are the things that decide whether ski gear is worth what is being asked:
- Bindings too old for shops to service or adjust
- Core shots through the base to the core
- Packed-out boot liners that no longer support
- Delaminating skis at the tip or tail
And the things worth paying more for, because they hold their value:
- Recent skis and bindings still on the indemnified list
- Bases with no core shots and edges with no rust
- Boots with liners still holding their shape
- Complete setups with skis, bindings, poles and bag
Common faults and fakes
Counterfeit premium racquets and golf clubs exist and typically show in the serial markings and the finish quality on the head.
Ask for the weight and dimensions before agreeing collection. On boards, ask the seller to tap along the deck and say whether the tone changes.
WishThrift does not authenticate, inspect or grade anything, and no marketplace check replaces your own. If a seller will not answer a direct question about condition or origin, that is the answer.
Questions to ask the seller
These are the three that get asked most often about ski gear, and the answers tell you most of what you need:
Give the binding model and DIN range and say that a shop will need to adjust and test them. Never suggest bindings are ready to use as set.
Give the mondopoint number from the boot, not a shoe size. Mondopoint is how ski boots are actually sized.
Photograph them. Gouges and edge rust are normal and serviceable, but deep core shots are not and must be shown.
Also worth establishing before you commit:
- Check the binding model and year against the current indemnified list
- Run a hand along the edges feeling for rust and burrs
- Look at the base for gouges reaching the core
Photographs to ask for
If the listing does not already show these, ask — a seller who has the item will send them in minutes:
- The full set laid out together
- The ski bases, showing gouges and edge condition
- The bindings, showing the DIN setting and adjustment
- The boot soles and liners, plus the size markings
Details to confirm before you commit
- Ski length in centimetres and the ski type
- Boot mondopoint size and flex rating
- Binding model and DIN range
- Base and edge condition, and boot liner compression
Live ski gear listings
There is 1 live on WishThrift right now:
When to buy
November through February, peaking before the season. Ski gear listed in spring sells for considerably less.
Prices move against that cycle for a buyer: the cheapest time to buy is when sellers are listing most, not when demand peaks.
Paying and collecting safely
WishThrift does not process payments, hold funds or offer buyer protection — you agree the price and the method with the seller directly, which is what keeps the platform free on both sides. Meet somewhere public where you can, inspect before you pay, and keep the conversation on the site so there is a record of what was agreed. Be wary of any seller who wants to move the conversation elsewhere before you have agreed anything.
Selling one instead?
If you already have ski gear sitting unused, it is free to list and there is no commission — the price you agree is the amount you keep. Read how to sell ski gear for what to photograph and how to price, or what ski gear is worth at each condition grade.
Frequently asked questions
What should I pay for used ski gear?
Around £32 to £228 in good condition, more for barely-used examples and less for anything with a described fault. Compare against the seller’s photographs rather than the grade alone.
How do I check ski gear before buying?
Ask for the weight and dimensions before agreeing collection. On boards, ask the seller to tap along the deck and say whether the tone changes.
Is buying ski gear second hand safe?
Yes, with the ordinary care any private sale needs. WishThrift does not authenticate, inspect or hold funds, so inspect before you pay where you can, meet somewhere public, and keep the conversation on the site. Getting it home — large gym equipment is a collection sale and usually needs two people and a van. On boards and hulls, water ingress that has already softened the core.
See also: all buying guides · ski gear value guide · selling ski gear · Sports & Outdoors · condition grades.