The rental market for alpine and snowboard gear continues to evolve, in response to shifts in demand and the overall market as well as technology advances. In particular, hard goods suppliers recognize the need to bring more newcomers to skiing and riding, as well as the trend among consumers toward leasing and demo rental and away from purchasing. The result: rental buyers have a wealth of product to consider as they stock up to serve a changing marketplace.
The market for 2026-27 rental gear will be interesting, for at least a couple of reasons.
Market share. First, rental gear comprises a significant and increasing portion of the overall gear market in the U.S. According to Snowsports Industries America (SIA) figures, the market breaks down to about 30 percent rental, 20 percent lease/demo, 30 percent specialty sales, and 20 percent online. In other words, rental and demo sales have become increasingly important for suppliers.
Demo gear and leasing have especially grown as a category. "Demo used to be limited," says Fischer VP of sales Scott Ford. "Now, it's evolved to be bigger; it's just another level of rental."
BOA trending up. Second, and related to the first: several suppliers are introducing new step-up rental models for both alpine skis and boots. Of particular note in boots, more models are offering BOA closure systems, as BOA continues to spread throughout suppliers' boot lines. We're looking at you, Head, Rossignol, and Fischer. While BOA tends to come at a slight premium, the market is clearly moving in this direction, as it did with GripWalk over the past decade.
In snowboards, Nitro, which introduced new board and binding lines for this year as part of its push into the rental market, is adding new boots for 2026-27. And Elan's boots, boards, and bindings—adult and junior—are all new. Even more than with alpine boots, BOA is often an option.
Carryovers. Of course, many resort rental buyers favor consistency in product and graphics, which makes a lack of change attractive. And there are several companies that are maintaining the status quo, especially if they have introduced new models and concepts over the past few years.
Notable among these: Burton is standing pat with its time-tested rental line and Step-On boot-binding system. "Step-On has changed the binding marketplace, and we believe it is also an excellent tool for learning,” says Royal White, Burton senior area manager for the Rockies.
The same is true of Salomon, for both alpine and snowboard. "Our rental partners typically appreciate two- to three-year carryover cycles as it makes their fleet management less chaotic," says Salomon winter sports equipment VP Erik Anderson. "We had one running change—we put a beefier tip on our fleet rental ski."
With all the new and carryover models for rental and demo, resorts have plenty of options for capturing their share of the growing rental/demo market. It's well worth checking out what companies have in store.
We'll update this article periodically as we get more information.
Rental Gear 2026-27
ALPINE
Head Tyrolia
Head’s biggest new product is its Discovery Sport line (Discovery 82 Sport R, Discovery 78 Sport R), new performance models aimed at the sport rental and lease markets. The line introduces a new technology, Auxetic Tech, that uses structured spring steel between two layers of polymer. (Auxetic materials get thicker when stretched and thinner when compressed, the opposite of most materials.)
The construction provides lightweight dampening and stiffens the ski torsionally and along its length in response to increased force, according to rental product manager Marshall Mayhew. This is said to create a versatile product for novices through advanced skiers. The line's retail-inspired graphics come with the usual rental durability enhancements.
These models can be used with traditional boots and bindings or integrated with Head's BYS system. Further, the Discovery line shares color coding with the fleet-oriented Ambition series so that operators can mix models in their inventory more easily. The Ambition models are unchanged.
Boot updates include enhanced durability thanks to a new material for the Edge and Kaliber sport rental boots, both of which come with a BOA closure system. BOA has been well received in the Northeast and Rocky Mountain regions, Mayhew says.
Otherwise, Head's helmets and Supershape Jr. ski line are full carryover, as are Tyrolia’s bindings.
Top to bottom: Rossignol’s Soul 92; the Fischer Curv GT 80 XTR; Head’s Discovery (78 Sport R); the Elan Ripstick R4 and Explore HD.
Rossignol
Rossignol has added new graphics to some of its performance rental and demo products, and added a brand-new ski, the Soul 92. This adopts the construction of the Soul 102 but with a tighter turn radius and "a bit more rocker," says Jake Stevens, North American sales and category directory for alpine, bike, and snowboard. "This ski will be amazing for intermediate to expert level skiers looking for a narrower freeride all-mountain ski."
In boots, Rossi is adding the new Hi-Speed and Pure performance rental models, and putting BOA on the MV and HV options for both families. The rest of the rental collection, including the step-in Alltrack and Vizion models, are unchanged. These models, Stevens says, eliminate the challenge some skiers have in putting on or taking off their boots. "The best part of this technology, it's not a rear entry boot. It looks and skis like a traditional boot, but it's easy to get on," he explains.
Stevens notes that Rossi has been updating its rental fleet over the past few years, and introduced new fleet rental skis last season with the Experience Rental and React RT, which continue this year.
Elan
"Everything in the Elan rental offering is new except for bindings," says Ben Fresco, global head of product development. "All new skis, and a larger selection of demo-level versions of in-line products." There's even a new rental pole.
The new Explore HD and HD RS are fleet-oriented models. Both have 124-78-106 sidecut with early rise rocker, and are available in 130-178 cm lengths. HD is the more economical, reduced-sole-length model and comes with an extruded base and the Track binding (part of the Head Tyrolia BYS system) with its hands-free adjustment. The HD RS has a sintered base and can be had with the Track or Shift X binding.
There are four new Ripstick demo models, the R4 and R8, in both men's and women's versions. Waist widths are 82/84 cm on the R4, women/men, and 88/90 cm on the R8, women/men.
The Tyrolia Track and Shift X binding lines are unchanged, as are the Alpina Discovery DSS 4Factor reduced-sole-length boot models.
Left to right: Head Edge BOA boot and Kaliber BOA boot; Fischer XTR Premio BOA boot and One junior boot.
Fischer
Fischer is making a major push in the rental market, a response to the growing importance of rental/demo/lease in the marketplace, as the new program's 71-page Powerpoint presentation attests. The much-abbreviated version:
The Curv line of fleet and step-up models now comprises the main rental series. At the top of the group, the Curv GT 80 XTR (80 mm waist) is "a quick, agile ski," says VP of sales Scott Ford. The wood core sandwich sidewall construction adds a .5 mm sheet of Titanal "for stability and grip." An E-Triple Radius sidecut, On-Piste Rocker, sintered base, and one-piece Rentaltrack with integrated bindings completes the package. The Curv GT 76 XTR is similar, but narrower (76 mm waist) with less metal. It comes in 145-180 cm lengths.
According to Ford, the E-Triple Radius sidecut "is a comfortable construction for those learning to carve."
Both these models offer men's and women's graphics, but the differences between them are slight, and structurally, they are identical. Extensive testing has proved that as ski and boot designs have evolved, it's not necessary to build a "women's" ski, Ford says.
Fischer's new Uvex rental helmet and goggle.The main fleet model is the Curv X, which has a Fibertech foam core with a wood stringer. Sidecut is an easy-turning 118-73-101 with On-Piste Rocker. Durable Ceradur topsheet, reinforced edges, extruded base, and "a simple, precise binding setup" complete the high-usage package.
In addition to the usual rental durability measures, Fischer takes an additional step to flex-match its skis during the production process. This is yet another sign of the growing importance of, and Fischer's emphasis on, rental gear.
New junior models include the Curv Jr. with On-Piste Rocker, and for the littlest kids, the lightweight, foam-core Fischer One. This can be paired with the new, radically different, free-flexing Fischer One kids boot (kids sizes 15.5 to 18.5).
In boots, the Premio series and the junior model Fischer One are new. The XTR Premio 90 BOA and Premio 90 (men) and XTR Premio 85 BOA and XTR Premio 85 (women) are roomy (102 mm width) and packed with rental features. Among them: an easy-entry instep flap three-position calf adapter, three liner options with anti-bacteria treatment, rental-specific buckles, tool-free catches, hinge materials selected for durability and appearance, and wear plates in the toe and heel pieces that indicate when it's time to replace them. Additionally, the shell surface is textured at wear points to hide scuffing, so the boots stay looking newer longer.
The XTR RC4 Rent series is carried over, as are the RC4 JR models.
One more thing: Fischer is offering two new adult poles—one carbon, one 6061 aluminum—and one junior pole, 7075 aluminum.
OK, a second last thing: a new Uvex rental helmet and goggle are coming.
And a third final thing: Fischer offers special makeup rentals for resorts that want their own graphics, in three tiers—the lowest of which requires no minimums. At the 500- and 1000-unit minimums, though, service and support levels progressively increase.
Salomon
There are no changes to the Salomon alpine rental product lines, with the minor exception of a running change that added a beefier tip to its fleet rental ski.
"Our rental partners typically appreciate two- to three-year carryover cycles as it makes their fleet management less chaotic," says winter sports equipment VP Erik Anderson.
SNOWBOARD
Burton
There are no changes to the Burton rental line, which has been an innovation leader for decades. Burton remains committed to its Step-On binding system and updated its fleet board two years ago.
"Step-On has changed the binding marketplace, and we believe it is also an excellent tool for learning,” says Royal White, Burton senior area manager for the Rockies.
Elan
"Everything in the Elan rental offering is new," says Ben Fresco, global head of product development, "snowboards, boots, and bindings."
There are three new boards: the Explore R, with Jib Rocker; the wider Explore Plus R, with All-Terrain Rocker; and the Explore JR, the kids version of the Plus R. The R is available in 6 lengths from 135 cm to 160 cm; the Plus R in 7 lengths from 135 cm to 170 cm. The JR comes in 3 lengths from 105 cm to 125 cm. All three models have wood cores.
The new boots are the 620 4D BOA, 400 4D JR BOA, and 500 4D. The 620 and 400 have full toe and heel protection and rubber covered lace guides; the 500 has similar lace guides with traditional laces, and an injected heel section.
The new Elan Flatbed padded high back binding comes in three sizes and has aluminum buckles and heel cup plus TPU straps. A new padded high back junior binding, the Lytrent 4D JR, comes in two sizes, and has "Easy Grip" plastic buckles. Both bindings fold low for efficient storage.
Left to right: Elan’s Explore Plus R 165, Explore JR 75, and Explore R 150; Head’s Flex 4D and Flex 4D Junior snowboards with new graphics.
Head
Head’s snowboard gear remains largely unchanged, with carryover bindings and boots, but the company is introducing new retail-style graphics for the Flex 4D 2.0 adult and junior boards. Head's carryover snowboard bindings benefit from a simplified design with fewer spare parts and stamped product codes, which rental product manager Marshall Mayhew says eases inventory and servicing issues.
Rossignol
There are no changes to the Rossi snowboard rental collection.
Nitro
Nitro, which has made a strong push into the rental market in the past few years, has redone its rental boot line to resemble some of its best-selling inline models. "This is the same concept that we have been using with our rental boards and binding options," says rental specialist Adam Stromwall. "It matches inline gear but is optimized to survive rental abuse."
The new Team and Venture models use "super tough materials" and have durable rubber soles, along with lace protectors and molded one-piece toe caps. The Venture comes with a BOA closure, while the Team offers three closure options: BOA, Double BOA, and traditional laces.
Nitro's rental board and Team binding, which all debuted for this current season, are unchanged for 2026-27.
Left to right: Elan's 400 4D BOA and 500 4D; Nitro's Team Double BOA; Elan's Flatbed binding and Lytrent 4D Jr binding.
Salomon
There are no changes to the Salomon snowboard rental line.
Nidecker/Flow
There are no changes in the Nidecker rental line. The rear-entry Flow Design bindings remain a staple, along with Easy-Lock mounting discs, BOA boots, and inline-like rental constructions and graphics with the usual rental durability modifications. Nidecker also offers traditional two-strap bindings.
