A sharp edge is a ski's best feature on hardpack and its worst one in a car trunk. Most of the scratches on your topsheets and dings in your bases don't come from rocks. They come from the walk to the lift, the drive up, and the ski rack outside the lodge.
Base to base, always
Put skis together base to base, with the brakes interlocked. Then strap them in two places, near the tips and near the tails. Loose skis slide apart, cross, and edge-scratch each other.
Pad the tips
The tips take the knocks: car doors, rack bars, other people's skis. A padded cover keeps them together and cushions the impact. TipSox slide over the tips of a pair of skis 85–105 mm wide and stop the clacking on the carry. Take them off before you click in.
In the car
- Lay skis flat, bases together, with something soft underneath.
- Keep edges away from seat fabric and plastic trim.
- Wet skis in a closed car rust edges. Wipe them down or let them dry at home.
On the rack
- Rack your skis bases together, tips up.
- A bright tip cover or a patch makes your pair easy to spot in a crowded rack.
East Coast skiers, take note
Hardpack and ice mean skiers in the East tune edges more often, and sharp edges do more damage off the snow. TipSox's Ski the East design is "for skiers raised on East Coast hardpack."
Flying
For a flight, use a padded ski bag and pad the tips inside it. See how to fly with ski boots for the rest of the setup.