Local shops’ favorite picks for the coming ski and snowboard season
By Brad Naccarato
With a ton of La Niña optimism surrounding the upcoming 2024-25 season, folks are already chomping at the bit to gear up for what could be an epic winter in the mountains. With so many great shops in our region, offering the latest and greatest gear and accessories, it can be overwhelming as to where to begin if you need to upgrade your kit. Well, we’ve gone ahead and done some of the leg work for you. Below you’ll find a comprehensive list of some of our region’s best shops and their own personal picks for the “must have” gear of the new season.
Solnix (North Spokane)
Spokane’s Solnix (previously Shred Sports), recently came under new ownership and with a fresh new look and name. As a full-service ski and snowboard shop, they have a huge selection to choose from and expert technicians who can guide your purchase.
Fred Nowland, Solnix’s head shop tech (and longtime ski shop legend of Spokane), is very excited about Salomon’s S/Pro Supra Boa 120 ski boot. “They’re now utilizing Boa technology on the outer shell in combination with traditional buckles up top,” says Nowland. “It’s a full custom heat moldable boot, so the fit is fantastic, and you can also get them in three different widths.” The Supra Boa comes in both men’s and women’s styles and ranges in price from $499 up to $749 depending on your desired boot flex.
The other item that Fred couldn’t stop gleaming over was the new heated boot bag from Head Skis. The bag is made from durable, water-resistant material to keep your boots dry and protected. It retails for $349. “You can plug into a 110 outlet or a car cigarette lighter,” he says. “It’s not just great for keeping your boots dry, but also your helmet, socks, gloves, and anything else.”
Fred was also quick to point out that their Lib Tech Cold Brew is always a big seller on the snowboard side of things. “It’s a full all-mountain utility board with a floatier nose for those occasional off-piste pow days.” With its patented Magne-Traction serrated edges, the Cold Brew has incredible grip on ice while still delivering the perfect blend of freeride, freestyle, and all-mountain riding capabilities. It retails for $549.
Alpine Haus (Two locations, South Hill & North Spokane)
Spokane’s Alpine Haus, a longstanding South Hill place of snow worship, has recently expanded to include a second location on Northwest Blvd. a few miles north of downtown. Traditionally known for some of the best boot fitters in Spokane, Alpine Haus is now ready to serve a broader range of winter sports enthusiasts on the north/central side of town.
Shane Ruby, the South Hill store manager, is very enthusiastic about the new Kastle MX88 alpine ski. “It’s a ski that’s only 88mm under foot but has a larger tip and tail that give it tons of float and versatility,” says Ruby. This is an all-rounder ski that delivers performance and stability everywhere on the mountain, whether it’s on firm-snow groomers or in choppy backcountry conditions. With a 17m turn radius at 174, the MX88 comes in both men’s and women’s versions and retails for $1,099.
When it comes to snowboards, with the La Niña year predicted, Ruby is big fan of the Jones Mind Expander. “It uses Skatetech, which gives it a surfier, fun feel. With the directional shape and lots of surface area, it floats nice and high on those big snow days,” he says. The board retails for $569.00, and pairs really nicely with the Jones Meteorite binding for $279.
Oakley has come out this year with their first two-lens goggle system. Their Line Miner Pro goggles are one accessory that Ruby had to mention. “It comes with two Prism-Tech lenses, one for night skiing or stormy days and a sapphire mirror lens for sunny days,” he says. They retail for $299.
2-Wheeler/ Ski Dealer (Hayden)
If you’re looking to get into backcountry skiing, 2-Wheeler/ Ski Dealer over in Hayden has you covered. They’ve been a player in the backcountry ski game now for several seasons, and with a full-service shop they can handle any of your backcountry ski tech needs.
The Freebird ski collection from Black Crows, is by far the favorite of sales manager Chris Parker. “The Corvus, Navis, and Camox are incredibly popular French touring skis that all have slightly different dimensions based on what you like,” says Parker. “They range in price from $800-1,000 and we offer demos in each version so you can try before you buy.”
If you need the whole kit, the Freebird lineup plays well with Salomon’s S/Lab Shift series AT bindings that retail from $550-$650. And don’t forget the skins. 2-Wheeler also sells ski-specific mohair skins for the whole Freebird series, so you can start tracking uphill at all your favorite backcountry stashes.
Sportsman’s Ski Haus (Coeur d’Alene)
Formerly known as Tri-State Outfitters, Sportsman’s not only re-branded in 2022, but also moved to a new location right off the freeway in Coeur d’ Alene. They still carry all of the same high-end winter sport brands in both their soft and hardgoods departments. They also offer a full-service ski and snowboard shop.
Grant Bordner, an action sports associate, is a huge fan of the ever-popular Nordica Enforcer series. “They’ve done a bunch of small upgrades to this tried-and-true legend, making it even more versatile along with updated graphics,” he says. “They come in waist widths of 89/99/104mm, and new for 2025, all the Enforcers now have a full rocker profile instead of just the 104 version, like in previous years,” he adds.
The Enforcer line-up comes in both men’s and women’s versions and retails for $699-849. Sportsman’s will be offering demos in each of waist widths so you can try before you buy.
Gear Garage (Coeur d’Alene)
Gear Garage, located in downtown Coeur d’ Alene, has been quietly selling tons of gently used ski and snowboard gear since 2022. But new for this season, the Gear Garage has now become an exclusive North Idaho dealer for Icelandic skis and Never Summer Snowboards to go along with their huge selection of over 300 used skis and snowboards—as well as a full rental fleet.
“Everybody is loving the Icelandic Nomad,” says owner Matt Dingman. “It’s an amazing ski that’s got a massive following in places like Utah and Colorado.” The Nomad comes in waist widths 94/100/106mm, and retails for $799-879, depending on width. The Garage is also a Marker binding dealer with a full-service shop to mount those new Nomads up and send you on your way.
Serving Sandpoint since 1966, the Alpine Shop operates both a downtown store and a mountain-top store in the Schweitzer village. Owner Zach Vollmer is super stoked about Rossignol’s long-awaited re-issue of the cult classic Soul 7 ski for 2025, named the Sender Soul. “They basically blended their Black Ops and Sender technology together, making for an even more super versatile, all-mountain ski that’s still effortless, surfy, and predictable,” he says. The new Sender Soul comes in lengths 156-188 with an average of about 102mm under foot, give or take a few mm’s based on length. It retails for $699.
Outdoor Experience (Sandpoint)
Downtown Sandpoint’s Outdoor Experience has become a go-to shop for many Nordic ski enthusiasts in the Inland Northwest. Sales associate Hank Graves says the Rossignol BC 80 has been the favorite package for folks who want maximum versatility in their Nordic skiing experience. “With 80mm at the shovel, it’s a ski that doesn’t mind going off groomed trails,” he says. “Its width makes it extremely versatile, and it also has a full-length metal edge for stability.”
The BC 80 is sold as a package with the Rottefella NNN Backcountry bindings for a total price of $449. If you need the whole kit though, the Rossignol BC X 6 boot works well with this set for $225.
Brad Naccarato is a North Idaho native who’s been contributing to OTO since 2012. Chasing trout, snow, waves, peaks, and microbrews keeps him sane.
