I did end up taking dear husband in and we decided to just buy some rentals pkgs. New season starting and they of course needed the room so the $$ was great! We hve not skied for years and am only picking it up again because the kids are snowboarding all over the place. I got some skis as well and am looking forward to using them. We rented last year to try out shaped skis. We had enough boards across our skis to warn us to wait until the kids stop needing us stop them before buying what we really want. Thanks for all the help and good information. Many good reminders from when I used to ski as a kid. My first boots were leather. My father picked them up from a ski sale. Brrrr!! and Ouch! Thanks again.