Partnership with Sanglard

In the winter of 2010-11 we spent some time wandering from store to store in Chamonix trying to determine who had the best selection of rental gear. We were looking for both quantity—a good selection of boot and ski sizes—as well as quality. While there are a number of shops that very large inventories, often a good part of the inventory was outdated equipment.

It did not take long at all to see that Sanglard Sports both had relatively new gear, and lots of it. While we were there looking at the stock, we met Nicolas, who manages the rental program. Our new partnership was born.

Here's how it works:

Online Booking

You click here, or on the logo at the bottom of this page and the link will take you to Sanglard's online rental site. You can reserve your equipment and, automatically, you receive a 15% to 40% discount, depending on the time of year. During high seasons, when the demand for rentals is highest, the discount is smaller, but always at least 15%.

In-store rentals

You simply walk in and rent what you like. Be sure to tell them you are from "Cosley and Houston Guides" and they'll apply your discount to your rental costs. The discount for in-store gear hire is 15% regardless of season.

Our full disclosure: Sanglard does give us a small commission on rentals you get from them. But the truth is we would recommend them even in the absence of this. And in fact, we have been for some time.

A few words of advice:

Last winter Sanglard had two different "levels" of ski rental: Premium (the really good stuff), and everything else. We highly recommend going for the best, even though the price is a bit higher. With ski gear, there are two main differences: The skis are newer, and generally wider. And second, the quality and fit of the skins is much better.

We think it is best to call the shop and discuss exactly what gear is available. Sanglard has a number of different models of skis, for example, and most of us have some opinions about what we like, or at least what width and lenght would be appropriate for us.

We also recommend that you give yourself a good full day to ski in any rental boots, just to be sure of fit, before you start a long multi-day outing. It is best if you can also do a good stint of uphill skinning in the boots, as normally it is the uphill part that is the boot-fitting crux.

Available winter rental gear available includes:

• skis, alpine or rando (rando kit includes skins and ski crampons)
• boots, alpine or rando
• snowboards
• ski helmets
• poles
• snowshoes
• avalanche probe
• avalanche transceiver
• small packs
• Gore-tex jacket or pants
• waterfall climbing equipment as per summer gear below

Available summer rental gear includes:

• mountaineering boots
• rock climbing shoes
• classic mountaineering ice axe
• technical ice tools
• crampons
• pack
• harness
• climbing helmet
• trekking poles
• Gore-tex jacket or pants

Click on the logo below to go to Sanglard's rental page.

Kathy Cosley & Mark Houston
UIAGM Internationally Licensed Mountain Guides

AMGA Certified • SNGM members
information about the logos