The Ski Barn

The staff was helpful, the prices for rentals are way better than the resorts, and they had plenty of gear. Just make sure to pay the $ 10 for all the equipment upgrades that they shockingly will not try to upsell you on. You will really want the nicer skis and four-​buckle boots. Also, pay $ 1 for equipment insurance.

Torn between 2 and 3 stars… I’ve definitely been to a better ski rental store, but not in this area. Whatever you do, do not rent their bottom priced gear; it is worthless. It was so bad, we had to return it after a single run and get the upgraded gear. Their upgraded gear is ok, though not the best I’ve used (but also, the snow was pretty heavy and wet the day we skied). The bottom-​tier gear may be ok for a complete newbie that just wants to snow plow… though honestly, not sure I could recommend it for anyone; if you’re going to spend $ 60 on a lift ticket and want to stay safe on the mountain, just get the upgraded gear (we were afraid to even run a blue with the bottom-​level gear, it was so bad/​unsafe). We did the upgraded boots as well as skis, and the difference was VERY noticeable. I think it’s important to get the upgraded package… the better skis cut better and the better boots give you more stability. The service here was ok; from what we heard, it was waaaaaay more efficient than at Timberline. Mostly, this place looses two stars for even having such bad rental equipment on offer; they got a mercy extra star for being better than the awful (and crowded) lodge rental place that they are competing with.
Oh, one more point of note, where this place is showing up in Unilocal /​Google Maps isn’t quite right… this store is located by the turn-​off from hwy 32 to Timberline.

I can’t believe the bad things I’ve read about this location. Every time I’ve been in there and things were busy, people went out of their way to help. I watched the manager give a discount to employees, just to be nice, during ski season, because they couldn’t drive all the way to come back up in March (when they do their 2 for 1 sale). I couldn’t believe she gave them a discount off of already sale merchandise.
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I’ll admit, some times the employees don’t have much to do and are standing around, but when they are, the store is clean and stocked. If the season is slow, I can’t blame them for not having anything to do.
On top of that, one customer came in with a board. His son had stuck the toe clip into the binding backwards to get it stuck. The father was looking for completely new toe clips, planning to buy them and cut the others out. Instead, some employee sprang to the rescue. Wrenched a screwdriver into the binding and free the toe clips for him, free of charge. I’m a local, and it always seems like people wanna pitch a fit that things are full price during the season, or that employees have nothing to do on a Wednesday when its been raining for days, but I’ve watched the employees go above and beyond, just to be nice.
As for selection, not always everything I want, but it’s a small business, and the rentals are way cheaper than canaan and Timberline, with faster service, and MUCH NICER EQUIPMENT. Timberline’s skis are practically held together with spit and paperclips.
If you wanna be cheap, pick another hobby, or buy crummy gear on craigslist. It’s unfair to expect to haggle at a locally run store in a poor community, but if you’re looking for nice employees and serious help, this is a great place to go.

Definitely forget renting at either Timberline or Canaan Valley and head to the conveniently located Ski Barn (mid-​way between both ski resorts). Equipment rental prices are much more affordable at the Barn and you can pick up all those expensive necessities that you need, but might not necessarily want to make the investment in (like ski bibs, helmets, etc.). If you reserve online, you get a 10% discount on your total, which is always helpful.
I will say that on the two occasions I visited recently, at the first visit — the staff handled a large crowd with a much appreciated polite efficiency, however on our return, when the store was empty — I found it to be that cliché ski rental place experience, a bunch of staff standing around with somewhat of a snitty attitude that they had to process our returning rentals and interrupt their story (which was about ‘poop’ btw). So, while customer service might be hit or miss, this is pretty much your best option for skiing around Davis.

This is 2.5 stars really because while meh, I’ve experienced better (and I NEVER say «meh»), you really need this Ski Barn location because if, like me, you don’t ski or snowboard much, you won’t have all the shit you need. Thus, Ski Barn earns a three-​star rating for being in the right place at the right time.
The prices are semi-​high, although the shop offers a 10 percent discount for college students (and you best believe I’m still milking my undated GW college ID from last year). The selection is weak, but that is usually the case with noncorporate boutiques and stores. The customer service, in true Canaan style, was pretty much nonexistent.
I picked up some socks, snowboard mittens and a sunglasses band. We also rented our snowboard equipment from Ski Barn because the quality and selection here were better, and the prices cheaper, than Canaan Valley Resort, where we were staying and ‘boarding.
I’ll be back, I’m sure, not out of desire, but necessity.