Alpine Haus

Last time I bought skis was 25 years ago… ya know, the long skinny ones. Skis have changed and I came in not really knowing what I should get. Now I’m 49 so my goal now is to have fun and keep the skis between me and the ground at all costs. I went skiing for the first time in 20 years a few years back and knew it was kinda like riding a bike and it came back to me so i felt comfortable putting myself at intermediate level. Now I was ready to buy because my 12 year old daughter has been hounding me. She has her own gear so I knew if I was going to be motivated that I’d need to have the stuff because the rental thing is torture. So I went in, told them what I needed and the young lady in the front sent me back to the ski area and said someone would be back to help me out. I went back and within a few minutes a sweet kid came back to help me… nommore than 16 years old. So personable and sweet. He helped me find some really comfortable boots and I love them. I picked out some reasonably priced skis that already had the bindings on them. He asked me relevant questions about where I was going to ski, height, weight and skill level: groomed trails, 5’3″, 140 pounds. He said they should be eyebrow height and pulled out 160 cm long skis. Sounded good to me since I was clueless about these newfangled skis. So I proceeded to go skiing the following weekend. After two runs it became very clear that they were just too long. I just don’t have the strength or agility anymore to control and turn on a ski of this length… add to that a torn meniscus in my knee also. I was bummed and pretty much figured I was stuck with them and was annoyed with myself for not doing any research before buying. Once I did a little looking online it seemed apparent I should have gotten 152 cm skis for my height, weight and ability. I figured what the hell let me go over there and see if I have any options… Maybe swap and pay a little extra for new ones. I walked in and explained my problem and the guy told me that the skis are performance guaranteed and will swap them out no problem. I was so happy. Since he was a full timer and this was a Tuesday during the day it was apparent that he knew his stuff. He explained that they have some new inexperienced staff at the moment and apologized for the inconvenience. Awesome, amazing and surprisingly great customer service. I would recommend them highly. Great customer service is what it’s about these days with so much big box competition. It’s what sets independent shops like this apart.

This place is a breath of fresh air. When i have gone to other places I get some guy who knows nothing about skis and limited selection. When I come here these guys know their stuff and have a great selection. They seem to know right away what equipment is best for me and really know how to fit a boot and choose a ski. They have helped me out by finding used equipment for my kid or suggested a rental when appropriate. Won’t go anywhere else

Used to be our go to shop for ski and snow board gear but this season the staff seems to be much less knowledgeable than years past. If you know your stuff it’s fine, but if you need help picking your gear go elsewhere.

Selection is limited for boards but the staff is extremely friendly and knowledgeable only thing I can actually complain about is that on a white based board they took the liberty to use black ptex making a the board look horrendous underneath. However if you neglect the lack of care of color coordination they did a great job actually applying the ptex. They also didn’t feel the need to remove rust from the very front and back of a pair of skis I brought in to be tuned because their machine doesn’t touch those parts I was told. All in all I’ll keep it on the list for ski shops to frequent but after the ptex color and the rust I won’t be dropping any big dollar items here.

Visiting CT from the west coast (San Diego), and we don’t have a good selection of skis or equipment in So Cal. Found Alpine Haus online and knew this was the place to go. Ski expert Eric Laboss was amazingly helpful. He was very patient and offered several options for my ski level and terrain preference. Luckily I know my way around a ski shop and what I’m looking for, so the conversation regarding the best ski for my ability and skiing preferences was effortless. I did some research prior my purchase, and I know I got a great deal. Only item Alpine Haus didn’t have was the boot I wanted in my size. However, Eric and Dusty (the owner), offered suggestions for when I do find the perfect boot, and gave me a list of 3 that will be best suited for me.
Thanks, looking forward to ²⁰¹⁵⁄₂₀₁₆ ski season!

If you need ski boots in CT, this is the place to go. They know their stuff, and they take their time in getting the right fit.
I’d been battling with pain for years with another set of boots, and gave up on skiing for a while thinking I’d never again ski comfortably. I was wrong, as Alpine Haus fitted me with some excellent boots and custom footbeds and I’m now enjoying the sport again.

Awesome staff! Good service. Great selection!
I had a great experience here as a first time buyer! I’ve managed to avoid buying skis for over 10 years, and I was not looking forward to it.
My friend and I stopped in to check out the place. Our guy «Chops» led us through the entire process… From measuring our feet for boots to a guided tour of the ski sales rack, he did a great job of teaching us about the equipment, while zeroing in on our experience level and price point.
The best part was that he wasn’t pushy at all — I honestly felt like he was making sure we had all the information we needed to make the right decision on our skis, bindings, and boots. Not to mention, I scored an awesome deal on skis from last season!
We did happen to visit on a Sunday afternoon right before ski season, so it was definitely busy! I’d recommend going on a weeknight, as the ski area can get crowded on the weekend.
Otherwise, awesome though! The skis and boots have been great so far!!!

Great store and awesome staff! Whether a novice or a pro, Alpine Haus definitely needs to be your shop for any skiing or snowboarding needs. I was most impressed by the dedicated attention of the staff– from the point we walked in, we had a dedicated staff member (thanks Chops!) take superb care of us and answer any and all of our questions for three hours through boot fitting and ski purchasing. They know their stuff and when spending a considerable dime, it’s important to feel confident in your purchase. I can’t forget to mention they carry all the major brands and have a wide selection of boots and skis– including discounted prior year models and used items. If you’re looking to enhance your ski game or just getting started– go here!

Just left and had to write. Stopped in with my boyfriend who was looking to invest in some skis acc boots. Ultra friendly and very knowledgeable staff. We were blown away with their willingness to spend large amounts of time with us and we left with a great set of boots and skis perfectly matched to experience and ability. Would recommend over and over again– thanks, guys!

Go in with plenty of time to let these experts do their magic. Foot width and calf width have always been a problem. Left with custom fit in a off the shelf boot. Owner is on site and staff is really knowledgable. They will work with you on price too.

Worth the time and drive from anywhere in the State.
Excellent service and time spent to assure the best fit for the user.
Very knowledgeable and attentive staff.

Unbelievably friendly and knowledgeable. The staff make you feel special despite how insanely busy they are.

Very helpful, knowledgeable and patient staff. Drew knew the products and took the time to ask my 17 yr old son all the questions to create a package of snowboard, boots and bindings that fit his needs, his personality and my wallet. He pulled out a number of options in our price range, explained pros and cons, manufacturing process, etc, let my son pick to suit his personality. While it turned out to be at the top end of my budget, it will fit my son’s interests for years. As you can see, I was impressed with the service. You just don’t get service like this anymore and I forgot what it was like. We’ll be back.

I’ve taken my skis in to Alpine Haus to be sharpened/​tuned, and was really impressed with the results. These guys are the best ski service company in central CT. Don’t bother going anywhere else because you’ll just get ripped off and won’t be as satisfied with the results. The guys at Alpine Haus back themselves up with their high prices… because its worth it. Plus they are all super knowledgeable about boots, skis, socks, everything! I haven’t walked out of there, ever, without having learned something new.
If I had to bash one thing about them, it would be their turnaround time on getting tune-​ups and sharpening. It takes them about a week during the busy seasons.

I’ve been in to browse the selection here, but haven’t actually purchased.
Hubby is a big time ski enthusiast, so we get our gear at another shop in MA. I will leave a review there seperately.
That being said, the staff here have always been great. Not pushy, not intrusive. Prices are fair considering the products here (ski gear is extremely expensive pretty much wherever you get them).
As the kids get older, we may shop here more as it’s really the only shop of its kind in the area. I will update the review accordingly!

This is a GREAT place to rent skis, boots, snowboards, poles — and also a great retail outlet for all of the above, plus ski/​wintersport clothing, hats, goggles, gloves, etc.
The crew that works here is very friendly and patient and really takes the time to help you fit into ski boots (whether buying or renting) and if you rent in CT, you’ll save around 50% compared to what most ski resorts charge to rent their equipment.
They also charge only $ 6/​day (I think) for insurance, so if you break something, you don’t have to worry about buying it.
Finally, they only charge you for the days you ski! So if you have the stuff for 4 days (pick up, ski, ski, drop off) — they only charge you for 2 days! It’s a great bargain, and I’ll be going back there again because of good prices and excellent staff.