How to ship skis and snowboards in Canada

Packing skis or a snowboard

1. Strap the skis together base to base, with the brakes held back by a strap or rubber band.
2. Wrap the bindings, tips and tails in bubble wrap or foam. They take the knocks.
3. Put the poles inside the bag, alongside the skis, and fill the gaps with soft items or packing so nothing slides.
4. For a snowboard, wrap the bindings or take them off, and pad the nose and tail.
5. Close the bag fully and put the label on its largest flat side.

Which carriers take skis

High Sierra’s single ski bag, made for skis up to 185 cm, measures 73 × 8 × 7 in. With the skis, bindings and poles inside, say it weighs 15 lb:

Carrier	Billed as	Fits
Canada PostRegular Parcel	24.6 lbSize sets it (÷ 166)	Fits
Canada PostOther services	29.4 lbSize sets it (÷ 139)	Fits
UniUni	Limits and divisor not published. A quote asks UniUni directly.
PurolatorGround	29.4 lbSize sets it (÷ 139)	Fits
PurolatorExpress	35.5 lbSize sets it (÷ 115)	Fits
UPSStandard	29.4 lbSize sets it (÷ 139)	Fits
UPSExpress	35.5 lbSize sets it (÷ 115)	Fits
FedExGround	29.4 lbSize sets it (÷ 139)	Fits
FedExExpress	29.4 lbSize sets it (÷ 139)	Fits

Every carrier with published limits takes it. Size sets the bill: about 25 lb at Canada Post Regular Parcel, 29 lb at most ground services and 36 lb at UPS air services or Purolator Express. Its length is what costs extra: past 48 in, UPS, FedEx and Purolator each add a handling charge, and Canada Post adds one past 1 m (39.4 in).

Watch the longest skis. Canada Post’s limit is 2 m on any side, so measure a bag for skis much over 190 cm before you choose it.

Which carriers take a snowboard

Dakine’s Tour bag for boards up to 165 cm measures about 65 × 12 × 7 in. Rounded up to 66 × 13 × 7 in, with the board and bindings at 15 lb:

Carrier	Billed as	Fits
Canada PostRegular Parcel	36.2 lbSize sets it (÷ 166)	Fits
Canada PostOther services	43.2 lbSize sets it (÷ 139)	Fits
UniUni	Limits and divisor not published. A quote asks UniUni directly.
PurolatorGround	43.2 lbSize sets it (÷ 139)	Fits
PurolatorExpress	52.2 lbSize sets it (÷ 115)	Fits
UPSStandard	43.2 lbSize sets it (÷ 139)	Fits
UPSExpress	52.2 lbSize sets it (÷ 115)	Fits
FedExGround	43.2 lbSize sets it (÷ 139)	Fits
FedExExpress	43.2 lbSize sets it (÷ 139)	Fits

A board bag is shorter than a ski bag but wider, so it bills at more: about 36 lb at Canada Post Regular Parcel, 43 lb at most ground services and 52 lb at the air services. The same length charges apply.

Sending skis to a resort

Hotels, resorts and rental shops are business addresses, so carriers deliver there on weekdays in business hours. Canada Post, for one, delivers to businesses Monday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm. Ask the hotel or shop whether it will hold a bag for you, and put your name and arrival date on the address so staff can match it.

Mountain towns are often off a carrier’s regular routes. UPS, FedEx and Purolator add area surcharges for those places, and a ProtonShip quote includes them. A rural route address needs the recipient’s phone number for UPS and FedEx.

Timing a ski trip

Ground services take from a day nearby to a week or more across the country, counted in business days. Ship early enough that a delay doesn’t cost a day on the hill, and send boots in a separate small box if the bag is already heavy. Check that the address at the other end can take a long parcel; a hotel or rental shop may hold it for you.

More long items: golf clubs and bikes.