This week the office has received an interesting device from a company called PortaSki who are based in England. Basically its a compact set of wheels for your skis, so a
ski carrier with wheels is probably its best description.
The device took about ten minutes to fathom, but once we did we really quite liked it. It unpacks neatly in to two pieces. One piece fits neatly on to the top of your skis and acts as a'pull along handle' whilst the other part, the wheels, fits on the bottom of the ski.
In terms of the pro's; number 1 has to be its price at £19.95, we expected it to be twice the price, aimed at the luxury ski market, but far from it - at this price it's aimed very much at the main stream. The compact lightweight nature of the product was also impressive, but still it looked durable, although just too bulky for a pocket and needs either a small bum bag or rucksack to store whilst skiing. And once we had worked it out, it was also easy to fit, and pulled along very well, on all terrain, including spring snow!
So what about its downsides, not many really, and relatively insignificant, particularly when you consider its price. Small points would be the cover that sticks up over the skis (see photo above and right), a rubber suction pad and spring to lay flush with skis may have tidied the 'lid' which seemed slightly out of place sticking up (we thought at first we had fitted it wrong). Such a pad may have also helped reduce the slight movement and occasional misalignment of the device and skis when pulling over uneven terrain. On snow it was pretty impressive, although perhaps a pair of miniature Dyson wheelbarrow balls rather than wheels might have been the coup de grace!
All in all, a great little invention that really does take the pain out of carrying skis and see this as a big winner in all markets, but particularly loved by the luxury ski and family ski sectors.
