In reply to nw:
> (In reply to galpinos)
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> [...]
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> Possibly. On the other hand there is an outside chance that the three hire centres and half a dozen online retailers who all asked for this information could have at least *some* idea what they are on about
It's an easy way for a rental place to guess a length for you (combined with your weight) and I've no issue with that. As for on-line retailers, I can see why they use height and weight as well as an easy "guide", but if you're buying from an on-line retailer you are shouldering some of the risk yourself.
If I worked in a shop and was selling someone some skis, I'd want a lot more info than just weight and height. Just using those to factors then handing someone a ski saying "this is the length for you" is somewhat lazy for a purchase that is expensive and something someone is going to hang onto for a long time. Once drilled, you can't exactly take them back, unlike an oversized t-shirt!
> and you could be just another guy gobbing off on the internet...
I'm afraid that is true! I've just seen a lot of miss-sold ski kit and get a bee in my bonnet about it.