Wow ! Best ski shop.. ever !! Ray fit my husband for new ski boots (expertise galore), plus he took the time to get the fit just right. Dennis (another equipment expert) adjusted my 8+ yr old boots for a like-new fit for me. Trust this place to take great care of you too. Just don't look for any terrific women's sweaters or base layers because I bought them out during one of my other visits here ! read more

Little respect is shown to a customer and they are horrible at what they do. I went to this place to try boots. After 20 minutes the salesperson was still measuring my feet- oh in the middle he was gone for 10 minutes searching for the perfect boots for my feet just come back and try measuring them again. Measuring size for 20+ minutes shows lack of skill rather than professionalism. I left because it was clear that whatever they advised it would be wrong. I also suspect that taking time is their sales technique. People that are not used to good service might feel lofty when a salesperson is spending lots of time with them. REI has much better service. I will go there instead. I really suspect that the positive reviews are put in by employees or people that expect lower class service. Just because someone has you in the shop for 2 hours and wastes your time doesn't mean they are good. That just means they are making so much money from what they sell you that they find it profitable to waste so much time with you. read more

Chicago is lucky to have this store! Professional knowledgeable staff and high quality equipment. Regardless to your ski level, this is the place for your. The best part is - so affordable! I'm an experienced skier. I could write a lot about my troubles with the boots due to my wide calf. Last, year, I got custom fit boots from the Viking store. I run into Dennis right the beginning and he truly is a great guy. so patient with me. I've gained a few pounds since last year and the boots didn't feel the same. I went to the store and they adjusted the boots to feel great again. All included in the original price. The employees don't care only during the sale, but anytime later. They are still there to help you. My boyfriend was a beginner last year. He wanted to buy an equipment over the internet. I took him to the Viking store. Dennis showed him multiple boots to have him understand how different the boots can feel regardless the quality or brand reputation. My boyfriend end up buying the complete ski set there for the same price like if he purchased it over the internet. Moreover, everything was custom set up. He tested it in Colorado and loves it. He's now the person who initiate our ski trips regardless the fact I was originally the skier in the family. Thank you Viking store staff! read more

If I want to be taken advantage of then I will shop here. I lived out West and skied 100+ times per season and every time I go here it's the same. It's some jerky sales guy telling me that I am wrong and stupid and that I don't know anything about ski gear. I would never buy from here. My advice is to go here, pick out what you want and buy it online. They don't deserve a single cent. read more

Helpful staff. Solid assortment, with great post-season deals on skis, boards and clothes. Had my board and my wife's skis tuned up at the end of the season. The prices were reasonable and it only took 2 days. I'm impressed with such a great place, inside the heart of the city. Parking is a bit tough, but that's not their fault. Just wanted you to be aware. read more

The one and two star reviews are warranted. The selection is small and it's difficult to get someone to help you. I spent days combing the earth for The Ski Jacket. Finally I found it at Scandinavian Ski Shop but they didn't have my size. I dragged myself to Viking (despite some not so great past experiences at Viking) and found the jacket in my size. The zipper on the jacket was actually torn (why was this jacket even out on the floor in this condition?). So Viking called their other location and had it sent over. I purchased the jacket and a ski sweater. Oh, I mean, my PAPERWORK was started at the upper floor of Viking. Then, the salesperson escorted us down to the first floor where we proceeded to wait about 25 minutes in a 3 person long line to get to the cashier. Now it wasn't the line that was so bothersome but rather watching the endless sea of paperwork, hand written sale tags, filing cabinets of receipts, and manual credit card swiper. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, VIKING, CAN YOU PLEASE GET A CASH REGISTER DATED AFTER 1972?? Or maybe a bar coding system? My husband and I stood there for about 10 minutes and watched a man return a pair of boot warmers. Pages of receipts changed hands, filing cabinets were opened, more receipts were found, a manager's approval was required (even though the sales woman was perfectly competent to handle this)....good lord. What a process. Never again. King Keyser in Hinsdale has a great selection and their customer service is phenomenal. It's definitely worth the trip. read more

I called here and asked if they had glove LINERS with pockets for heat packs, and battery heated INSOLES. They said they did, but when I got there they didn't have either item, and it was real important for me to have these items right away, and so today I am left frantically scrambling around trying to research what other places might have them, since I don't want to order from online. I am giving them two stars instead of one because the woman who waited on me was apologetic, and I think they had some other nice stuff in there, which I didn't need. read more

I've never been compelled to write a review for anything...good or bad. But, desperate times call for desperate measures. I should start by saying that I've skied my whole life, have lived in both Utah and Colorado, have worked in the outdoor industry, and have been to my fair share of ski shops...real ski shops. Viking Ski Shop is completely useless and would be out of business in even a slightly competitive market.. Where do I start? I went in to buy boots during a non-busy time and it took about 20 minutes for anyone to even acknowledge me sitting in the boot fitting area. While be fitted for boots, I watched in amazement at how customers were treated. The employees at Viking are some of the most snobbish, condescending retail employees I've ever witnessed. All they did was talk about how great they are, as if mastering Wilmot Mountain is something to be proud of. I finally got the boots I wanted and brought my NEW skis and bindings in to be mounted. They said it would be about a week...which is fair and what I would expect. A week later I went in to retrieve everything. They brought out my skis and the ski straps were gone. When I asked where the straps were, the employees became very indignant and told me that they don't accept skis with straps, and that I lost them. False...they did accept my skis with the straps and then they lost them. When the kid at the counter asked me who wrote up my order, I told him the name of the employee and the kid told me that he had never heard of the guy and that he didn't work there. I then presented the kid with the guy's business card and pointed out that the guy was standing about 10 feet away. Priceless.... They finally went in the back to look for my ski straps. While they were in the back I looked at my NEW skis to inspect them and discovered a deep gash in the edge of the titanium top sheet that went almost to the core. When the kid returned (sans ski straps) I pointed out the deep gash. The kid at the counter went back to the back area to get the guy that mounts skis. This new guy came out and told me that the gash on my NEW skis was normal wear and tear. Can someone explain to me how a core shot through the metal top sheet is normal wear and tear on a pair of NEW skis that have never, NEVER seen snow?!?!? I'm dying to know. So, he takes my NEW skis in the back and files down the rough edges of the gash on the ski and tells me that it won't effect performance. WTF, thanks for f@%king up my brand new gear. I questioned them and they wouldn't do a thing for me. A good shop would've replaced the skis they damaged with a new pair off of the floor, but Viking couldn't even be bothered to give me a discount on the mount or future tune. They did finally pull a pair of ski straps off of another customer's pair of skis and gave it to me. Good for me (I guess), bummer for whomever's skis they were. What a pathetic, PATHETIC excuse for customer service, a ski shop, or any kind of retail establishment. I'm not a fan of REI, but thank God they're now in Lincoln Park. With any hope, REI will put this dump out of business in no time. Take your gear anywhere else and you'll be better off and happier. read more

Over priced? Yea, I had to agree with that. It doesn't matter, you just have to buy it at the right time. It's a local ski shop, not REI nor sports authority. I bought a DC board for a decent price in the beginning of the last season. And a Burton snowboard jacket for my wife in Feb., when they were 80% off. PS: The staff was extremely friendly. I would go check out again this season!!! read more

After my experience i have no idea where the negative reviews came from. As a very active and advanced skier I have very high standards. I specifically did research in the Chicago area to find a quality boot-fitter. Big difference between a store that sells skis/boots, and one who can be called a real boot-fitter. Its a totally different shopping experience, commands much higher quality, and therefore $$$. A real boot-fitter can work magic, and totally customize and adjust a stock pair of boots for a truly custom fit. This is where Viking's capabilities truly shine. That being said, it normally comes with a hefty price tag and the requirement you buy the boots from the store that does your fitting. I had recently picked up a great pair of boots at the Chicago Area Ski swap (if you need gear you MUST check this event out, October every year) for a steal but needed to get them adjusted and fitted. Viking provided exceptional service, hooked me up with new foot-beds and totally adjusted the fit of my boots despite my not buying them from their store. Cannot recommend Viking enough! Helpful, smart, and very qualified staff made the whole experience great. Will absolutely return for future purchases and recommend to anyone who values service and help over just a great deal. Skiing is an expensive hobby, and therefore requires smart investments and purchases, Viking is definitely capable of helping guide through that process. read more

Amazing: I don't usually go out of my way to post a bad review of a place, but after making an exception for Viking, I see that it wasn't just me being inexperienced and overly sensitive. After a few rounds of carving my way around the store without one single Hello or May I Help You or even a What Do You Want, Mister Beneath Me, I found the items I was looking for myself. I had to have been in the store 20 minutes and tried on 10 helmets several times before someone finally addressed me, and then she spouted nonsense that wasn't even true. The demeanor of these people is unbelievably condescending, and three different employees left me with the feeling that they distinctly disdained me. I don't know how they stay in business. One can read into facial expressions and tones, but these matter no matter how much you shrug them off as Whatever I Don't Even Know These People. I left with the feeling that customers' purpose is to make the people who work there feel better about themselves, and I don't know how this is even possible since they're already miles above the rest of us. Yes, this store does have a purpose: Go find your size and buy online or someplace where the sellers deserve both your money and your respect. read more

If you're a first-time equipment buyer, shop nowhere else. The staff were incredibly gracious and helpful, and were very patient with me in trying on various boots to determine the make with the best fit for my foot. Furthermore, the end price for my boot beat any price I could find on the web. I truly can't say anything negative about Viking! read more

This is from a couple years ago, but had such a good experience that wanted to share, especially given some of the negative things here. I brought in a pair of ski boots that had been killing my feet, ankles and shins so much that I was ready to buy a whole new pair of boots. The salesperson looked at them and said there was nothing wrong with the boots. He then spent at least an hour re-fitting them, adjusting them, pulling out so many parts and pieces. It was truly an engineering feat (no pun intended). And in the end I spent only $30, could wear my boots comfortably, and I added this store as a most trusted place to to get service and buy ski equipment. read more

I have been skiing for 25 years, at times owning and at times renting equipment. I considered buying a new pair of boots but thought I would just look around for a while before buying. Viking Ski Shop was absolutely outstanding and I was beyond satisfied with the boots we found. I was impressed with the attention I received and the experience and craftsmanship applied to helping me size, find and fit boots. I spent a week in various conditions in Utah and for the first time in years I felt comfortable. No cold, numb toes, no painful shin/foot bruises! I expect the boots will serve me well for many years but will absolutely return when it's time for an upgrade and would recommend it to anyone looking for properly fitting ski boot. read more

Great service. I went in with a friend to get some rental gear for skiing in Wisconsin. All the people working there were helpful and knowledgeable, and even though they had a lot of people in the store, the staff took the time to make sure I was getting the proper boots and skis. The equipment was great, and the prices were reasonable. I had thought about renting gear once we got the the mountain, but it was a much better experience getting it at Viking and bringing the gear with us. read more

I went in for bootfitting. The staff was very attentive and helpful, even despite how busy it was. They worked with me to get the fit just right, and explained what they were doing and why. It took several hours to tweak everything, but I finally (for the first time) have a ski boot that's comfortable. The prices are very reasonable and I can go back for free fit tweaks for the next 2 years. If I buy skis, this will be the place I go. read more

Very knowledgeable staff.great selection . I recommend the place for all your ski needs. Some things you just can't buy online. Thank you for staying in business . read more

Visited Viking Ski Shop last Sunday. I have a difficult time fitting comfortably into ski boots on my left foot due to a bony swelling. Worked with Tom who was great. Left with boots that feel good and now look forward to hitting the slopes vs having to deal with blisters and bruises ! Tom took plenty of time and answered all my questions. Busy place so arrive early. Definitely recommend Tom and Viking for personal attention and getting the right fit. read more

My new ski boot was hurting me fairly badly when I was in Aspen. I called Bob, the owner of Viking Ski, and he patiently and graciously advised me where to go in Aspen to get the attention I needed. He even called me back the next day to see if I was doing better! When I returned to Chicago, he and Dennis worked diligently to get me more comfortably fitted. I cannot say enough good things about the kindness and integrity of Viking Ski. read more

Best ski shop for clothing in the city. The woman upstairs helping me (I'm sorry I did not note her name) was terrific in helping my family with the sizing and fit of the jackets and pants. I was really impressed with the selection and service. read more

Wow I really wish I could give this place ZERO stars. I walked into Viking Ski shop and walked around the store. I saw a salesperson helping someone already so I waited around for an available salesperson. After a few minutes I was still aimlessly standing around and still no one came in to ask if I needed help. What was worse, was the current salesperson did not say anything to me. I totally get that he was already helping someone but just acknowledging my presence there would have been nice. I noticed other employees were in the store but they were in the storeroom so I just waited for someone to walk out of there when they noticed a new customer (that would be me) had walked in. Nope, nothing, still no acknowledgement that I was there. I finally walked up to the guy at cash register who wasn't doing anything and asked if I could try on ski boots. He said sure and asked me to take a seat and someone would be there to help me. I sit down and the salesperson who had been helping the customer reached behind me to get a boot, again no acknowledge that I would be helped or anything but yet he did bother to use me as an example as he told the guy he was helping that my boots would freeze too or something like that. Ah ha so he did see me there but yet decided not to say hey thanks for waiting, someone will be right there with you. At one in time, there were other sales people on the floor and even though I had been sitting there, they continued to keep chatting with each other. Even the guy at the register who wasn't doing anything, he didn't bother to ask someone to help me even though I had walked up to him and asked for help! After sitting for ten minutes and having NO ONE help me or even say something to me, I walked out. I completely understand if salespeople are busy helping others, but please just acknowledge someone when they walk into your store!! I would never recommend this place and if this is a mom and pop shop they are sure not making me feel bad about ordering my ski boots online. At least I would get better customer service from a non living computer than I did at Viking Ski shop. Don't waste your time here, it is not worth the effort! read more

Be on the lookout for their shady/dishonest sales practices on outerwear/clothing. There is a posted return policy, which is itself ridiculous (within 7 days for a refund, 14 days for store credit). However, they nowhere post that all sales items are final sale, no returns or exchanges. This includes both items that are tagged "sale," as well as items that are not tagged sale, but to which some sort of store discount is applied. This policy is not posted anywhere in the store - not on the "Sale!" signs, nor on the sales tags (at least not that their staff could show me - contrast this with their helmet selection, which has a big, bright "All Helmet Sales are Final" sign). The only reference you will find anywhere is in small print on the bottom right hand corner of your receipt. I have no experience with their equipment sales and service, but I will certainly not be trying those services. I ended up getting a refund on one of the two items after speaking with a manager, so I gave them two stars (probably deserved only one), but I would not bother with this place. read more

Thank you to Dennis for a spectacular job finding and fitting the right ski boots for my size 14 feet. The other Chicago area shops had nothing to offer. Dennis had a number of excellent boots for advanced skiers. We spent over 3 hours getting the fit perfect. I brought my skis in and Dennis did his canting magic. I have been skiing for 45 years, lived in Aspen, worked with many shops. Dennis and his colleagues at Viking know what they are doing. Just returned from a Colorado trip, my equipment allowed me to charge all day. Invest in yourself, spend time with the Viking Team and you will get more out of your skiing. read more

The place is an absolute sham. I have 12 days on a brand-new set of skis that had a inch and a half base scratch. They're trying to charge 15 extra dollars to fill something that would be maybe $.20 worth of material and take all of two minutes time above the standard tune I was willing to pay for. Bought all of my fiancé stuff here this year and they try to pull some BS like that to make a few extra bucks. Won't ever go back again. read more

I highly recommend this Ski Shop. I was looking for a full set of skis, boots, poles, etc and arrived just over an hour before they closed. Ray was extremely helpful and knowledgeable about the product and actually recommend a lower price pair of skis when I was leaning toward the more expensive ones. He felt they were much better value for type of skiing I plan to do. Dennis, the store manager, also made sure I was comfortable with having them stay past closing time, by offering me refreshments as I continued to make decisions about the product I was purchasing. They both ended up staying for 2 hours past close to ensure I was properly informed in my decision for chosing the products and they happily worked me to get my boots just right. Ray and Dennis, thank you very much for a very positive experience. read more

I recently came into Viking with the intent of buying some "beater" downhill skis for use by my Webelos den in constructing a Klondike Derby sled. Upon learning of my intent, I was immediately handed two sets of used skis and told there was no charge. I've also had positive experiences with the store in stripping and rewaxing my XC skis. I'll certainly be back. read more

My 14 year old daughter has been saving her money to buy her own skis and boots. Since we were in the neighborhood, we stopped at Viking to see what they had. The guy who helped us was very honest in saying he wouldn't spend the money to buy boots just yet as her feet might still grow. Even though he had just advised us not to buy, he spent plenty of time with us explaining what to look for in boots and skis. Upstairs there were some great deals on apparel (on sale). We are beginners in the ski world, and found the people at Viking to be very helpful and not at all condescending. read more

I had a spring ski trip planned for 2017, so I was getting my equipment ready. I needed work done on my boots so I took them to a small ski shop near my home (see my review on Goskand...). The guy in that shop actually BROKE one of my boots! To try to save my ski trip, I took an older pair of ski boots to Viking Ski Shop on the north side of Chicago to see if they could adjust these for my trip. And they did! They saved my spring ski trip! I was SO happy. Viking has been around for a long time and now I know to always take my equipment to the experts, even though it's a long trek for me. I would highly recommend this store to every skier who needs work done on their equipment! read more

I took the boots back to Viking and Dennis, the GM, spent over 2 hours with me trying to figure out what went wrong. We finally realized that the boot had reverted all the way back to its original width, which doesn't usually happen. Dennis gave me a custom foot-bed for free and also put me in the X-Pro 100 for no charge. I'm very pleased with the way Viking handled the whole thing. If you have problems with your boots, I would make sure you take your boots back within the 2 year warranty to make sure you receive the same treatment. read more

Staff was not friendly and everything is over priced. It seems everyone here as an attitude if you're not buying the most expensive stuff. I've been a skier for all my life and been to many shops but this experience by far is the worst. Beware! read more

This place rocks! I first stopped at REI and no one there offered to help me and I had to go in the back of the tuning shop to find a person. Then the people were not helpful with the problems I was having finding Burton channel bindings screws. Then the guy at REI told me I would have to wait a week for a hot wax. So I called Viking and the people were super helpful, got me the new screws I needed, my board waxed and I was out of there within 10 minutes. While I was waiting I checked out gear on the different levels and I was greeted by sales person on each level immediately. They were not pushy at all asked about my trip where I was going to go ride really cool informed sales staff I would totally go back. read more

My guess is Viking has been around for a while and does well due to lack of competition. I will admit upfront that I am not an expert skier. I went here last weekend to purchase some gear for an upcoming ski trip. The selection is misleading because it looks like a lot but there isn't much variety, actually. I did purchase pants, and I dig them. The sales person who helped me was informative and helpful without being pushy. The other sales people however, hovered too much and made for an uncomfortable shopping experience. if I want to look at kids gloves, let me look at kid's gloves, lady! The thing that turned me off most was that after we checked out we were informed that since the pants were on sale, they couldn't be returned. Fine...except that every pair of pants in the store was 10% off and therefore nonreturnable!! read more

i just purchased a pair of ski boots today. i was wondering about the service, due to some of the reviews on there, but i had an excellent experience. Perhaps it helps to shop on a monday when there is not so much traffic in the store, but everyone in the store was very nice and very knowledgeable about their trade. they took the time to size me for the perfect fit, proposed a good assortment of models to try on (i thought they had a large selection of ski boots to fit all wallets and ski levels) and i never felt pressured or rushed. i actually spent almost 2 hours at the shop and i am very happy with my purchase. plus there is a warranty of two years on the boots and i was told i can come back any time to get them form fitted, add a special sole etc...i recommend this store. read more

Just bought a pair of boots. They spent two hours fitting the boots and they couldn't have done more to make me feel comfortable. As a business owner myself, I know prices are less online, but nowhere can you can you get the years of experience and hands on knowledge of a local shop. Give them a chance and support the locals. read more

I went to Viking because I thought they would stand behind their merchandise more than a big box store. I am so pleased that I chose Viking. They took their time, had helpful advice and I didn't feel like they were pushing anything on me. The snow boarding boots that I had bought the week before were not comfortable, so the salesman took his time and made sure I was completely satisfied with a different pair of boots. (thanks Matt). read more

I bought a new pair of ski boots, Salomon X max 120, last October. The salesman, Art, spent over 3 hours with me trying on every boot they had in my size. Then he custom molded the boot and a made custom foot pad insert. I finally got out to Vail this month and couldn't be more pleased. The boots are the most comfortable ones I've ever owned. And of all the boots I tried on, this was the 2nd one. The price was not a bargain, but definitely less that I would have paid at Vail or any other resort out West. read more

If you're looking for a place to buy anything ski related in the Chicago land area look no further. The knowledge of the staff there is outstanding and the equipment selection is almost as good. They spend an hour and a half fitting me for boots to make sure that they fit my strange feet, not pushing to buy anything the whole time. I have been back several times, each time as pleasant as the first. I would highly recommend this store to anyone looking for anything ski related. read more

If you are serious about your ski equipment go to Viking. Now. I just skied a full day in brand new boots and my feet couldn't be happier. Unheard of!! Andy and Dennis are both master boot fitters with more than 50 years experience between them and it shows. read more

I recently stopped in the new Barrington Viking Ski store to find a replacement stomp pad for my snowboard. I was handed a Burton pad (1/4" thick rubber material). Although the item had no price tag, It was "offered" to me for $5. Paying $5 for a Burton stomp pad, the same one that Aspen Ski & Sport used to give away free, really turned me off. To bad, Viking got $5 from me and missed the chance to sell me a new pair of K2 Outlaw Skis. read more

A shop that only employs skier's and snowboarder's. Be aware that lowest end equipment is better than the big box stores- you get what you pay for, but they always have a good selection of sale/last years stuff too. Boots carry a fit warranty- and they test everything (skis and boards) they sell ON SNOW. Service pricing is reasonable but they are using the latest and greatest machines. Parking in chicago is always fun so be ready. . . read more