I bought a whole ski set up a couple of years ago. After skiing in the boots a fed times I realized the boots that were sold to me were too small. I rented skis when we were in Tahoe over Thanksgiving and was fitted for boots and saw they fitted me in a 24.5. When we got back home I checked the size of the boots that were sold to me at Viking and they were 23.5. We had a last minute ski trip to the Dells planned my husband and I went to Viking to see what they could do but was willing to buy a new pair of boots. As the Chicago location is super close to us we stopped by on 1/2 to our surprise we needed an appointment. We waited to speak to someone to make an appointment and explained that we purchased the boots a few years ago and the ones sold were too small and that we were leaving that weekend to go skiing. The first available appointment was 1/13/23 almost two weeks away! My husband even explained we knew what we were looking for and that we would drive out to the REI in Oakbrook to buy the boots the same day. I couldn't believe they let a sure sale walk out the door. While at REI getting fitted for my new boots that same day, I called Viking to see if they could adjust my skis to my new boots and again the first appointment was 1/13/23 and whoever I spoke to asked and they couldn't get them done by the Friday we were leaving. We took my new boots and skis to Cascade the day we drove up and the adjustment took all of about 5 mins and didn't even charge me. That was twice in one day I was trying to give Viking our business! I really would have rather supported a small local business than REI. I understand that they are having issues with staff, but they should try and accommodate walk-ins and their customers. Considering this is their prime season they should think of all the business they are losing because of this. read more

Viking Ski Shop is the GOLD STANDARD for ski gear in Northern Illinois for more reasons than I can mention here.

Knowledgeable staff and decent selection. Sometimes the prices are a little high but they will usually price match. They have seasonal rentals which is great for kids!!! Try to go early for seasonal tune ups and gear because when season hits they get super busy. These are good folks and I would recommend shopping here and supporting these guys. read more

Great guys! Matched online prices and were totally helpful when I needed a new setup for 17 season. Bought boots and skis and mounted in less than 72hrs. Watch out though line will be out the door on weekends in early winter. You should look to come on weekdays if possible. read more

Always a good tune up. Nice staff, they always make an effort to help out and accommodate if they can. Good ski selection too. Don't forget to leave the shop a little beer money. read more

It took us long enough to get in here, but we are glad that we did. Got some custom boots and skis at a great price later in the season, and the staff couldn't have been more patient and helpful during our our visits there. This is a great resource, having access to quality gear and skilled ski techs in the area. read more

Knowledgeable staff, but make sure you come early in the season. It can be a bit of a shit show trying to navigate the offerings and getting the attention it requires to outfit yourself for a day on the slopes. You can find better prices elsewhere, but the knowledge and proper fit is worth the extra $ read more

I don't write many Yelp reviews but Viking Ski Shop sure deserves a great review! I visited the shop for the first time with my fiancé so that I could purchase a new pair of boots. I walked in with no knowledge or background in what I needed. Thankfully, Andy immediately greeted and assisted us throughout the entire boot-shopping experience. His experience and knowledge truly set him apart from any other ski shop I've entered before. Additionally, he's got a great personality; it was a pleasure to work with him! I left on such a positive note the first time that I even went back to buy new skis the following week. The entire store is organized, filled with excellent products, and any staff member that assists you will be personable and reliable. I highly recommend visiting and shopping at Viking Ski Shop! We drive an hour and twenty minutes one way because we appreciate their expertise so much. Thanks Viking! read more

See all

Went in there for my first board and was helped. they do tend to get busy. but it's understandable that it happens. when I took my boots home they didn't fit properly so I brought them back and they allowed exchange. thank you guys for helping me. read more

They are still great and recently spent quite a bit of time to find & perfectly fit new boots for my wife. Same great experience to re-adjust my boots. No more boot pain & their recommends always pair you with the right equipment for your abilities.They know their stuff! Thank-you Viking! read more

I have bought 2 pairs of ski boots over the years from Viking. Buying ski boots and buying a car take 3-4 hours, so be prepared. I am telling you people , you cant beat personally fitted ski boots and they do it right here. They have all the equipment to make this happen. They also tune-sell skis and boards. Come here, you wont regret it. read more

Great service and most extensive selection of snowboard equipment in Chicago. Custom moulding for best fit. Staff helpful & experienced. Good prices read more

Viking Ski Shop - Ski & Snowboard Shops Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I went in for a regular waxing of my snowboard before my ski trip. When I went to pick up my board my bindings were not with it. Immediately they blamed me and did little to look for them at the store. After a few days into my trip i received a phone call from Viking telling me my bindings had reappeared. When i went to retrieve them, I was treated like a thief. Nobody knew what i was talking about, they never heard of the person that called me and so forth. Eventually i saw a bag with my name on it that contained my bindings. The owner made me give him a full description of the contents before handing it over. I would suggest having your equipment tuned-up by pros and not them. read more

I went into Viking with my existing ski boots and wanted an unbiased expert opinion on the size even though I've worn them a couple times. They felt too small, although I like a performance fit. Art helped me out and suggested a couple cures to open up the toe box that I never would have thought of. He even identified a separate issue with how the boot fit and suggested another modification that will make my skiing experience even better. Viking will be my go-to ski shop in the Chicago area. read more

Way Overpriced. I bought a pair of snowboard boots from another shop, but needed to get them heat-molded. I've always relied on Viking for my yearly tuning and any repairs to my multiple decks and gear, and most shops that carry that brand of boot will do this for a small fee, or even free, since they are a distributor of that brand. Viking wanted 50$ for this simple service...Which I was rather surprised by. I've been loyal to Viking for the past 6 seasons, and would expect some simple return. To give you reference, Shred Shop only wants 30, and Windward will do it just because they are nice people. This was the last straw for me and Viking; it takes a little goodwill to maintain a relationship, and I will no longer go to viking for my services. Windward on the other hand is scheduled to heat mold my boots gratis, and I'll be bringing my gear for tuning as a result. read more

The staff are experts at what they do. Worth the drive from anywhere in Chicagoland for smart, friendly guidance. The bootfitters, especially Art, know what they are doing. Art sagely addressed an issue I was having with my boots. While he saved from having to buy new boots now, I will go to Viking for new boots next fall. read more

Viking Ski Shop sold me a ski jacket with a broken zipper. I brought it back within 30 days of purchase. Although they had a record of my purchase on file, they wouldn't let me return or exchange it. Granted, I lost the receipt, but most retailers wouldn't have had a problem with this. So if you must shop here, retain all paperwork or you won't have even a modicum of consumer's rights. However, there's really no reason to shop here. They have a tiny selection of mostly overpriced gear. read more

Had a very mixed/bad experience with this store. I found Viking after shopping online for skis and bindings and planning on shopping local for boots. During my time at Viking I was insulted/mocked for purchasing my skis online during my 2 visits. I did end up purchasing boots with Viking. Which I am very happy with. However, I do not plan on going back. My advise to Viking. Be supportive to the customers who are looking to spend $400 + on boots in your store. I came to your store looking for your advise on boots. Not to be mocked for the skis I found online. read more

Wow, had no idea such a cool place existed right up the street! We went in here to get our boards tuned prior to a trip to Breckenridge and found so much more! I had just purchased a Burton snowboard bag for $250 at the Burton store downtown, only to discover the exact same bag here - for $180!! I promptly snapped that up and returned the other to Burton. Gotta love a sweet deal! The only issue we had here was when my fiance went to pick up our boards for the trip, he was given someone else's instead of mine... and chaos ensued. He didn't ask me before packing it up and it made it all the way to Colorado with us! As soon as we discovered the mistake, we called the shop to tell them of the issue, and a nice guy named Dennis helped us out. He located my board immediately and agreed to loan a boardbag so other friends coming out the next day could pick it up and fly it out to us. He offered to cover the rental for a day, and was really apologetic about the whole thing. We got the board and returned the other. Although I was upset at the time, the customer service to make it right was great! We'll be using them to tune our boards next year, but I think I'll make the trip to pick them up myself :) read more

Went in for a tune up on my snowboard and they damaged an edge with a grinder making it unrideable. After a hassle and some time with Viking they finally obtained another board. For no apparent reason they proceeded to drill a 1" hole into my original board. WTF. read more

The staff were extremely helpful and I believe they genuinely care about making sure the customer gets the best product for them. Even though the store was crazy busy, the employee helping me was very patient and had me try on at least a dozen different ski boots. They'll spend as much time as needed to make sure each individual customer gets the help they need to feel happy with their purchase. Their ski and boot selection is the best I've seen in the area. Skis seemed to be realistically priced, even though boots ran a little expensive. This store was great for getting new boots in a time crunch and I would definitely recommend it! read more

Just had my bindings mounted on my new board and can I just say wow! The guy who mounted them was really nice and a super hot silverfox and gotta say the other guy who came out to talk to me about going to steamboat certainly made it hard for me to leave! Will absolutely be coming back to this shop :) wish I would've at least gotten the two guys names! Hey let's all go to Tyrol basin some time! read more

Waited for over 35 minutes in the store just to make an appointment for a boot fitting on a later date. Seems like they might have a good selection of boots but the customer service needs work. read more

Boot and Ski Fitting Is Best Left To The Professionals... And these folks are it... Don't make the mistake I did thinking buying a ski package cheaper off the Internet is a good idea... You will get an OK rental outfitting at best....or at worst an experience that leaves you injured and maybe even hating the sport. I did OK buying my first package off the Internet because I knew a little bit...so I did not end up injuring myself. But I was sore at the end of every session and did end up not improving my skills as much as I hoped because I really hindered myself not having the proper boot, fit, and ski... The folks here will spend a TON of time with you figuring out your foot, your style, and your goals... I had a proper fitting that lasted almost three hours complete with custom footbed molding and boot modifications as well as an upgrade to my embarrassingly short skis. They keep making you go through the process and making micro adjustments until the boot barely feels like it is there. Takes time but so worth it... Believe me...you do not know how bad your existing boots are until you go through this process and feel the difference a properly fitted boot makes. Literally night and day. Hard to find non-rushed professional services these days...and these folks certainly exceeded my expectations. I suggest visiting during the week when there is not a ton of people in the store. On the weekend you may be waiting a few hours before you get your turn....and then like I said...your process will also be 2 to 3 hours... read more

These guys did me right with new boots two seasons ago, and doing some minor tweaks so they fit just right last season. I also took some new skis I bought and got bindings put on them there. Really enjoy these guys, super helpful and knowledgable read more

Well, I can't relate to the poor reviews of this place. This place was awesome. It's an established business in a specific niche with old school service. I am an intermediate level skier (been out west several times, decent Blue skier, not so much on Blacks) and I went in, mid-November, looking for my first set of boots. I stopped by on a weekday night after work around 7ish. There weren't many customers, and one of the guys there asked what I needed, the guy's name was Steve. I told him about the boots and asked him if he could help me find the right boots (a very important purchase which would last years). Turns out he's been doing fitting ski boots for over 20 years, and is a Master boot fitter (a special certification). He then spends over 2 hours helping me try on practically every boot in the store, with absolutely no pressure to buy anything at all, he was just trying to help me make a good decision. I decided to pull the trigger that night, and he spent 30 minutes after the store closed molding and fitting and teaching me about the boots. On yeah, and it turns out all the boots are on sale, I saved $100 off retail! He said there was a 2-year fit warrantee, if there was ever any issue take the boots back and they would re-fit/fix the issue. There is no way around it, the place is the real deal. Like record stores, these guys work here b/c they love skiing, I went back two weeks later and picked up my first pair of skis. Also a great experience, I asked to work with Steve again. He had given me some gear guides/literature to look at, which I did and had an idea of what I was looking for but wanted to have someone walk me through the different features, etc. Again, he went through like 5 or 6 of the more popular skis and what makes each one different the next, totally answered all my questions, and what's that, you dug out a brand new pair of year-old Kastle mX83s (top of line skis I wasn't even considering) for half off??? Yep, that works, I'll take those, and oh yeah, can you tie the colors of the skis and boots with some special bindings in the back that aren't even on display so I can look like a rock star (until I actually start skiing)?? Sure, no problem Alex. I would say that if you're looking for someone to walk you through a pretty big purchase, this place, not REI, is the place to go. Just go in on an off time if you want someone to spend a lot of time helping you. read more

Viking Ski Shop - Looking forward to ripping the groomers, thanks Steve! - Ski & Snowboard Shops Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I came in for boot fitting and spent there 4.5 hours(due to wide feet) and was looking to find good balance between comfort and performance. Within that time span I think I've seen all of the Viking fitters in action working on their clients next to me. I've seen them fitting from beginners to experts. All of them were spot on about advice and were spending way more time than my patience would allow me :) As a ski patroller I spend ton of time in my boots and over the years worked with boot fitters here locally in Midwest and CO. I was blown away by the service/knowledge at Vikings. Anything from doing top notch custom molding of boots to custom/semi custom insole. If you don't have proper fitted boots you are missing out big time. P.S. Custom insoles alone would change how you ski forever. And they last long time too. read more

Art did a great job fitting new ski boots for my teenage daughter and fixing my old ski boots. He spent at least two hours with her trying on various boots (including last year's boots, at a discount). Then he did the custom fitting / heat shaping of the insole. She is very happy with her new boots. They fit much more comfortably than the junior performance boots that she was renting for the season. Art also helped me with circulation / warmth issues with my circa-2000 men's boots. I bought these boots from Viking originally, and I consistently have cold feet because of poor circulation. Art worked with me to fix this in two ways: (1) He filed down some of the excess plastic on the tongue piece of the liner, to reduce pressure and improve blood flow. I think it will work while skiing, because my feet instantly felt better. (2) I bought a pair of Hotronics battery-heated socks. Make sure you try them on in the store, as the sizing appears to be a bit off. Excellent patience and service. Thanks, Art! read more

Viking Ski Shop is about the best you can get in Illinois. They staffs knowledge of ski equipment is similar to a shop you might find in Colorado or Utah. The brands they offer are top notch, however they do have more affordable options if you aren't looking to spend a ton of money. I have bought two pairs of boots and a pair of Skis from Viking and have been very pleased. Their tech shop is solid as well. It can get backed up at times but they have always been up front if it will be an extended amount of time before your skis will be ready. Again, not the best in the world, but the best you'll find in the midwest. read more

I went to viking ski shop after hearing great things about it from my more experienced ski friends. This has been the shop that my girlfriend's family has purchased all of their ski equipment for years. I asked the individual working about the various options about beginner/intermediate ski equipment and he was very knowledgeable about the products they sold. The employee also fit me with boots. He showed me a few ski packages that included the skis, bindings and boots which I'm finding a hard time finding cheaper options on the web. Another worker was very helpful when I was looking at ski gloves as well. Overall, the service level was great even though the store was busy. I found the store a bit on the small side, but then again we don't have many mountain ranges to ski on as well. read more

Viking Ski Shop is the best ski shop I've been to that wasn't in the mountains. Everyone's really helpful and they stock nothing but the best equipment. Only thing that I wish they'd improve on is their clothing selection. I went there looking for a snowboarding hoodie for my brother, and they didn't have a single one. That's insane! But they make up for it with the quality equipment that they stock. Service fees are reasonable and they do an excellent job with repair. One caveat though: take off your snowboard bindings, or else they'll charge you extra! read more

C'mon! When's the last time you walked into a retail space and felt genuinely appreciated? Ok....WalMart (AKA--Wally World...small biz killer...Liberals call it a home for Rednecks) has its greeters, but what else are those guys gonna do before nap time anyway? The Viking folks are as friendly and still don their own set of ivories. I'm about to embark on my 2nd annual Mtn Ski trip with other testosterone bombers and if I can't keep up with the Denver resident sibling, I had better at least protect my aging bones and joints, right? I mean, you don't want to lose the many mini-olympian runs AND stumble into Apres Ski limping and trailing blood. Great selection, just 'ok' pricing but you go for the service. I took back something that was on sale and they weren't supposed to take back..but in Feb., they felt Christmas-ee and gave me the refund. I had one woman help me with my coat, my hat, my gloves...and she appeared to be UNbothered by my filtering process. They have employees that have been working there since when Lee took over Chrysler. I left with great stuff....I never bled in CO and I will be back to both places. Don't go anywhere else....just go here and you're done. read more

The mixed reviews are wholly warranted. There are some great people working at Viking, and then there are some not so great. So your experience will vary based on who you get. I walked into Viking on a Saturday in late February to get fitted for some new ski boots. I had a list of boots that I had researched that would fit my feet and wanted to try them out. The sales associate helped me promptly and asked what I was in for. "Boot shopping" I said. "Boot shopping or boot buying?" he replied wryly. So right off the bat this guy cast me as someone who was there to maybe try boots on and buy them cheaper online. As a store owner competing against online warehouses, service is really the only point on which you can differentiate on and justify a higher price point, and just like that, superior service has already been dismissed. Of the 6 or so boots I wanted to try, they only had one. So the selection is small. The boot-fitter, despite being a little gruff with me, knew his stuff and got me in the right boots. I know he was not expecting me to buy, but when I told him I wanted to go with them, he perked up. Why he had not been like this from the start I do not know. All while this is going on, I am witnessing a couple with another fitter and he is basically berating the woman because she is not comfortable in the boots. Had I worked with him, I would have left immediately. My girlfriend was checking out snowboard boots in the back and found the staff there to be much more amenable, even to the point where they told her to bring her boots--which she did not purchase there--back for a free adjustment. They only offer a 2 year fit guarantee (the last shop I bought my boots from offers lifetime) and they wanted to charge to adjust my bindings. I could have bought the boots online, but had I not had so much trouble with boots in the past I gladly would have. If you know what you want, go elsewhere, as you can get it much cheaper (and even with better service at an online place like Al's Ski Barn--which will mount and adjust bindings for free!). However if you need to get fitted and want to play roulette with the sales associates, try Viking. And as a side note to Michael M's comment to Jim K: the Prophet 100 which Jim was advised to buy and you are touting, is so much better than the 90 that Line discontinued it. The 90 is by far the more versatile ski, as attested to by its best seller status and reviews by just about every reputable ski magazine and media outlet. read more

We always come to Viking for ski or snowboard gear. I bought my entire snowboard set-up here in 2008 and am still happy with my equipment. Since I bought everything at the end of the season, I got a great deal on everything - board, boots and bindings. My husband just bought his ski boots here in January and was treated very well. The staff is highly knowledgeable and very interested in getting the best boot on their customers to accommodate their ski level. We just came back from Jackson hole and the boots were great. We are giving Viking four stars because the interior could use a really good cleaning. It smells a little funky in the ski boot area. Also the clothing selection isn't spectacular. I know it's a small space but it seems like it could be organized better. Also wish they carried more roxy jackets. read more

After decades of suffering through terribly fitting ski boots, I decided to get a properly fitted boot. With Chicago not being a ski destination, I was slightly concerned that the fitters out here would not be as experienced or talented as those out west. However after a bunch of research, I decided I would give Viking a shot. I'm thrilled that I did. I worked with Andy who was mentioned in a number of times in other Yelp reviews (as was Dennis). Andy was understanding, patient, communicative, thorough and honest. He was also extremely knowledgeable about what boots would fit my feet (which are apparently difficult to fit). We settled on some custom foot beds (which are a must for any boot), and a Salomon shells/liners extensively customized through heating, punching and some painful foot-in-boot heat fitting. Andy spent over three hours with me and went through multiple iterations to get them just right. Andy is true professional and I will be taking my fiance to see him for some new boots as well. That all said, expect to pay retail for your equipment. However the time, effort and care taken to ensure a perfect fit is worth far more than the discount you'd find online. I'd also add that they have the best selection of top tier skis in the Chicagoland area. They carry the best brands and the coolest models that you'll want to be riding on the big mountains out west. In summary, my feet are thanking Andy and Viking and have earned a customer for life as a result of an outstanding experience. Great job Viking and Andy! read more

I went in to look around for end of season deals on skis. I got great advice on the ski that would be right for the type of skiing that I do and found a pair of Blizzard's that were nearly half off. I took them out to Vail and A-Basin the week later and they performed exactly as advised. I also compared the advice to online reviews and it was spot on. The service and advice was great and worth paying a bit more to go to a shop to buy something rather than just buying online. Great little ski shop for being in the middle of Chicago. read more

Walked in and within minutes I was asked if I needed help by multiple people. Ended up having Andy help me pick out and get sized in a pair of ski boots. He made sure to stay within my budget, and went over the top to make sure they would fit properly. In addition to heat molding, he custom reshaped some inserts to make them fit better to my feet.... About 5 times! I was surprised at the amount of care that went into the process. Andy was excellent and the gear they recommend and sell is very good, and priced competitively with online stores (which lack all of the custom aspects). Also comes with 2 year fit guarantee. Will be coming back for ski clothing. read more

It was pre-Christmas crunch time and I needed my board tuned and p-texed. I called and they said it'd take a week if I dropped it off that day. I wanted it done fast, but decided to try my luck anyway. Got there and talked to this employee named Danny. Without hesitation he told me it'd be a day. Sweet! Sometimes you just need to show up. Danny's definitely knowledgeable about snowboards and the business. Complete wax job (removal, flattening, finishing, hot wax), sharpening, and p-tex ran me $60 - not a bad price. He even fixed my goggles on the spot at no charge. read more

I've been buying my gear at Viking for the past 10+ years. My husband has been going there his whole life. What I love about this place is that folks really love what they do! In fact, the gentleman that fitted my father-in-law's ski boots over 35 years ago is still there! The staff is extremely knowledgeable and very courteous and I've always been happy with my equipment. I'm a strong rider and skier so I'm very particular about my equipment and these guys never disappoint! read more

Review is based on ski boots purchase. My wife needed new pair of boots so we went to the only one ski shop in the neighborhood. The guy (I don't remember his name) was very helpful. Suggested only the suitable boots for begginer/intermediate skier. Nothing over 90 flex. Good knowledge, full explanation, no pressure. He spent almost an hour with her so I can say - we got the service we expected. Thank you read more