Panda Sport

One stop shop for all your ski needs. I received the royal treatment. Mike was on point, he set me up with everything I needed. One on one service. You can’t beat this place.

Panda Sport is hands down the best place in NYC to purchase or rent ski equipment. My husband and I (along with 3 kids) have been loyal to Panda since we began skiing as a family 5 years ago and we literally never need to visit anywhere else. Everyone who works there is terrific and they consistently offer great service and flexibility. One of those rare stores where it’s obvious that the customer comes first and they really want you to have a first class experience. Robert, the owner, treats every client like royalty and remembers us year after year which feels really nice. Awesome selection too.

Well, the ski store overall is great, the people who work there very nice and knowledgeable about the product.
If you need the high quality boots or ski or whatever, just go to this store. The prices here might a little high but you get what you pay for. They know what you need, they try to give you the best product for reasonable price because if you buy the ski boots they will adjust them exactly for your feet, you will feel very comfortable in it. Also they explain you every details in ski boots and their differences.
You want to get hight quality of the product and be happy? Come to this store.

i had such a strange experience here! i went in the store to get a tuneup and to buy ski poles and didn’t see anyone to help me after taking two rounds in the store. i finally went up to the lady behind the counter and tried to get her attention three times before she unwillingly made eye contact with me. after hearing my request she simply told me, «you have to go to the back.»
anyway, at this point, one of the guys that worked directly w customers in the back, matt, passed behind me and offered to help me. i was relieved because i’d only gone to ski shops with expert skiers (they were instructors at park city) and they’d always spoken for me.
so matt was taking a look at my equipment and telling me what i needed when the lady from the counter came up to us and told me my skis were really messed up and that i needed the full tuneup. she also told me i didn’t need to leave my boots even though i needed binding adjustments. it was so strange. i was about to tell her i’d only used these particular skis twice before my last tuneup and probably didn’t need anything too intricate when matt interjected and said that i definitely need to leave my boots, and that i definitely did not need the full tuneup that would cost me extra for no reason.
when i went to pay, the lady wanted to make sure that i was taking my boots with me, but i told her i think it would be better if i left it. she became very upset that i was leaving my boots and that matt did not charge me for the full tuneup. i’d also wanted to buy a ski bag and a boot bag that day, but was so put off by the lady’s behavior that i wanted to leave immediately.
when i went to pick up my skis after tuneup (one day!!), matt also helped me pick out ski poles of the right size, and explained each type of ski poles to me in detail. some questions i asked were pretty silly but he never made me feel like an idiot. there were other customers asking the staff in the back questions and they all seemed very patient and wanting to explain in detail. you could see they were all very enthusiastic about finding you the best fit just for you.
thank you matt for being honest and delivering great service. panda sport gets 5 stars because of you.

Amazing customer service, helped me pick out the right ski boots with molding included, and even gave me great tips on ski sizing. Would happily go back again!

Needed some hardware for my snowboard binding. Had no time to order it online so I decided to stop by Panda sport. Staff here is super friendly. The guys working at the ski and board department were very helpful, and were able to salvage an old binding they had to get me the screws needed. They won me over as a customer. Will definitely be back for future purchases and tune ups.

Best experience in a ski shop, life to date. Home in NY for the holidays and my husband needed new skis and I needed new boots. A friend of ours shared the tip to check out Panda. It was a quick ride over from Staten Island and lots of street parking.
Frank expertly helped us out by carefully taking the time to explain all of the features and benefits of the different ski options, and most included the bindings. This was my husbands first set of new skis and we confidently feel like they helped us make the right choice for his level and style. I had purchased an entry level boot for my husband while he was learning to ski and the owner was kind enough to explain how his current boots were not a proper fit for his height/​weight. It wasn’t in the budget to replace those this trip but we will certainly be back to Panda to replace them when the time comes! The folks in the shop have a really nice genuine way of teaching you about the equipment and care in a way that doesn’t make you feel talked down to. That was really cool.
I was in the market for new boots myself. I’m sorry to say that I’ve been skiing since as soon as I could get strapped into a pair of skis and I’ve never had a proper boot fitting until I walked into Panda. Life changing experience with a proper boot fitting. Frank measured my feet, looked at them, checked my arches and helped me find a pair of boots that feel fantastic. To top it off they helped adjust them and molded them to my feet by heating them and having me stand in them. Cannot wait to try them out. I forgot a pair of ski socks, to ensure a proper fit you’ll want to bring them, as well as wearing good pants that you can roll up.
Lastly, since we live in California the team helped us pick out a padded travel back so our new purchases could fly securely back with us and on our ski adventures.
Thank you so much for a fantastic experience, we will happily return whenever we need new snow gear!

Super helpful staff, reasonably priced gear. Fitted bindings while i waited. Ask for Mike!

This place its amazing, they have really good prices on everything. If i could give them more than 5 stars i would, very friendly costumer service, any questions you have they will answer for you.

They don’t come better than Robert. Hands on owner that sets the tone for the excellent customer service here at Panda. Always enjoy my experience here. Run don’t walk for all your ski and snowboard needs.

So I bought a pair of blades on amazon, when I tried them on it wouldn’t fit. I called a friend of mine and asked him where I could go locally to get a proper fitting due to my large foot size, 14. «Go to Panda Sports». I walk in and the owner Robert approached me and I tell him my story. He tells me «if you’re a 14 and you bought a 14 it should fit, bring in those skates you got on amazon». At that point I knew this guy was honest and genuine, he was going to show me how to wear my new skates that I bought elsewhere! How often do you see honesty at retail, especially when I was ripe to be ripped off and never find out about it? Story doesn’t end there… He tells me «I’ll teach you how to blade, gimme your hands». I looked at him like he’s retarded. «are you gonna take money for this» I asked? Of course he said no.
Needless to say, this shop is my new go-​to location for future sports needs. Would be so nice if all retail shop owners were this honest.
5 star vote only cuz Unilocal doesn’t allow 10 stars!

I know I reviewed this place 2 years ago, but I felt I should update and say that this place is still amazing. I don’t buy much here, mainly use them to tune my boards. All of the staff are awesome = knowledgeable, super friendly, and just awesome. This shop is a real gem!

Panda was my last stop on a long debacle to find end-​of-​season 27.5 narrow LV boots, after striking out at Paragon and REI in the city. They got me hookedup. We tried the few pairs they had in stock, acknowledged they were not a fit, and then they kindly helped me decide between two pairs I had already bought online. We then did custom insoles and bootfitting, which I was happy to pay for… since they don’t work for free! This was head and shoulders above the help I got from Paragon, whose staffer (my second trip) seemed to imply I was wasting his time if I hadn’t bought the boots there. Definitely worth the long trip out on the R train.
Lots of knowledgable people working the boot desk, but for more complicated fittings Duke or Rob [owner] are most knowledgable.
PS. If you’re being indulgent… there is a KFC next door!

If your looking for the best equipment this place has it all, extremely convenient for anyone coming from Staten Island. their snowboard guy Christian has Demo’d every board in the shop and will have you heading in the rite direction in minutes.
I purchased a pair of burton boots from here and snapped the laces, they took care of me without argument or hesitation, will definitely keep my business at this place.

My experience at Panda Sport was AMAZING and I would definitely go back for ALL my ski equipment needs! The service extended WAY beyond what would normally be expected.
From the second I walked in the door, I was given individual attention and everyone was extremely helpful. A female employee helped me find a pair of snow pants that were a perfect fit– to the point where I felt like I was shopping in a high end boutique! She was extremely helpful and I found an awesome pair that were ON SALE! Even better!
In addition, I walked away with amazing skis and poles that were a perfect for my ability on the mountain. The guys at the equipment desk set everything up for me to be able to carry around easily– which was extremely helpful when taking everything on the train. I was also able to purchase a pair of headphone inserts for my helmet that worked perfectly and were a great price.
Overall, my experience at Panda Sport was efficient, pleasant, and extremely satisfying. I got everything I needed and wanted, and walked away VERY happy! I will certainly be returning next season!

Amazing service.
The owner Robert took a lot of time with me to make sure I was getting the best service.
I would recommend this ski shop to everyone.
It was worth the trip from the upper west side of Manhattan.
Will definitely be going back again.

I found Panda Sport through Unilocal.Last time I had skied was 10 years ago or so. I first bought new apparel pants, fleece ¼ zip jacket and jacket. Jackie was very helpful she explained everything I needed to know to keep warm.
Second time I came in I got a helmet goggles and ski rentals. Everyone was amazingly informative and helpful.
After getting my groove back I decided to get brand new skis, boots and poles. This time (3^rd time) around Mike helped me and the owner too (which I think he let slip was his father). I spent a little too much money but the experience, undivided attention I received from Mike was worth it. At the end I was very happy with my purchases even the expensive Leki poles he convinced me to buy are great.
I went skiing that weekend to try them out. Saturday Elk and on Superbowl Sunday in Windham. They are a dream my Lange ski boots which Mike had put arch insoles and heated since I pronate. Leki poles expensive but saves time and annoyance of putting straps on and off. My Völkl skiis rock. Everything fits right, feels right and the help I received was amazing and stress free (before and after). Getting it right the first time saves so much time and money.
If you are buying new skis/​boots hunt down Mike he is the best!

We were referred to Panda Sport by another Brooklyn family who bought and rented ski gear from the shop several years ago. They raved about the service, selection and all around experience. So instead of renting gear from the mountain we frequent as we had done in the past, we tried Panda last year.
Now in our second season renting and purchasing ski gear from Panda Sport, we see again that our friends were right in every way. The service, selection and price are all terrific. The owners and their staff are incredibly knowledgable, hands-​on, patient and are committed to pleasing each customer whether renting or purchasing, and if purchasing — whether it’s the least expensive or highest-​end gear. They spent over an hour ensuring I bought the perfect fitting ski boots, even though I opted for a less expensive pair on sale.
We can’t say enough about how impressed we have been with Panda Sport and whole-​heartedly recommend them for anyone wishing to buy or rent their ski gear and/​or apparel.

My experience at Panda Sport couldn’t have been better! I didn’t think stores like this existed anymore.
You can tell everyone that works at Panda has a passion for the sport. Their quality advice comes from thorough knowledge of the products they sell. The guys there have demo’d and tested their stuff: helmets, bindings, and everything in between.
When I walked in, I was instantly greeted and felt welcome. I walked into the back and started looking at the boards. The selection was great, and I was able to check out everything hands-​on. It’s really nice to see the gear before you pull the trigger on it.
Although I had done a fair amount of research beforehand, I still had a few areas I was gray on. I knew I needed an all-​mountain board, but the camber-​rocker conundrum still puzzled me a bit. When Christian came over, he asked a few questions about my riding style, and immediately started recommending gear that would be a good fit. He cleared up any questions I had, and helped me make a decision between my final contenders.
Once I made my decision, they went to work mounting and providing a full set-​up of my board. After doing a dry-​run fitting for angles and spacing, they took it in the back to make it official. I had to run, but when I came in the next day my board was waiting for me, ready to ride.
Then for the real test: the mountain. The board, boots, and bindings are an absolute pleasure. Everything feels exactly as the guys said it would. I took my first couple runs with a smile.
Would definitely recommend Panda to anyone in the tri-​state looking for a great customer service, reasonable prices, and a staff that really cares about your winter sports experience. See you soon, guys!

First of all, I experienced ski gear shopping here and REI in Soho. And this is what I have to say…
If you are a beginner and really wanted a store that would look out for you and trust that they will help you pick out the right gear, you come here and speak with Rob. I bought my ski boots and skis here and I am really happy and thankful that I did. Rob and his team is unbelievably acknowledgeable about their products because they too are into the sports for many years. Their customer service really comes from the love of the sports. They look out for your wallet too so they will most likely give you two recommended styles that is good for you and have you try both on. They don’t try to push to seller the higher end stuff if you are not in the level yet. They answer whatever questions you have about ski gear AND MORE!
For instance, Rob told me not to put my boots at the parking lot and put them on in the lounge so the dirt and gravel will not mess up the bottom of your boots, which needs to be fitted into the binding securely and safely. He told me never to leave my boots in the trunk of the car. Always bring it with you because your boots will freeze and you wouldn’t be able to put them on. Him and his staff gave me a lot of tips but I can’t remember them all.
Heat molding technology is about as good as it can get for a skier. Rob helped me mold the entire pair of Salomon ski boots I bought. He told me that Salomon has perfected the technology for boot molding with the shell so might as well make use of it. Correct! My friend who bought the same boots and skis at REI got the watered down version. They only heat up inside for molding and left the boot alone.
I needed simple cheat bags to store my gear for easy carrying to and from the car. What do you know? They are stocked with exactly what I need. I know I won’t be seeing Rob much now that I have my gear but I urge you new buyers. Winter sports gear are so expensive and you should go to the place that looks out for you and suggest what you need. Rob says there is a lifetime fitting warranty so whenever your stuff don’t fit right, bring them right back.