GEAR:30

Jonathan talks about our most recent Blister Summit panel sessions; our upcoming Blister ‘Brand Lineup’ videos; an event this weekend; what we’re celebrating; & more.RELATED LINKS:Blister Summit Panel SessionsSubscribe to our Newsletter & Gear GiveawaysBecome a Blister Member / Get our Buyer’s GuideWatch: Spirit of the PeaksCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasOff the Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Luke and Jonathan discuss new skis, ski boots, liners, and apparel from Faction, Salomon, ZipFit, Dynastar, Renoun, Majesty, Strafe, Lange, and more. Plus gas-station food and owls.TOPICS & TIMES:New Ski / Prototype (5:41)Gas-Station Food (10:31)192cm & 182cm Dynastar M-Free 108 (20:19)Majesty Skis Dirty Bear XL (24:09)Renoun Endurance 98 vs. 88 (27:36)Faction La Machine Mega, Mana 2 & 3, Dancer 2 & 3 (31:26)Clarification: Lange RS vs Lange RX (36:00)ZipFit GFT touring liner (39:08)Salomon S/Lab MTN Summit (43:43)Apparel: Strafe Recon Kit, Strafe Nomad, & Flylow Knight Anorak (48:11)What We’re Celebrating (53:05)RELATED LINKS:Episode Sponsor: Bentgate MountaineeringBlister ‘Crash Course’ Video: SnowbladingBlister Summit Panel SessionsSubscribe to our Newsletter & Gear GiveawaysBecome a Blister Member / Get our Buyer’s GuideCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasOff the Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We talk with Bode Miller about his new company, Peak Skis and their new “Keyhole Technology”; revolutionizing ski manufacturing; his vision for Scarpa ski boots; his take on the Winter Olympics; and a whole lot more.TOPICS & TIMES:Bode on the Winter Olympics (3:30)Peak Skis (10:07)Peak skis line up: 6 models (14:40)“Keyhole Technology” (18:23)Scarpa ski boots partnership (30:45)Crystal Ball: Peak Skis in 10 years? (39:25)Alpine-X (48:58)More on Peak Skis (59:51)What We’re Celebrating (1:05:44)RELATED LINKS:Episode Sponsor: mountainFLOWGEAR:30, ep 163: Bode on Ski Design, Boots, & OpticsBlister Podcast, ep 154: Bode on Education, Mental Prep, & TechnologyBlister Summit Panel SessionsSubscribe to our Newsletter & Gear GiveawaysBecome a Blister Member / Get our Buyer’s GuideCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasOff the Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re talking new gear and gear trends with Lucas Evans and Jeff Perry of Gear West, our Blister Recommended Shop in Long Lake, Minnesota.TOPICS & TIMES:Shop overview & Lucas & Jeff’s backgrounds (2:30)Consumer interest this season? (8:42)Splitboarding performance vs solids (10:46)Uphill skiing (15:12)Nidecker’s new binding (21:58)Skis, ski boots & flex patterns (25:05)Unisex vs. women’s specific skis (38:30)RELATED LINKS:Our previous Gear West GEAR:30 podcastBlister Summit Panel SessionsSubscribe to our Newsletter & Gear GiveawaysBecome a Blister Member / Get our Buyer’s GuideOUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasOff the Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jonathan Ellsworth was in the Cascade mountains of Washington this week with K2 skier, McKenna Peterson, and K2 ski designer, Jed Yeiser, and after a great day of skiing, we sat down to talk about ski developing and prototyping; ski testing; our ski-binding shootout; biathlons; flip flips; & books.TOPICS & TIMES:Skiing the Cascades (6:05)Arc — K2's R&D Center (9:42)Testing conditions / the snow (20:50)K2 Dispatch 120 (29:39)The testing process (31:29)Our alpine ski binding shootout (38:40)Flip flops (50:14)Biathlon (54:35)Books & WiFi passwords (59:30)What We’re Celebrating (1:06:28)RELATED LINKS:Episode Sponsor: mountainFLOW Eco WaxEpisode Sponsor: Powder Hound, AKStuff We Like (March 2022)Blister Summit Panel: Ski Binding DesignSubscribe to our Newsletter & Gear GiveawaysBecome a Blister Member / Get our Buyer’s GuideOUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasOff the Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kristin Sinnott, Kara Williard, and Sascha Anastas talk about some of their highlights from the Blister Summit and discuss a bunch of the gear they spent time on from Fischer, Salomon, Dynastar, Renoun, Rossignol, and more.TOPICS & TIMES:Summit Recap & Highlights (3:33)Panel Sessions (10:49)Advice from pros (13:52)The gear demos + discussion with participants (14:47)Skis: Fischer Ranger series (22:27)Salomon Stella 106 (24:42)Dynastar E-Pro 99 Women’s (26:57)Renoun Endurance 98 (28:26)Rossignol Sender 104 TI (29:42)Differences in skis & what was available (31:14)Boots, apparel, & backcountry skiing (33:24)What We’re Celebrating (40:40)RELATED LINKS:Subscribe to our Weekly Gear Giveaway / NewsletterBecome a Blister Member / Get our Buyer’s GuideEp. 186: Luke & Jonathan on 12 New Skis from the Blister SummitCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTSBlister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasOff The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cody and Jonathan review some news, then talk about 5 gear myths; cookware; coffeemakers; & more.TOPICS & TIMES:Diversity, Fairness, & the Olympics (10:10)Equal Pay: USA Soccer (17:36)Gear Myths Myth 1: Stiff boots (20:36)Myth 2: Light gear (or heavy gear) is always better (30:51)Myth 3: You need 100% waterproof apparel (41:41)Interlude: Cookware (49:50)Myth 4: High DIN settings (57:13)Myth 5: Less-advanced skiers are fine skiing anything (1:04:53)What We’re Celebrating (1:11:51)What We’re Reading & Watching (1:13:52)Moccamaster vs. Jura (1:23:45)RELATED LINKS:Episode Sponsor: Willi’s Ski ShopsSubscribe to our Weekly Gear Giveaway / NewsletterBecome a Blister Member / Get our Buyer’s GuideBlister Podcast: Benj Alexander’s Bid to Become Jamaica’s 1st Olympic Alpine Ski RacerCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTSBlister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasOff The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ellsworth give a quick recap of the Blister Summit, then discuss a dozen of the skis we spent time on at the event.TOPICS & TIMES:Blister Summit (3:20)New (pink) Flylow gear (9:32)Kastle ZX115 (11:21)Moment Wildcat 116 (14:01)Fischer Ranger 102 & 108 (16:19)Wagner 109 & Will’s custom 105 (20:49)Line Blade Optic 114 (27:31)Icelantic Saba Pro 117 (30:04)K2 Dispatch 120 (33:11)K2 Dispatch 110 (35:11)Rossignol Sender 104 Ti vs 106 Ti (37:15)What We’re Celebrating (42:19)RELATED LINKSEpisode Sponsor: Vertical PlaygroundOur GEAR:30 episode with VPGSubscribe to our Weekly Gear Giveaway / NewsletterBecome a Blister Member / Get our Buyer’s GuideCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTSBlister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasOff The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we’re giving you an update on the topics we’ll be discussing at our upcoming Blister Summit, and telling you who the athletes, founders, product designers, and snow safety experts are that we’ll be discussing these things with. Then, in case you missed it, we’re reposting one of our favorite conversations we’ve ever had on product design in innovation, which ran previously on our Off The Couch podcast. It’s a must-listen for anyone interested in design and innovation.TOPICS & TIMES:Summit A, Feb 21st (0:40)How We Review Gear (2:48)Ski Bindings (3:15)Athlete Panel (4:51)Ski Design (5:28)Blister Labs (8:10)AUA: Ask Us Anything (9:37)Summit B, Feb 25th (10:09)How We Review Gear (10:10)Ski Boot Design (10:45)Backcountry Safety & Safety Eqpt. (12:11)Athlete Panel (14:31)Women in the Ski Industry (16:52)Product Design & Innovation (19:33)What is Speedland? (24:27)Nike Basketball (26:32)Kevin Fallon’s background (29:09)Dave Dombrow’s background (32:51)How did you get jobs at Nike, Under Armour? (36:04)Why do brands fail at moving into other product categories? (48:24)Starting Speedland (53:56)Trail shoe design (58:57)Incorporating dual BOA dials (1:08:45)Pricing & Value (1:13:59)Removable carbon plate (1:18:02)1st shoe: SL:PDX (1:19:56)Speedland’s ‘Give Back’ program (1:26:07)Optimizing for specific environments (1:27:37)Price & Hyper Performance (1:29:28)runspeedland.com (1:33:26)RELATED LINKSDrew Petersen’s film, Ups + DownsBlister Summit RegistrationSubscribe to our Weekly Gear Giveaway / NewsletterBecome a Blister Member / Get our Buyer’s GuideCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTSBlister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasOff The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kara Williard spells out the case for custom insoles in your ski boots, and discusses the Blizzard Black Pearl, Volkl Secret 96, & Salomon Stance 88W. Eric Freson talks about his trip to Canada and the WNDR Alpine Reason 120, 4FRNT Renegade, the Lange RX 130 LV, and the Salomon Shift Pro 130. And Luke Koppa talks about the new Line Blade Optic 96, Shaggy’s Ahmeek 95, and Moment Deathwish 104.TOPICS & TIMES:Update: Blister Summit (0:00)Custom Insoles (6:34)WNDR Alpine Reason 120 & 4FRNT Renegade (22:53)Shampoo update from Luke (30:13)Line Blade Optic 96 (31:23)Blizzard Black Pearl 97, Volkl Secret 96, Salomon Stance 88W (36:20)Lange RX 130 LV (39:39)Moment Deathwish 104 (46:10)Shaggy’s Ahmeek 95 (49:40)Salomon Shift Pro 130 (53:02)What We’re Celebrating (59:20)RELATED LINKS:Episode Sponsor: Backcountry EssentialsEpisode Sponsor: mountainFLOW.comBlister Summit RegistrationSubscribe to our Weekly Gear Giveaway / NewsletterBecome a Blister Member / Get our Buyer’s GuideCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTSBlister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasOff The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How should a ski boot actually fit? What does it feel like to have a “properly fitting” ski boot? And how do you achieve that? We’re discussing these questions and topics with Sebastian Steinbach, who is a boot fitting instructor in Europe for Masterfit University, and the owner of the freeride ski shop, Black Sheep Sports, in Munich, Germany.TOPICS & TIMES:Blister Summit update (2:56)Sebastian’s boot-fitting background (5:37)Biggest Mistake When Buying Ski Boots (12:56)Shell fit (16:37)Alpine ski boots & running shoes (19:17)Your instep (29:33)Does "performance fit" always mean "tighter"? (35:29)Pressure vs Pain (47:05)Aftermarket liners & custom insoles (1:03:45)What We’re Celebrating (1:11:49)RELATED LINKS:Episode Sponsor: mountainFLOW eco-waxBlister Summit RegistrationSubscribe to our Newsletter & Gear GiveawaysBecome a Blister Member / Get our Buyer’s GuideOUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister PodcastOff The CouchBikes & Big Ideas Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ellsworth discuss a ton of next season’s new products, and some of the most intriguing product categories. TOPICS & TIMES:Lightweight Boots (3:30)Supercapacitor airbags (24:56)Volkl (32:25)Dalbello (39:17)Salomon (41:21)Blister Summit (43:58)Line (45:07)Atomic (48:51)K2 (53:09)Scarpa (56:55)Dynafit (59:17)Faction: from Dictator to Dancer (1:01:03)What We're Celebrating (1:01:49)RELATED LINKS:Episode Sponsor: Bentgate MountaineeringBlister Summit RegistrationSubscribe to our Newsletter & Gear GiveawaysBecome a Blister Member / Get our Buyer’s Guide Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We were recently in Sun Valley, Idaho, hanging out at Sturtevants, one of our Blister Recommended Shops, and talking with Sturtevants owner, Olin Glenne about Rotarun Ski Area (which could serve as a blueprint for local ski hills in other places); Olin’s lifelong love of skiing; the skiing in and around Sun Valley, and some of his favorite gear.TOPICS & TIMES:Intro & powder skiing (4:30)Rotarun Ski Area (10:00)Sun Valley & coaching McKenna Peterson (14:30)Skiing & DJ’ing (18:11)Surtevants’ operation (28:55)Mountain biking around Sun Valley (33:00)Ski gear (36:20)Ski boots (50:40)What We’re Celebrating (1:06:05)RELATED LINKS:Episode Sponsor: mountainFLOW Eco WaxIntroducing: Blister LabsBlister Summit RegistrationSubscribe to our Newsletter & Gear GiveawaysBecome a Blister Member / Get our Buyer’s Guide Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we are excited to introduce you to a very big new initiative at Blister: Blister Labs. Blister Labs is a new partnership between Blister, the University of Colorado Boulder, and the brand-new, state-of-the-art engineering facility at Western Colorado University in Gunnison, Colorado. Joining me to talk about why we believe that Blister Labs represents a significant new development in the outdoor industry is Dr. Jeni Blacklock, who is the director of the Rady Partnership Program between CU Boulder and Western Colorado University.TOPICS & TIMES:What is Blister Labs? (2:17)The Rady Engineering Facility at Western (6:21)CU Boulder’s involvement (8:04)New standards? (11:29)Key faculty: Greg Vanderbeek & Sean Humbert (14:16)Jeni’s current position & background (22:38)Working at a bike shop and the NIST (31:37)Some of Jeni’s recent work (41:05)Blister Labs & the new “Outdoor Industry Engineering” program (43:23)RELATED LINKS:Video: Blister LabsBlister Summit RegistrationSubscribe to our Newsletter & Gear GiveawaysBecome a Blister Member / Get our Buyer’s Guide Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jonathan Ellsworth and Blister Summit director, Kristin Sinnott, discuss the ins and outs of our upcoming Blister Summit; why we’re including free professionally guided backcountry tours; which brands will be there; when to arrive & where to stay; and more.TOPICS & TIMES:What is the Blister Summit? (1:15)Logistics & guided backcountry tours (5:15)When to arrive / more logistics (8:51)Mt Crested Butte (11:45)Where to stay (12:41)Brands that will be there (14:57)Protocols for Covid (18:12)What we’re most excited about (21:22)Come meet pro athletes & Blister reviewers (26:56)RELATED LINKS:Blister Summit: What, Where, WhenBlister Summit Registration Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Manser, Atomic’s ski boots product manager, is back to discuss Jonathan’s trip; Matt’s Jura coffee maker; our scotch & rye whiskey tasting sessions; skiing Zauchensee and Kitzsteinhorn on the Atomic Redster G9 RS, X9 S, and X9 WB; ski boot terms (and unconditional love); and some modifications we made to Jonathan’s ski boots — which you might want to consider for your own.TOPICS & TIMES:Jura coffee (6:09)Scotch & Rye Whiskey (8:26)Trip Report: Austria (18:27)Skiing the Atomic Redster G9 RS, X9 S, X9 WB (26:03)Johnny Dapp (32:33) Atomic’s factory (35:29)Ski boot terms (40:11)Modifications to Jonathan’s Redster CS ski boots (48:35)What We’re Celebrating (1:06:06)RELATED LINKS:Episode sponsor: mountainFLOWAll of the previous GEAR:30 episodes with Matt ManserBlister Summit RegistrationSubscribe to our Newsletter & Gear GiveawaysBecome a Blister Member / Get our Buyer’s Guide Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We talk with ON3P Skis founder, Scott Andrus, about what’s been going on at ON3P, and we walk through the brand’s 22/23 lineup of skis.TOPICS & TIMES:Overview of the past year + Scott’s brother (3:45)Supply chain issues & materials (11:21)Custom skis & unisex branding (19:29)Top sheets (26:25)#blameandrus (28:25)Ski Lineup:Park Skis (35:18)Magnus and 1000 Skis (39:27)Jeffrey 110 & 102 (46:11)Woodsman 102 & 110 (50:35)Billy Goat 110 & 118 (57:10)Touring skis (1:04:08)Wrenegade 102 & 110 (1:10:16)What We’re Celebrating (1:14:09)RELATED LINKS:Episode Sponsor: Blacksheep SportsGEAR:30 episode: Shop Talk: Blacksheep SportsBlister Summit RegistrationSubscribe to our Newsletter & Gear GiveawaysBecome a Blister Member / Get our Buyer’s Guide Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paul Forward and Jonathan Ellsworth discuss some of the backcountry gear Paul’s been testing around Girdwood, Alaska, including skis from Moonlight and Movement; bindings from Moment and Dynafit; skins from G3 and Pomoca; and Scarpa boots. We also discuss current trends (fads?) in ski poles, and the underrated value of a good snow saw.TOPICS & TIMES:Deep Pow & Fast GroomersSKIS:Moonlight Cruiser (6:15)Movement Alp Tracks 106 (12:26)BINDINGS:Moment Voyager XIV (13:40)Dynafit Superlite 150 (20:12)CLIMBING SKINS: G3 Minimist vs Pomoca (29:54)Ski Poles: Trends & Fads? (35:14)Snow Saws (47:34)BOOTS: Scarpa F1LT & Alien RS (50:53)What We’re Celebrating (58:26)RELATED LINKS:Episode Sponsor: mountainFLOWEpisode Sponsor: PowderHoundGEAR:30 episode: mountainFLOWGEAR:30 episode: Shop Talk: PowderHoundBlister Summit RegistrationSubscribe to our Newsletter & Gear GiveawaysBecome a Blister Member / Get our Buyer’s Guide Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

MountainFLOW is disrupting the ski and snowboard industries by producing high-performing products that are also biodegradable and more sustainable than the conventional products in their categories. So we talked with founder, Peter Arlein, about the environmental impacts of ski wax; his appearance on Shark Tank; the upcoming ban on fluorocarbon waxes at the highest levels of ski racing; and Peter reveals mountainFLOW’s brand-new product, which we think is going to have another significant impact on the ski industry.TOPICS & TIMES:Background of mountainFlow (3:39)Wax & its environmental consequences (10:13)Going on Shark Tank (14:43)Ski wax misconceptions (19:56) ‘Deck of cards’ analogy (21:53) More interest from backcountry or resort riders? (23:57)Ban on fluorocarbons (25:42)Ceramic Nano Technology (27:15)New Product Reveal (30:47)MountainFLOW bike chain lube (36:15)What We’re Celebrating (38:42)RELATED LINKSAvocadoJonathan’s Sleep ExperimentGetting Here: Gunnison & Crested ButteBlister Summit RegistrationSubscribe to our Newsletter & Gear GiveawaysBecome a Blister Member / Get our Buyer’s Guide Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John Weir from Bentgate in Golden, CO, is back to discuss advances in backcountry skis; draw comparisons between some high-profile touring boots; and reassess the pros, cons, & compromises of various AT bindings.TOPICS & TIMES:Update on Bentgate (3:29)Boots: Tecnica Zero G Tour Pro vs Dynafit Radical Pro (8:41)Scarpa F1 LT (19:03)Advances in backcountry skis (22:29)AT Bindings (26:49)“Low Tech” bindings (29:48)Dynafit Rotation bindings (35:21)CAIC fundraiser (39:06)Supply chain realities (42:19)What We’re Celebrating (45:19)RELATED LINKSJohn Weir, GEAR:30, Ep. #120Getting Here: Gunnison & Crested ButteBlister Summit RegistrationSubscribe to our Newsletter & Gear GiveawaysBecome a Blister Member / Get our Buyer’s Guide Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We talk to professional skier, Hadley Hammer, about the gear she’s most & least picky about; her own gear preferences; some of the keys to happiness; and we fight about The Queen’s Gambit.TOPICS & TIMES:The Queen’s Gambit (3:04)Binge-listening to GEAR:30 (11:55)What gear are you the pickiest about? (18:03)Inclusion, Diversity, & Ski Boots (22:36)Inbounds skis & ski length (29:56)Hadley’s background (34:12)Backcountry skis: design priorities (38:20)Line Pandora 104 & 110 (42:26)Mount points (47:55)Least picky about? (53:48)What We're Celebrating (1:08:51)RELATED LINKSGetting Here: Gunnison & Crested ButteBlister Summit RegistrationSubscribe to our Newsletter & Gear GiveawaysBecome a Blister Member / Get our Buyer’s Guide Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re pulling back the curtain on ski testing, and to provide their wealth of experience in this arena are The Ski Monster co-founder & CEO, George Michaelsen, and Matt Berkowitz, who is now the brand director of The Ski Monster and who has participated in too many ski tests to count. We discuss good ways and bad ways to conduct gear tests; how and why The Ski Monster has been able to ramp up the amount of gear testing they’re doing; and why not all gear tests are created equal.TOPICS & TIMES:George Michaelsen’s questionable life decision (6:21)Matt Berkowitz’s ski industry background (10:28)Ski Monster update (17:05)How industry ski tests work (19:06)Ski tuning & ski testing (42:00)Different reviewers & reviewing (53:58)What We’re Celebrating (1:10:00)RELATED LINKSEpisode Sponsor: AvocadoJonathan’s Sleep ExperimentGetting Here: Gunnison & Crested ButteBlister Summit RegistrationSubscribe to our Newsletter & Gear GiveawaysBecome a Blister Member / Get our Buyer’s Guide Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ellsworth discuss our 21/22 Blister Winter Buyer’s Guide and some corresponding industry trends and category highlights. They also talk snowblades, clarify our Buyer’s Guide ‘Best Of’ Awards, and go on a rant or two.TOPICS & TIMES:Early-season turns & the new Nordica Enforcer 104 Unlimited (6:21)Our new glossy Buyers guide (11:27)Weight Trends (13:25)Unisex vs. ‘women-specific’ trend? (21:56)Alpine ski boots (22:54)Rant: ski stiffness & stability (29:52)Grip Walk soles (34:11)‘Best Of’ awards clarification (36:58)What We’re Celebrating (43:48)RELATED LINKSEpisode Sponsor: AvocadoJonathan’s Sleep ExperimentBlister Summit RegistrationSubscribe to our Newsletter & Gear GiveawaysBecome a Blister Member / Get our Buyer’s Guide Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Moment Skis CEO, Luke Jacobson, is back on GEAR:30 to talk about Moment’s 21/22 lineup of skis; the new Moment factory; the new Deathwish 104; snowblading; & more.TOPICS & TIMES:Moment’s new factory (4:51)Supply chain issues? (11:35)New Deathwish 104 (15:25)Deathwish (22:12)Wildcat skis (25:23)Commander skis (29:16)Touring Skis (35:14)Deathwish Tour vs Wildcat Tour (37:56)Sales of standard vs touring skis (39:44)Voyager binding on which skis? (41:27)Women’s Sierra Tour & Bella Tour (48:53)Women’s Hot Mess, Sierra, Bella (52:04)Frankenblade (54:54)Blister ‘Crash Course’ Snow blade video (57:27)Chipotle Banana (1:04:17)What We’re Celebrating (1:09:21)RELATED LINKSOff The Couch podcast: Tessa ChesserGetting to Gunnison-Crested Butte: FlightsBlister Summit RegistrationSubscribe to our Newsletter & Gear GiveawaysBecome a Blister Member / Get our Buyer’s Guide Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Once upon a time, a couple of friends who were scheming to get some gear for their own adventures ended up creating a phenomenal outdoor shop. We talk to Trygve Sande and Rune Kvalsnes about the origins of Vertical Playground; their trip with Hoji where the idea of the 4FRNT Raven was born; the ski touring and mountain biking scene in central Norway; some of their favorite gear; and more.TOPICS & TIMES:Vertical Playground today (4:23)Origins story (8:40)Ski touring culture in central Norway (14:08)Hoji, Sterbenz, & the birth of the 4FRNT Raven (19:07)Touring bindings (35:35)Mountain biking & summers in Oppdal (43:46)The future of Vertical Playground? (49:08)What We’re Celebrating (56:00)RELATED LINKS:Vertical PlaygroundEpisode Sponsor: AvocadoJonathan's Sleep ExperimentGetting to Gunnison-Crested Butte: FlightsBlister Summit RegistrationSubscribe to our Newsletter & Gear GiveawaysBecome a Blister Member / Get our Buyer’s Guide Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We talk to Pete Wagner about three big new things happening at Wagner Custom Skis, where everything is built right in Telluride, Colorado.TOPICS & TIMES:Wagner’s new “Summit” skis (4:45)Summit 106 (15:56)Summit 107 (19:42)Summit 97 (21:30)Factory skis vs. the full custom process (22:49)Current consumer trends? (25:18)Avalanche cores (27:13)New James Niehues collab (33:42)Next Level Skiing podcast & Jonathan’s neck (35:36)What will you do for the next Blister Summit? (43:19)RELATED LINKSSee Wagner’s “Summit” skisVideo: Wagner’s “Avalanche CoresWagner’s Niehaus Collab SkisGetting to Gunnison-Crested Butte: FlightsBlister Summit RegistrationSubscribe to our Newsletter & Gear GiveawaysBecome a Blister Member / Get our Buyer’s Guide Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We talk with Greg Klein, president of Willi’s Ski and Snowboard Shops, which is family owned and operated with several locations in the greater Pittsburgh area of Pennsylvania. We talk about what brought Greg’s father (Willi) to PA; Seven Springs Mountain Resort; the key ingredients of a great ski shop; ski length & ski width; Willi’s women’s program; shop beer vs. shop pizza; & more.TOPICS & TIMES:Greg’s father, Willi (4:47)The mid-Atlantic ski scene (8:20)Willi’s women’s program (13:03)How else are you making skiing more accessible? (15:30) The *actual* business of a ski shop (21:35)Kickball (24:02) The culture at Willi’s (25:56)Ski length & ski width (32:53)City shops vs. Mtn Town shops (49:03) Final Thoughts + Shop Pizza (57:22)What We’re Celebrating (1:00:30)RELATED LINKSRecommended Shop: Willi’s Ski ShopsGetting to Gunnison-Crested Butte: FlightsBlister Summit RegistrationSubscribe to our Newsletter & Gear GiveawaysBecome a Blister Member / Get our Buyer’s Guide Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we sat down with McKenna Peterson, one of the stars of Matchstick Productions’ new film, The Stomping Grounds, to discuss her personal gear preferences; what ski equipment she’d most like to see get made; the topic of women-specific gear; the best ways to get more women involved in skiing; and more.TOPICS & TIMES:Recommend Shop info: Blacksheep Sports (00:57)Kristin Sinnott on the Blister Summit (3:00)Praise / Roast of K2’s Jed Yeiser (9:01)What gear are you most particular about? (12:53)Skis (25:37)Ski length & which skis are you on most on most? (28:07)Backcountry skis: what are your design priorities (33:15)Telemark interlude (38:00)Women-specific gear (42:55)Bindings (55:14)Ski poles & avy packs (1:04:46)What We're Celebrating (1:08:51)RELATED LINKSRecommended Shop: Blacksheep SportsGetting to Gunnison-Crested Butte: FlightsBlister Summit RegistrationSubscribe to our Newsletter & Gear GiveawaysBecome a Blister Member / Get our Buyer’s Guide Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Manser is back for a deep dive on Atomic’s new 21/22 lineup, and we also discuss ski boot design and construction in general; the “Frodo Pro”; “Complete Tech” vs. “Hybrid Tech”; Immanuel Kant; Omar Little; and he offers his take on Bode Miller’s recent GEAR:30 thoughts on ski boots.TOPICS & TIMES:Manser on Bode Miller on ski boots (8:24)Atomic ski boots range walkthrough (17:42)Redster Ti & STi (21:44)Redster Club Sport (30:02)Hawx Ultra vs Redster Club Sport (44:25)Atomic’s Mimic Liner & Professional Dualstrap (49:27)Atomic’s Professional Series (53:01)Hawx Ultra XTD & Prime XTD (1:08:10)Hawx Prime XTD “CT” vs “HT” (1:23:32)Crazy thing about tech inserts (1:30:19)What We’re Celebrating (1:47:58)RELATED LINKSGetting to Gunnison-Crested Butte: FlightsBlister Summit RegistrationSubscribe to our Newsletter & Gear GiveawaysBecome a Blister Member / Get our Buyer’s GuideA Very Deep Dive on Ski Boots, Part 1: PlasticsA Very Deep Dive on Ski Boots, Part 5: Atomic’s Professional Series Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It is difficult to overstate the innovation that Eric Pollard has brought to modern skiing, and in this conversation, you’ll get to hear more about how Eric sees the world and finds himself pursuing new directions. We also talk about graphics; Season’s all-black topsheets; and each of the models in Season’s ski lineup. TOPICS & TIMES:From ‘Drawn from Here’ to Season (3:27)1st time meeting Austin Smith (8:14)Principles behind Season Eqpt (11:33)Skiers vs Snowboarders - (14:45)Graphics / Season’s black topsheets (18:01)Teams (34:07)Season’s ski lineup (38:50)Aero - design concepts (42:14)Mount points (46:13)Hypothetical: coming up now vs when you did (48:16)More on the Aero (55:57)Ski width (1:01:38)Kin (1:06:35)Nexus and Forma (1:10:52)What else are you working on now? (1:15:40)What We’re Celebrating (1:19:40)RELATED LINKSGetting to Gunnison-Crested Butte: FlightsBlister Summit RegistrationSubscribe to our Newsletter & Gear GiveawaysBecome a Blister Member / Get our Buyer’s GuideBlister Podcast: Eric PollardBlister Podcast: Season Co-Founder, Austin Smith Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We had Bode on the Blister Podcast (ep. 154) talking about education, mental preparation, and more, and that is a not-to-be-missed conversation. This time around, we dive deep into gear talk, and Bode makes clear that his different and creative ways of thinking weren’t just hallmarks of his approach to racing, they define his approach to skis, ski boots, bindings, and eyewear, too.TOPICS & TIMES:Race ski design priorities (5:09)Materials & Tennis analogies (10:48)More on race skis (14:02)Ski Boots (18:30)Raichle & Full Tilt boots (23:42)Ski boot flex patterns (35:15)Ski bindings (39:18)Eyewear & Optics (41:24)Update on Crosson skis (57:15)What We’re Celebrating (1:03:37)RELATED LINKSSubscribe to our Newsletter & Gear GiveawaysBecome a Blister Member / Get our Buyer’s GuideBlister Podcast #154: Bode MillerRevo x Bode Miller Black Collection Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Flylow founder (and certified gear nerd) Dan Abrams is back to talk about the skis and ski boots he’s interested in for the coming season; Flylow’s mountain bike apparel; and what’s new in the Flylow lineup for Winter 21/22.TOPICS & TIMES:The skis & ski boots Dan is considering (4:01)Update on Flylow’s mountain bike apparel (14:53)Production logistics & mic drops (19:09)Winter gear, bibs, & a confession(26:25)Koan: “You don’t break in the garment…” (37:37)More gear confessions (43:05)Up & coming athlete on your radar? (44:44)What We’re Celebrating (52:43)RELATED LINKSSubscribe to our Newsletter & Gear GiveawaysBecome a Blister Member / Get our Buyer’s GuideDan Abrams on Next-Gen MaterialsDan Abrams on How to Start & Grow an Outdoors Brand Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ellsworth answer listener gear questions; share some info about our new winter buyer’s guide; and Luke shares with us some good news, but also presents new reasons for us to worry about him.TOPICS & TIMES:Info on our new Buyers guide (3:14)Q: What’s your favorite ski ever? (10:24)Q: Best way to communicate with a boot fitter? (15:27)Q: More accessible skis vs. more demanding skis (22:45)Q: Impact of ski mass relative to width? (33:18)Q: Big ski brands & sustainability (41:08)Q: Favorite ski graphics? (48:06)Luke’s cry for help (51:10)What We’re Celebrating (56:31)RELATED LINKSBecome a Blister Member / Get our Buyer’s Guide Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re talking with Rachel and Drew Harding, the owners of The Spokane Alpine Haus, about the ski scene in Spokane, Washington; the Alpine Haus’ massive equipment leasing program; interesting ways to destroy skis; kid’s gear; and more. TOPICS & TIMES:Rachel & Drew’s origin story (2:10)The ski scene in Spokane (11:38)The 5 ski areas and how they differ (14:44)The shop & the Spokane community (18:36)Their leasing program (22:50)Their damage policy (36:54)Kid’s equipment (43:20)What We’re Celebrating (53:54)RELATED LINKS:The Spokane Alpine HausBlister Summit VideosBecome a Blister Member Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we are airing the panel session on ski design that we held at the Blister Summit. We talk to the designers behind the skis from Blizzard, Folsom Custom Skis, Rossignol, Dynastar, and Wagner Custom Skis to get their respective design philosophies; discuss current trends in ski design; debate whether skis are being dumbed down today; determine once and for all whether stated sidecut radius numbers are fake; & more.TOPICS & TIMES:Different approaches to ski design 01:46Jed Duke, Blizzard Skis 02:25Mike McCabe, Folsom Custom Skis 5:08Pete Wagner, Wagner Custom Skis 9:32Thor Verdonk, Rossignol & Dynastar 11:10Rank the top 3 innovations in ski design today 14:50Are skis being dumbed down today? 24:15How much has the manufacturing process changed? 33:06Women’s skis 40:06Current demand: specific touring skis vs. “50/50” skis 49:39Are stated sidecut radius numbers fake? 57:41Which ski design trends do you like best? 1:06:31Which ski design trends do you like least? 1:10:07RELATED LINKS:Blister Summit VideosBecome a Blister Member Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You had to know we’d do this, right? We’re doing a deep dive on coffee with Sam Higby of First Ascent. We discuss the difference between good and bad instant coffee; light roasts vs. dark roasts (and what some dark roasts have in common with hot sauce or double IPAs); the brewing process & brewing at altitude; how to make great coffee on a budget; and more. TOPICS & TIMES:Sam’s background (5:44)First Ascent Coffee (10:09)History of instant coffee & what makes it good or bad (11:33)Light Roasts vs Dark Roasts (23:44)The roasting process (32:19)Q Graders vs Sommeliers (35:49)Hot sauce, hops, & dark roasts (38:42)Brewing at altitude (43:39)Grinding & Grinders (47:29)Extraction / grind size (52:43)Different brewing methods (52:43)How to: good coffee on a budget (1:03:33)What We’re Celebrating (1:11:16)RELATED LINKS:Blister Recommended Shop: Escape RouteBecome a Blister MemberPilot Roasters "Extraction Wheel" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chris Davenport walked over to Blister HQ from Aspen to talk about how he thinks about ski gear and his own personal preferences. We also discuss monoskiing; which gear he is most and least picky about; ski width; mount points; weight; and whether Shane McConkey would be into these GEAR:30 conversations.TOPICS & TIMES:Chris’ 1st comp: the CB Extremes (3:44)Old skis & how they've changed (7:46)Chris’ gear preferences (9:57)Chris’ ski quiver + light gear vs heavier gear (13:23)Chris’ ski boot quiver (18:25)Where do you look to save weight? (30:28)What gear are you the pickiest about? (36:05)Least picky? (38:11)Would McConkey be into GEAR:30? (42:00)Mount points (43:28)Which ski were you on the most the last 2 years? (45:58)Sidecut vs. rocker profile? (50:04)Being on the right gear for the day (58:59)Topics for our next talk (1:01:21)RELATED LINKS:Blister Recommended Shop: Gear WestBecome a Blister Member Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andrew Alexander King tells us about his experience on Denali and some of the most important gear he used.TOPICS & TIMES:The planning (1:32)The Between Worlds Project (3:32)The training (5:51)The surprises (11:41)The gear (18:16)The climb (30:51)What's next (57:54)What We're Celebrating (1:06:26)RELATED LINKS:Our prior podcast on The Between Worlds ProjectBecome a Blister Member Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This spring, Sam Shaheen and four of his friends took on the very big challenge of a Denali expedition. So in this conversation, we get the debrief from Sam, discuss what he and his crew learned in the process, and go over some of the most important gear he used (including a homemade unicorn nose guard), and of that gear, what worked well and what didn’t. TOPICS & TIMES:The idea of Denali (3:34)Group dynamics (9:40)Summiting (17:43)The Gear (30:22)Hotdog party & Sam’s celebrity (53:42)Sam’s magic red light (57:25)What We're Celebrating (1:02:13)RELATED LINKS:Andrew Alexander King & The Between Worlds ProjectBecome a Blister MemberBlister Bike Buyer’s Guide Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we’re talking with the co-founder of WaveCel, Dr. Steve Madey. We discuss the origins of and the development of WaveCel; Steve makes what might be the best case we’ve ever heard about why rotational forces play such a critical role in brain injuries; and we discuss how WaveCel compares to MIPS and Koroyd. TOPICS & TIMES:What is WaveCel? (2:08)Development of WaveCel (7:06)Woodpeckers, head injuries, & rotational forces (17:25)Current iteration of WaveCel (28:38)Koroyd and WaveCel (30:51)Lawsuit (32:51)A few specific WaveCel helmets (36:31) What’s next in helmet tech? (38:26)What We’re Celebrating (41:32)RELATED LINKS:Blister Bike Buyer’s GuideCurrent State of Helmet Tech, pt. 1Current State of Helmet Tech, pt. 2Current State of Helmet Tech, pt. 3Current State of Helmet Tech, pt. 4Become a Blister Member Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Previously on GEAR:30 we laid out our Mt. Rushmore of Ski Suspension. Now, we’re moving to the opposite end of the spectrum to talk about the poppiest skis we’ve been on. We define some terms, talk about some of the characteristics that can help make a ski more poppy; and we work our way through a whole bunch of skis. Check it out, and let us know what skis you think are most deserving.TOPICS & TIMES:Update on Luke’s diet (3:08)What is “Pop”? (6:11)Our Mt Rushmore of Pop (17:28) Low-Speed Pop (30:19)Mid-Range Pop (34:21)High-Speed Pop (38:00)Other Notable Skis (40:22)What We’re Celebrating (44:49)RELATED LINKS:Recommended Shop: Powder Hound, AKOur conversations w/ Powder Hound’s Eric HelmbrechtBlister Bike Buyer’s GuideBecome a Blister MemberMt Rushmore of Ski Suspension Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We talk with the Head of Product at POC, Oscar Huss, about headforms — the things they stick into helmets to mimic your head before smashing up helmets in testing; the numerous variables that need to be considered when setting up a way to test “safety”; the different considerations that go into designing kids helmets; and more.TOPICS & TIMES:Background of POC (2:29)Oscar’s background (7:34)More on certifications standards & tests (10:46)Optimizing for 1 standard vs. passing multiple standards (19:54)Testing for car impacts (25:22)Headforms (27:37)Customizing & tuning helmets (36:00)Kids helmets (45:51)Cyclist visibility (51:55)POC’s Kortal helmet (56:52)What We’re Celebrating (1:05:16)RELATED LINKS:Blister Bike Buyer’s GuideCurrent State of Helmet Tech, pt. 1Current State of Helmet Tech, pt. 2Current State of Helmet Tech, pt. 3Become a Blister Member Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We talk with the president & CEO of Pret Helmets about Pret’s approach to helmet design; the “dart test” portion of the safety certification process; the prospects of implementing customizable helmet liners; why Pret places such an emphasis on ventilation; and more.TOPICS & TIMES:Steve Bellefeuille’s background (2:46)Safety Standards & the Dart Test (13:16)Fit & Ventilation (17:45)MIPS myth? (19:07)Fit and Shape (26:02)Customizable Helmets? (29:18)Biggest advances today (32:29)Pret’s Cirque & Fury helmets (35:54)The "safest" helmet (38:59)What We’re Celebrating (43:25)RELATED LINKS:Blister Bike Buyer’s GuideCurrent State of Helmet Tech, pt. 1Current State of Helmet Tech, pt. 2Current State of Helmet Tech, pt. 4Become a Blister Member Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We talk with Rob Wesson about Giro’s approach to various helmet safety standards and certifications; the differences between a $65 helmet and a $260 helmet; the pros and cons of adding a chin bar to a full-face helmet, or a large visor to an enduro bike helmet; and more.TOPICS & TIMES:Giro / Bell background + Rob’s background (4:05)Overview of the helmet market & sales (5:05)How Giro handles the different safety certifications & standards (13:00)Where have the biggest advancements in helmet tech been made? (19:28)Where are consumer priorities these days? (24:04)$65 MIPS vs $260 MIPS helmet (28:00)Full-face helmets, Enduro helmets, etc.(32:04)spherical shape - aerodynamics - and safety as it relates to shape (34:04)What We’re Celebrating (40:02)RELATED LINKS:Blister Bike Buyer’s GuideCurrent State of Helmet Tech, pt. 1Current State of Helmet Tech, pt. 3Current State of Helmet Tech, pt. 4Become a Blister Member Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In our new GEAR:30 mini-series, we’re talking to key designers in the world of snowsport and bike helmets to stitch together a current state of helmet tech and helmet R&D.To get things started, we are talking with Ståle Møller, the co-founder of Sweet Protection, about the pros and cons of the two different safety certifications out there; advances in materials & our understanding of head injuries; ventilation; the unique challenges of designing helmets for various activities; and how to know when you ought to replace your helmet.TOPICS & TIMES:History of Sweet Protection (4:11)Safety Certifications: European vs North American standards (10:00)Rotational forces (16:12)Weight & Volume (26:35)Sweet’s New System: 2VI (32:10) Snow vs Bike helmets (32:55)Kayaking helmets: different challenges (36:31)Road bike vs. Mtn Bike Helmets (43:52)Sweet’s Trailblazer & Trailblazer MIPS mtb helmets (46:51)Sweet’s Falconer road bike helmet (49:23)When should you replace a helmet? (51:39)Sustainability (57:37)RELATED LINKS:Blister Mountain Bike Buyer’s GuideCurrent State of Helmet Tech, pt. 2Current State of Helmet Tech, pt. 3Current State of Helmet Tech, pt. 4Blister Podcast Ep.18: Ståle Møller on How to Protect Your Head Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Manser is back to talk about bike crashes and ski boot suspension.TOPICS & TIMES:Bike crash stories (2:17)Ski-boot suspension (11:43)Damp vs. Plush (14:25)How to achieve good suspension (21:18)Ski bindings (28:08)“Playful” ski boots (30:51)Cuff Test: compression & rebound (36:01)What We're Celebrating (48:52)RELATED LINKS:Blister Mountain Bike Buyer’s GuideA Very Deep Dive on Ski Boots, Part 1: Plastics (Ep.54)A Very Deep Dive on Ski Boots, Part 2: Flex Patterns (Ep.55)A Very Deep Dive on Ski Boots, Part 3: Racers & Race Boots (Ep.60)A Very Deep Dive on Ski Boots, Part 4: Liners, Ramp Angle, & Forward Lean (Ep.88)A Very Deep Dive on Ski Boots, Part 5: Heel Pockets, Tongue Volume, & Atomic’s new Hawx Ultra & “Professional” Liners & Dual Strap (Ep.132) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Carl Moriarty was the Design Director at Arc’teryx, and is currently the Design Director at Rapha. We discuss his background and career in the outdoor industry, then dive into several principles of technical apparel design; the pros and cons of various technologies; the challenge of balancing high performance with sustainability; and how being clear on these things can help us evaluate advertising claims about new pieces.TOPICS & TIMES:From New Zealand to Australia to Vancouver to London (2:28)Waterproof / Breathable Apparel (10:32)Breathable vs. Air Permeable Apparel (15:34)DWRs & fluorocarbons: truth in advertising (24:07)What We’re Celebrating (39:52) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Which tech bindings feel the most like alpine bindings? What “very light” skis offer the best suspension and damping? Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ellsworth talk about a bunch of ski touring gear they’ve been reviewing and answer a number of your touring-related questions.TOPICS & TIMES:Blister Membership details (0:37)Fischer TransAlp Pro (3:46)DPS Pagoda Tour 100 RP (10:26)Ronin 108 (13:21)Weston Summit (16:48)WNDR Alpine Vital 100 (18:26)Alpine touring bindings (26:24)Downsides of the Hoji Hole? (35:54)“Very light” AT skis (37:25)AT vs Touring vs SkiMo (40:41)Pin bindings & the Hoji Pro Tour (42:36)Heel lift & AT boots (46:12)Inexpensive AT setups? (50:54)Backpacks for touring (55:23)What We’re Celebrating (59:26)RELATED LINKS:Blister Summit VideosBecome a Blister Member Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We talk with Sebastian Steinbach, the owner of Blacksheep Sports Freeride Shop in Munich, Germany, about a bunch of ski touring gear, including the new Tecnica Cochise 130, Lange XT3 Tour Pro, Dalbello Quantum Free 130, Plum Summit 12 binding, Moment Wildcat Tour 108, and more.TOPICS & TIMESTecnica Cochise 130 (3:30)Dalbello Krypton with tech toes (25:50)Dalbello Quantum Free 130 (36:13)Lange XT3 Tour Pro (48:19)Plum Summit 12 binding (58:13)Moment Wildcat 108 vs Wildcat Tour 108 (1:02:59)Augment Skis & the Augment AM98 (1:08:43)What We’re Celebrating (1:12:51)RELATED LINKS:Sebastian on the 20/21 Ski Season in EuropeBlister Summit Videos Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paul Forward and Jonathan Ellsworth talk about a bunch of the powder skis Paul’s been reviewing this season in Girdwood, Alaska.TOPICS:This heli season in AK (3:34)Moment Chipotle Banana (5:32)Folsom Rapture (19:48)Faction La Machine (28:02)4FRNT Renegade 184 & 191 (35:01)More on La Machine (39:21)Blizzard Spur (40:05)Kye Shapes Numinous (49:16)Whitedot Ragnarok ASYM (52:59)What we’re celebrating (56:10)RELATED LINKS:Blister Summit VideosBecome a Blister Member Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.