GEAR:30
Episodes
Reviewer Reports: Backcountry Ski Touring Gear w/ Paul Forward
25 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Paul Forward and Jonathan Ellsworth discuss some of the backcountry gear Paul’s been testing around Girdwood, Alaska, including skis from Moonlight ...
MountainFLOW founder, Peter Arlein, on How Ski Wax Works; its Environmental Impact; Ceramic Nano Technology; & More
17 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
MountainFLOW is disrupting the ski and snowboard industries by producing high-performing products that are also biodegradable and more sustainable tha...
Shop Talk: Backcountry Skis, Boots, & Bindings
10 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
John Weir from Bentgate in Golden, CO, is back to discuss advances in backcountry skis; draw comparisons between some high-profile touring boots; and ...
The Pro's Gear: Hadley Hammer
03 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 happi...
Shop Talk: Pulling Back the Curtain on Gear Testing
26 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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, Geo...
Our 21/22 Blister Winter Buyer’s Guide
19 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ellsworth discuss our 21/22 Blister Winter Buyer’s Guide and some corresponding industry trends and category highlights. The...
Moment Skis 21/22 Lineup with Luke Jacobson
12 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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; snowb...
Shop Talk: Vertical Playground, Oppdal Norway
05 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Pete Wagner on Wagner’s new Summit Skis, Avalanche Cores, & Niehues Collab
29 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We talk to Pete Wagner about three big new things happening at Wagner Custom Skis, where everything is built right in Telluride, Colorado.TOPICS &...
Shop Talk: Willi's Ski and Snowboard Shops
22 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 Pitt...
The Pro's Gear: McKenna Peterson
08 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, we sat down with McKenna Peterson, one of the stars of Matchstick Productions’ new film, The Stomping Grounds, to discuss her personal ge...
A Very Deep Dive on Ski Boots, Part 7: Atomic’s 21/22 Lineup
01 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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”...
Eric Pollard on Innovation, Graphics, & Season's Ski Lineup
24 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
The Pro’s Gear: Bode Miller
17 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Gear Talk, Mic Drops, & Zen Koans with Flylow’s Dan Abrams
11 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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’...
Your Questions, Our Buyer’s Guide, & Luke’s Cry for Help
03 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 g...
Shop Talk: Spokane Alpine Haus
27 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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’ ma...
Blister Summit Panel on Ski Design
20 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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...
A Very Deep Dive on Coffee
13 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
The Pro’s Gear: Chris Davenport
06 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 mono...
Andrew Alexander King’s Denali Expedition & the Gear He Used
31 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 Be...
Sam Shaheen’s Denali Expedition & the Gear He Used
23 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 fr...
Current State of Helmet Tech, pt. 5: WaveCel
16 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
The Mt. Rushmore of “Poppy” Skis
09 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 poppie...
Current State of Helmet Tech, pt. 4: POC
02 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 helm...
Current State of Helmet Tech, pt. 3: Pret
26 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We talk with the president & CEO of Pret Helmets about Pret’s approach to helmet design; the “dart test” portion of the safety certification...
Current State of Helmet Tech, pt. 2: Giro / Bell
18 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Current State of Helmet Tech, pt. 1: Sweet Protection
11 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 helm...
A Very Deep Dive on Ski Boots, Part 6: Ski Boot Suspension
28 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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....
Old Principles & New Challenges of Apparel Design
14 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 outdo...
Ski Touring Gear & Listener Questions
07 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Which tech bindings feel the most like alpine bindings? What “very light” skis offer the best suspension and damping? Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ells...
AT Boots, Bindings, & Skis w/ Sebastian Steinbach
30 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We talk with Sebastian Steinbach, the owner of Blacksheep Sports Freeride Shop in Munich, Germany, about a bunch of ski touring gear, including the ne...
Reviewer Reports: Powder Skis w/ Paul Forward
23 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 sea...
The Mt. Rushmore of Ski Suspension
16 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Today we’re talking about one of the most important concepts in ski design: suspension. So what do we mean by “suspension”? Are terms like “pl...
Reviewer Reports: Fun Carvers & All-Mountain Skis
09 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Luke Koppa & Jonathan Ellsworth report on the new skis they’ve been reviewing from Black Crows, Salomon, Dynastar, Wagner, RMU, Moment, & mo...
Hoji on the Dynafit Radical Pro; the Hoji Hole; & More
02 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Our patron saint of GEAR:30 is back on the show today, and we talked to Hoji about the new Dynafit Radical Pro; how it compares to the Hoji Free boot;...
Ski Boot Liners: Zipfit & Atomic Mimic Professional
27 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Sascha Anastas and Jonathan Ellsworth discuss a couple of new liners they’re reviewing: the Zipfit World Cup liner, and the Atomic Mimic Professiona...
MADE: Custom Technical Apparel
19 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
MADE is a new company that’s setting out to make custom technical apparel. Their 3 co-founders are all veterans of the technical apparel and outdoor...
Shop Talk: Escape Route, Whistler & Squamish
12 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Today we’ve got another Shop Talk episode for you, where we speak with folks from one of our Blister Recommended Shops to get their perspective on a...
Blister Summit Recap & New Ski Reviews
05 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Luka Koppa, Sascha Anastas, Kara Williard, and Jonathan Ellsworth offer a bit of a recap of our inaugural Blister Summit in Mt. Crested Butte, then di...
Shop Talk: Gear West, Long Lake, MN
19 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Today we’ve got another Shop Talk episode for you, where we speak with folks from one of our Blister Recommended Shops to get their perspective on a...
Reviewing the Reviewer: Dylan Wood
12 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Today we’ve got another installment of our “Reviewing the Reviewer” series, where we ask various BLISTER reviewers questions about their backgro...
The Blister Summit: What It Is, Why We Made It, & Why You Should Come
05 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Our inaugural Blister Summit launches in less than two weeks! So Kristin Sinnott, our Blister Summit director, and Jonathan Ellsworth talk about the o...
Shop Talk: Powder Hound, Girdwood, AK
29 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Today we’ve got another Shop Talk episode for you, where we speak with folks from one of our Blister Recommended Shops to get their perspective on a...
A Very Deep Dive on Ski Boots, Part 5: Heel Pockets, Tongue Volume, & Atomic’s new Hawx Ultra & “Professional” Liners & Dual Strap
22 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Product Manager of Atomic Ski Boots, Matt Manser, is back to talk about heel pockets and tongue volume and Luke Koppa’s feet and how plug boots are ...
Shop Talk: Outdoor Gear Exchange, Burlington, VT
15 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We’re talking with Megan Shenton, the head of the ski dept. at Outdoor Gear Exchange, about how this ski season is going so far in New England; the ...
New Volkl Mantra M6; Burly Chargers; & Movement Skis
08 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ellsworth offer their initial thoughts on the new Volkl Mantra M6 & Secret 96; reviewer, Drew Kelly (aka, The Hulk), makes...
2020: Gear in Review
01 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ellsworth talk about some of the skis they’ve recently been testing; name some of the most surprising products of 2020 and s...
Shop Talk: Backcountry Essentials, Bellingham WA
26 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We’re talking with Chris Gerston, founder of Backcountry Essentials, talking about Bellingham; starting Backcountry Essentials; and some of the gear...
1-Ski-Boot Quiver; Listener Questions; Skis; Apparel; & Masks
18 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ellsworth discuss several listener questions about ski quivers; 1-boot quivers; some game-changing news in the ski boot world;...
Shop Talk: The Ski Monster founders, George & Eric
11 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We’ve got another edition of Shop Talk for you, where we talk with folks from one of our Blister Recommended Shops to get their perspective on a mix...
Ski Quivers for Garden Gnomes, 1-Year-Olds, & Heli Guides
04 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We talk to Blister reviewers Sascha Anastas & Paul Forward about their ski quivers; binding preferences; coffee in AK; your questions; and more.TO...
Buttered Noodles; Opening Day; & Ski Quivers
27 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ellsworth discuss the opening day of the ski season; approaches to building ski quivers; our specific selections; Luke’s lat...
Shop Talk: Tyson Stellrecht, Boise Gear Collective
20 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Today we’re talking with one of our Blister Recommended Shops to get their perspective on a mix of topics that range from broadly applicable to all ...
Bending the Paradigm: Polartec’s Approach to “Waterproofness” & Comfort
13 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
If you are a true gear head, you are going to love this conversation. And if you aren’t a full-on gear nerd but you’d like to better understand wh...
20/21 Blister Buyer’s Guide + Your Questions
06 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ellsworth discuss some of the highlights and big takeaways from our new Winter Buyer’s Guide. We’ll talk about some of our...
Shop Talk: John Weir, Bentgate
30 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Today we’ve got another edition of Blister Shop Talk, where we check in with one of our Blister Recommended Shops to get their perspective on topics...
Cody Townsend on Coffee Makers, Bindings, & Beacons
23 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We sat down in Blister HQ with Cody Townsend to talk about coffee makers, bindings, beacons, terrain management, mortality, movies, and more.TOPICS &a...
What You’re Wearing, Part 6: Alpaca Wool
16 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What do you know about Alpaca wool? And how well do you know the ins and outs of manufacturing in Peru? We talk about these things and more with the f...
Folsom Skis 20/21 Lineup + Update on our Buyer’s Guide
09 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We’ve got Folsom Skis CEO, Mike McCabe, back on the show to catch us up on what’s been going on at Folsom; the PPE equipment they’ve been making...
Shop Talk: Sebastian Steinbach, Black Sheep Sports
02 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Black Sheep Sports is a freeride shop in Munich, Germany, and we talk to its founder, Sebastian Steinbach, about this past ski season; his predictions...
Faction Skis: Company History & 20/21 Lineup
25 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
For some time now, Faction has been one of the hottest brands in skiing. But how much do you actually know about the company? This week we are talking...
Jason Levinthal & 4FRNT’s New Ownership Group
18 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Last week, it was announced that Jason Levinthal had sold 4FRNT Skis. So we talked to Jason about how this deal came about; learn the background of th...
Shaggy’s Skis 20/21 Lineup + Luke & Drew Ski Pow on 9.9.20
11 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We talk to Northern-Michigan-based Shaggy’s Copper Country Skis co-founder & product engineer, Jeff Thompson, about their 20/21 lineup; their un...
What Makes a Face Mask More or Less Effective?
29 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Not all bikes or skis are equally good at all things — and the same goes for protective face masks. So we talked with Alex Lauver and Kat Schoewe of...
Moment Skis 20/21 Lineup
21 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Moment Skis CEO, Luke Jacobson, is back on the show to talk with Jonathan Ellsworth about the 20/21 lineup. Come to learn what’s new, stay for all t...
Voormi: How a ‘Textile Technology’ Company Does Outdoor Apparel
14 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Voormi is not interested in being just another outdoor apparel company. They develop their own textiles inhouse; they manufacture in the United States...
WNDR Alpine’s 20/21 Lineup with Matt Sterbenz, Pep Fujas, & Xan Marshland
09 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Sterbenz, Pep Fujas, and Xan Marshland came to Crested Butte and sat down with us in Blister HQ to fill us in on WNDR Alpine’s new materials, n...
Bikes, Forks, & Our 20/21 Winter Buyer’s Guide
31 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Jonathan Ellsworth talks to David Golay, Dylan Wood, & Luke Koppa about the Guerrilla Gravity Gnarvana; Manitou Mezzer & RockShox ZEB; Rocky M...
Aprch, CBD, & the Story Behind an Emerging Category
24 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Normally on GEAR:30 we dive deep into the details of specific ski, apparel, or bike equipment. But this week, we’re taking a close look at a massive...
Reviewing the Reviewer: Kristin Sinnott
10 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In our “Reviewing the Reviewer” series, we ask various BLISTER reviewers questions about their backgrounds and gear preferences to give you a more...
Our Favorite Kid’s Gear, Part 1
03 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Kristin Sinnott and Justin Bobb join Jonathan Ellsworth to talk about some of the kid’s gear they’ve found to be the most game changing. And even ...
Kingswood Skis founder, Alex Herbert
26 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Kingswood Skis is a custom indie ski manufacturer based on the South Island of New Zealand, and we caught up with Kingswood founder, Alex Herbert, as ...
Your Questions + What We’re Celebrating
19 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ellsworth answer your questions and discuss our preferred gear for skiing funky spring / summer snow; what we’re reading; sk...
ON3P Skis 20/21 Lineup with Scott Andrus
29 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We’re talking with the founder of ON3P Skis, Scott Andrus, about the new ON3P lineup for the upcoming season. There is a lot of new and interesting ...
The Strongest Wheels on the Market? Revel Wheels & “Fusion Fiber”
22 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Last week on our Bikes & Big Ideas podcast, we got the backstory from 28-year-old Adam Miller about his founding of Borealis Fat Bikes, Why Cycles...
Hoji on Tinkering, Climbing Skins, Monoskiing, & Michael Jordan
15 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In celebration of episode #100, of course we had to have Hoji back on, our patron saint of GEAR:30.We discuss all the tinkering he’s been doing duri...
Your Questions + Our Review of PBR’s ‘Hard Coffee’
08 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What outdoor gear is in need of the biggest improvement? How old is too old to try your first backflip? If you had to opt for skis that are too long o...
Reviewing the Reviewer: Eric Freson
01 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In our “Reviewing the Reviewer” series, we ask various BLISTER reviewers questions about their backgrounds and gear preferences to give you a more...
Mystery Ranch Backpacks: From Special Ops to Backcountry Skiing
24 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Mystery Ranch has a long history of working with and making packs for the US military, fire departments, and law enforcement. They also make everythin...
AT Binding Shootout, New Touring Skis, & Tiger King
17 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Luke Koppa, Jonathan Ellsworth, and Luke’s mustache discuss the pros and cons of a number of current AT bindings, including the new Marker Duke PT, ...
Crash Course: Telemark Ski Gear, Part 1
10 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Since we now have to learn how to tele ski and shoot a tele video, we’re crowdsourcing a crash course in telemark technique (see Blister Podcast epi...
McConkey’s Spatula, Modern Pow Skis, & Luke’s Mustache
03 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Reviewers Paul Forward, Luke Koppa, and Jonathan Ellsworth talk about the signs we’re going stir crazy; Shane McConkey’s Volant Spatula vs. other ...
What You’re Wearing, Part 5: Bison Fibers?
27 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Bison Wool? Bison Down? That’s a thing? Well it’s being used by one company, United By Blue, who started salvaging otherwise wasted bison fibers, ...
Full Tilt Ski Boots: Past & Present
20 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Full Tilt ski boots are beloved by some (including the likes of Bode Miller, Tom Wallisch, Seth Morrison, and Sammy Carlson), but they get pigeonholed...
Sugar Cane, Castor Beans, & Poly Bags — Picture Organic Clothing
13 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Picture Organic Clothing is going way beyond common sustainability practices with things like castor bean oil waterproof membranes and sugar cane wast...
New Skis, Tight Pants, & Farm Animal Analogies
06 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Luke Koppa, Kristin Sinnott, and Jonathan Ellsworth discuss some of the new skis, boots and apparel they’ve been testing. We also discuss what skis ...
Ski Wax & Waxing Skis: What You Need to Know
28 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We talk with Graham Lonetto, the Alpine Director for the USA at Swix — the company that invented color-coded waxes, and one of the largest manufactu...
A Very Deep Dive on Ski Boots, Part 4: Liners, Ramp Angle, & Forward Lean
21 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ski boot liners are probably the most overlooked and least appreciated piece of ski gear out there, but they are a critical piece of equipment. So Mat...
From Courmayeur to Chamonix: Testing new SCOTT Skis
14 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Sam Shaheen was recently in Courmayeur, Italy to test the new SCOTT Superguide Freetour in the spectacular mountains surrounding Mont Blanc. After sev...
Patagonia’s Glen Morden & Corey Simpson on Product Performance & Sustainability
07 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Patagonia’s Glen Morden (Product Innovation, Materials, & Development) and Corey Simpson (Communications) came to Crested Butte to ski with us a...
2020 Outdoor Retailer Highlights
01 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We sat down at the Outdoor Retailer / SIA show to discuss some of the most notable trends, interesting products, weirdest products, and the thing at t...
SCARPA CEO, Kim Miller, on the new F1 LT & More
25 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In part 2 of our conversation with SCARPA CEO, Kim Miller, Kim offers his predictions for the ski industry and how SCARPA is positioning itself for th...
The Future of Lange & the New XT3 Ski Boot
17 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We talk to Lange’s Global Brand Director, Thor Verdonk, about Lange’s use of 'dual core' technology; why “ski boots should be alive”; the bran...
Ski Gear Predictions for the Next Decade
10 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Last week we talked about the best ski gear of the past decade, so now it’s time to make our predictions about what gear will look like 10 years fro...
Best Ski Gear of the Past Decade
04 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Of the entire past decade, what was the most influential ski, ski boot, and ski binding? What was the best ski? What were the biggest trends? And what...
New Skis, Ski Boots, & Bindings with Paul Forward
27 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Today we’re catching up with Blister reviewer, Paul Forward, about some of the skis, AT boots, and an AT binding that Paul has been spending time on...
SCARPA CEO, Kim Miller, Part 1
20 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Earlier this week, Sam Shaheen visited SCARPA’s North American headquarters to talk with SCARPA’s CEO, Kim Miller, and they had a great conversati...
Ski Quiver Questions (19/20), Part 2
13 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Last week, Sam Shaheen, Luke Koppa, and I addressed some of the questions you have been asking us about ski quivers, and we also discussed the topic o...
Ski Quiver Questions (19/20), Part 1
06 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We recently published the 19/20 edition of our reviewers’ personal selections for their 5-ski, 4-ski, 3-ski, 2-ski, and 1-ski quivers. And now, we’...