GEAR:30
Episodes
Nikwax & the Future of DWRs
29 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
DWRs — or “Durable Water Repellent” coatings — play a huge role in the performance of your outdoor gear, and are used on nearly every waterpro...
Moment Skis CEO, Luke Jacobson
22 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We talk to Moment Skis CEO, Luke Jacobson, about Moment’s entire “Commander” series; why we still need to do a better job educating skiers; how ...
What is The North Face Futurelight?
15 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The North Face is attempting to do something that many have tried, but few have succeeded: compete head-to-head with Gore-Tex in the waterproof / brea...
Reviewing the Reviewer: David Golay
08 Nov 2019
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...
New Marker Duke PT; Backcountry.com; New Apparel & Skis
01 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Today, Marker unveiled their brand-new Duke PT binding, so Luke Koppa, Sam Shaheen, and Jonathan Ellsworth discuss the new binding and where it fits w...
Gore’s 3 New Gore-Tex Pro Fabrics
25 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Gore-Tex has been the leader in waterproof fabrics for decades, and today, they’re announcing a complete overhaul of their flagship fabric, Gore-Tex...
The Science & Witchcraft of World Cup Ski Tuning
18 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
How do the world’s elite ski racers and their technicians squeeze every drop of performance out of their skis? We sat down with Cameron Smith who ru...
BLISTER Buyer’s Guide, Pt. 2 + Reviews of Other Buyer’s Guides
11 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we answer a bunch of the questions you submitted, then assess some of the product reviews from several of the other ski review public...
19/20 BLISTER Winter Buyer’s Guide, Part 1
04 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We just released our new 19/20 BLISTER Winter Buyer’s Guide, and given that it’s over 200 pages long, there’s a lot to talk about.So we’re goi...
Reviewing the Reviewer: Jonathan Ellsworth
27 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is the 2nd installment of our “Reviewing the Reviewer” series, where we ask various Blister reviewers questions about their backgroun...
Folsom Skis & the New Blister Pro 104
20 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We’ve been working on a special project with Folsom Custom Skis, and it’s finally time to discuss the details about the new Blister Pro 104 with F...
What You’re Wearing, Part 4: Hemp
13 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
For centuries, hemp has been cultivated around the world and used to make just about everything: rope, clothing, paper, currency, sails — even the e...
What You’re Wearing, Part 3: Down
06 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Misconceptions about down are everywhere — fill power, proper care, and animal welfare are all often wildly misunderstood. So today, in part 3 of ou...
WNDR Alpine’s New Skis
30 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
4FRNT Skis founder, Matt Sterbenz, recently launched WNDR Alpine, a company that’s incorporating biotech into skis. So we sat down with Sterbenz and...
What You’re Wearing, Part 2: Wool
23 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Why are more and more companies making products out of wool? In part two of our “What You’re Wearing” miniseries, we’re taking a closer l...
Crosson Skis founder, Chase Englehart
16 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Crosson Skis is a small, new company building skis outside of Seattle — and they are making some very big claims.So we talk to their founder, Chase ...
A Very Deep Dive on Ski Boots, Part 3: Racers & Race Boots
09 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
How do elite ski racers like Marcel Hirsher, Mikaela Shiffrin, Bode Miller, and Daron Rahlves “feel” their gear, and their ski boots in particular...
New Ski & Climbing Gear + Random Reviews
02 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Jonathan Ellsworth, Luke Koppa, & Sam Shaheen argue about the new Volkl Mantra 102 and how it compares to the M5 Mantra; discuss with more civilit...
Reviewing the Reviewer: Luke Koppa
26 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Today we are launching a new series called, “Reviewing the Reviewer,” and the idea is pretty simple: we’ll be asking various Blister reviewers q...
What You’re Wearing, Part 1: Synthetic Fibers
19 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
How much do you actually know about the clothes in your closet, and the stuff you wear to go play in the mountains? Today we’re introducing our “W...
DPS Skis 19/20 Lineup with Stephan Drake
12 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We talk to DPS Skis founder, Stephan Drake, about the new DPS 19/20 product lineup, and about two new skis — that incorporate a brand-new constructi...
A Very Deep Dive on Ski Boots, Part 2: Flex Patterns
05 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Last week on GEAR:30, we talked plastics with Atomic Ski Boots product manager, Matt Manser. Here in part 2, we talk with Matt about the messy world o...
A Very Deep Dive on Ski Boots, Part 1: Plastics
28 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Ski boots are made of plastic, and different plastics feel and perform very differently from one another. So we get deep into the details with Atomic ...
Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2019
21 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
BLISTER Editors Sam Shaheen and Luke Koppa discuss their time this week at Outdoor Retailer Summer Market, including mind-boggling new technologies li...
The Dumpster Fire Episode
14 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Things get a little loose in this roundtable conversation, and kind of go off the rails. So consider yourself warned. But there are a few gems in here...
GPS Devices & Backcountry Safety with Bivy
07 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
GPS communication devices can be the difference between life and death in remote places. So we talk with Bivy’s Pitt Grewe about the different types...
Gearing Up for Big Days in the Mountains
31 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Last Saturday, Sam Shaheen skied three different lines in one day on the Colorado 14er, Torrey’s Peak. Jonathan Ellsworth sits down with Sam to disc...
Skiing in Iceland + New Ski Reviews
24 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Jonathan Ellsworth talks about testing the ON3P Woodsman 108 and Black Crows Navis while heli skiing with Eleven Experience in Iceland, and Sam Shahee...
Avalanche Airbag Tech Talk with Black Diamond
17 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Supercapacitors, Venturi valves, and scary-high currents — this week we discuss airbag design and technology with Black Diamond’s Director of Desi...
Patagonia’s Technical Fabric Development & Design
10 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week we talk to Patagonia’s senior material developer, Pasha Whitmire, about how Patagonia designs, develops, and tests their technical fabrics...
ON3P Skis 19/20 Lineup with Scott Andrus
03 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We talk to ON3P founder, Scott Andrus, about the 19/20 ON3P lineup, building skis for Michael Jordan & Tinker Hatfield, and we break quite a bit o...
Avalanche Airbags, Close Calls, & Backcountry Safety
26 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Near-death experiences, avalanche airbags, and changing risk tolerance — this week we talk to mountain guide and Mammut’s safety expert, Doug Work...
New Skis, New Goggles, & Random Reviews
12 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Sam Shaheen, Luke Koppa, and Jonathan Ellsworth talk about new goggles; new skis; which ski companies made the biggest impressions on us this season; ...
Avalanche Beacons & Backcountry Safety with BCA Co-Founder, Bruce Edgerly
05 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Avalanche beacons might not be as sexy as other ski & snowboard gear, but their proper use and design can be the difference between life and death...
New Gear + Sam’s Review of Tinder
29 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Sam Shaheen, Kristin Sinnott, and Jonathan Ellsworth talk about some of their favorite new skis, then — in what might be our most anticipated r...
Trends, Favorite Gear, and Most / Least Durable Products, with Eric Helmbrecht of Powder Hound AK
22 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Alaska is a place where your gear really needs to hold up. So we talk to Eric Helmbrecht, owner of Powder Hound Ski Shop in Girdwood Alaska, about the...
19/20 Apparel — Sustainability, New Tech, & the Death of Full-Zip Jackets??
15 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Blister editors Sam Shaheen, and Luke Koppa, talk about the enormous amount of new apparel that has arrived at our HQ over the past few weeks. Sam and...
Prior Snowboards & Skis, with Dominic Morin
09 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We talk to Prior’s head snowboard and ski shaper, Dominic Morin, about the origins of Prior, their philosophy of ski and snowboard shaping, their cr...
Moment Skis 19/20 Lineup
26 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We talk to Moment Skis CEO, Luke Jacobson, about next year’s lineup of skis; space movies; Ryan Gosling; Tyler Curle’s ski preferences; the “Goo...
New Skis from LINE, Nordica, 4FRNT, and J Skis + a Confession & Sneak Peek
18 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Today we’re talking about a whole bunch of skis, including the new Line Outline and new Sir Francis Bacon; the new Nordica Enforcer 104 Free; the 4F...
2019 Outdoor Retailer / SIA Show Highlights
02 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The Outdoor Retailer / SIA show ended yesterday, so we sat down right after to debrief and discuss some of the most notable trends we saw, talk about ...
New Innovations in Bootfitting with Pulse Boot Lab
25 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Are you one of the many people who have ever wished that your ski touring boots were a bit stiffer or more comfortable? Well then listen up, because t...
New K2 Mindbender Skis
15 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We talk to K2 ski designer, Jed Yeiser, about the 13 new skis that make up K2’s brand new “Mindbender” series.TOPICS & TIMES:Background: the...
New Skis & Outerwear
06 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We discuss the latest skis and outerwear we’re reviewing, including the Black Crows Corvus, Rossi Black Ops, Parlor Cardinal 90, Argent Skis Badger,...
Romp Skis
21 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Caleb and Morgan Weinberg are brothers who founded Romp Skis in Crested Butte, Colorado, so we sat down with them at our headquarters in CB to discuss...
“Best Of” Runner-Ups + New Skis
14 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Today we are making good on some past promises, so I sat down with Luke Koppa and Sam Shaheen at our Blister headquarters at Elevation in Mt Crested B...
All That Glitters is Not Gold
07 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Not all gear is great — or even good. So today we’re discussing a number of intriguing products that turned out to disappoint. Hosted on Acast. Se...
Hoji on the Hoji Free & 4FRNT Renegade
15 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Today we’re talking with the one and only Eric Hjorleifson about his brand-new boot, the Dynafit Hoji Free, what’s new with this boot, and how it ...
Spark R&D - Part 2
09 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Last week we talked to Will Ritter, the founder of the biggest splitboard binding company in the world, Spark R&D, about the origin story of Spark...
Zen & the Art of Creating the World's Biggest Splitboard Binding Company: Will Ritter, Spark R&D
02 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Will Ritter is the founder of Spark R&D, the largest splitboard binding company in the world, and Spark R&D designs and manufactures all of th...
Our 18/19 Winter Buyer's Guide & "Best Of" Awards
26 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Blister editors Jonathan Ellsworth, Luke Koppa, and Sam Shaheen talk about the making of our 18/19 Blister Winter Buyer’s Guide, the current state o...
Confessions & Observations from Interbike
28 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Today we're discussing the wonders and weirdness of Interbike, 2018, with Blister's bike editor, Noah Bodman. Noah gives the rundown on Interbike's ne...
Parlor Skis 18/19 Lineup & 'Build Your Own Skis' Class
24 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
We talk to Boston-based Parlor Custom Skis co-founder, Mark Wallace, about the origins story of Parlor; the very successful “Build Your Own Skis” ...
Bikes vs. Skis, 1st Edition (2018) Pt 2
11 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
We are back with round 2 of Bikes vs. Skis, where our bike editor, Noah Bodman, and I ask the question, “Which particular bike company is most like ...
New DPS Skis & Products with Stephan Drake
20 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
We talk with DPS Skis founder, Stephan Drake, about DPS Dreamtime; the new DPS Wailer 110; the DPS Spoon, Lotus 138, and 124; and some very big news a...
Bikes vs. Skis, 1st Edition (2018) Part 1
13 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Which ski company is most like which bike company? Who is the Moment Skis of the bike world? And which ski company shares the most family resemblance ...
Alpenglow Mtn Festival + Stuff We Learned during Spring Ski Testing
30 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
We talk with Blister editors, Luke Koppa and Sam Shaheen, about the recent Alpenglow Mountain Festival and running with our hero, Courtney Dauwalter. ...
Dialing in "The Hammer" + other New Folsom Skis
24 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Jonathan Ellsworth sat down with Mike McCabe at the Folsom Skis headquarters in Denver, Colorado, to dial in "The Hammer" that they have been dis...
New Skis from Prior, Atomic, K2, and More
13 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Jonathan Ellsworth and Blister senior editor, Sam Shaheen, discuss a number of new skis they've been reviewing recently, including two skis from Prior...
Spring Skiing & Biking in Alaska
27 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
It seems like everyone who hasn’t been to Alaska dreams of going, and those who have been dream of going back. So today we’re talking about spring...
Touring Bindings & the New G3 Zed
20 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
G3 (aka, Genuine Guide Gear) is introducing a new touring binding — the Zed — that they’re calling the lightest fully-featured AT binding on the...
18/19 All-Mountain & Frontside Skis
04 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
We just finished testing a bunch of skis at Taos, and because of a closing-week snowstorm, we ended up getting on everything from very heavy, modified...
New Backcountry Ski Gear & Culture
25 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
We're talking about new backcountry gear and some of the changes to backcountry ski culture with the founder of Bentgate, Greg Floyd. Greg founded Ben...
Weird Skis & Women's Ski Boots
17 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
We’ve got 2 parts to this episode — first, I talk with Blister reviewer, Sam Shaheen, about the most unusual ski we’ve ever reviewed (and the sk...
ON3P Skis 18/19 Lineup
09 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
ON3P is releasing their entire new ski line early next month. So we talk to ON3P founder, Scott Andrus, about this decision, then go over every ski in...
Testing in Telluride: 18/19 Ski Gear
02 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
We discuss a bunch of the brand new ski equipment we've been testing at Telluride, including the Line Sakana, ON3P Wrenegade 114, Faction Dictator 4.0...
Moment Skis 18/19 Lineup
16 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
We talk to the CEO and head designer of Moment Skis, Luke Jacobson, about Moment's lineup for next season — what’s new, what's unchanged, and what...
Testing Pow Skis in Alaska & Japan + Shop Talk
12 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
We talk to blister reviewer, Paul Forward, about some of the powder skis he’s been reviewing recently in Alaska and Japan, including the Faction Pri...
Outdoor Retailer / SIA Highlights
30 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is a roundtable recap from the Outdoor Retailer / SIA show in Denver with five of our editors and reviewers about some of the most i...
Black Crows Skis 18/19 Line
21 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This is Part 2 of our conversation with Black Crows co-founder, Camille Jaccoux, and head ski designer, Julien Regnier. Here, we get into the topic of...
Black Sheep Sports, Sebastian Steinbach
29 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Back in 2010, Sebastian Steinbach had the crazy idea to go against traditional European ski culture and open a freeride-specific shop in Munich, Germa...
On the Fritschi Tecton & Vipec Evo
23 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Today we are talking about two new alpine-touring bindings from Fritschi, the Tecton 12, and the Vipec Evo 12. We’ve just put up full reviews of bot...
The New Volkl Mantra M5
18 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Volkl is unveiling today the new Mantra M5, the fifth iteration of the Mantra that Volkl originally released back in 2005. A lot has changed in skiing...
The New Salomon S/LAB SHIFT MNC
08 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
The new SHIFT MNC 13 from Salomon & Atomic represents a significant leap forward in binding design. Check out our conversation with Salomon's Cody...
The Making of Our 17/18 Winter Buyer’s Guide
30 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
We discuss the making of — and our takeaways from — our 17/18 Winter Buyer's Guide, including our "Best Of" awards, our Blister Spectrums, our ski...
Hoji on the new Dynafit Hoji Boots
08 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Dynafit is introducing today their new Hoji series of boots, so we went very in-depth with Hoji himself about the boot, what makes it unique, and what...
Introducing: GEAR:30
06 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to GEAR:30. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.