GEAR:30 BLISTER
-
- Sport
-
GEAR:30 is the podcast from BLISTER that dives deep into the details of the most interesting and innovative outdoor gear. You'll hear BLISTER reviewers discuss the gear they're testing, as well as product designers, professional athletes, and some of the gear-obsessed folks from our recommended shops weigh in on gear trends and the equipment they’ve been most impressed with. If you love outdoor gear, you're going to love this podcast.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
Reviewer Reports: Taos Ski Valley, Carving Skis, All-Mountain Skis, & Luke’s 3-Day-Old Cheeseburger (Ep.290)
This week, Jonathan, Luke, Kara, Kristin, and JBobb were testing a bunch of skis, boots, snowboards, and apparel in Taos Ski Valley. But it was more than just a review trip, since it was also the first time back at TSV for several of us who previously spent many seasons there — which meant there were a lot of feelings.
So in this conversation, we discuss a number of the carving-oriented and narrower all-mountain skis we were on this week; Luke’s food choices; the heated debate between Taos’ Chair 2 (West Basin) vs Chair 12 (Kachina Peak); and more.
RELATED LINKS:
Blister Recommended Shop: Powder Hound AK
BLISTER+ Membership: Learn More & Sign Up
VIDEOS: Blister YouTube Channel
TOPICS & TIMES:
We’re Back! (5:45)
The Great Debate: Taos’ Chair 2 vs. Chair 12 (11:27)
Luke’s Green-Chile Cheeseburger (25:00)
Morning Groomers & Carving Skis (30:53)
Afternoon Steeps & All-Mountain Skis (44:31)
Crashes & Close Calls: Jonathan’s Latest (1:05:54)
CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:
Blister Cinematic
CRAFTED
Bikes & Big Ideas
Blister Podcast
Off The Couch
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. -
Standout Backcountry Gear: Past, Present, & Future (ft. Vertical Playground)
Luke Koppa and Kara Williard talk with Trygve Sande, one of the founders of Vertical Playground (VPG), which is our Blister Recommended Shop in Oppdal, Norway, to get a read on the past, present, and future of backcountry gear. We discuss current trends; all-time pivotal pieces of gear; the most durable products; the easiest ones to use; gear that helps break down the barriers to entry; skiing in Norway; and last but not least, Trygve’s involvement and collaboration with Hoji and 4FRNT’s new concept ski.
RELATED LINKS:
Vertical Playground
GEAR:30 Ep.169: Vertical Playground, Oppdal Norway
Get Covered: BLISTER+
VIDEOS: Blister YouTube Channel
TOPICS & TIMES
VPG background (2:19)
Current Backcountry Trends (5:20)
All-Time Pivotal Gear (11:01)
Frame & Tech Bindings (13:09)
Most Durable Products? (20:46)
Top Products: Ease of Use (24:31)
Hoji Lock (25:31)
Dynafit Ridge Binding (31:11)
Performance-to-Weight Ratio (28:06)
Best Gear for Norway (31:26)
Backcountry Accessories (33:38)
Backpacks (35:20)
Backcountry Gear Demos (36:54)
Hoji & the Raven & 4FRNT Concept Ski (41:00)
Summer at VPG (47:19)
CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:
Blister Cinematic
CRAFTED
Bikes & Big Ideas
Blister Podcast
Off The Couch
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. -
Helmet Tech, Head Injuries, & Best Practices for Skiers & Snowboarders
Today we’re discussing current helmet technology, head injuries, and best practices for skiers & snowboarders with Blister reviewer (and physician assistant), Sascha Anastas; Sr. Director of R&D at Giro, Steven Kennedy; the CMO of MIPS, Frederik Kjellberg; and pro skier, Drew Petersen.
RELATED LINKS:
Blister Recommended Shop: Boone Mtn Sports
Get Covered: BLISTER+
VIDEOS: Blister YouTube Channel
TOPICS & TIMES:
MIPS Backstory & Purpose (4:28)
Skull Fractures & Concussions (9:10)
Helmet R&D & Various Testing Standards (14:50)
Athlete Perspective on Helmet Testing (19:56)
Advice for Buying Helmets (25:02)
Different Versions of MIPS (28:06)
Drew’s Take: Choosing Helmets (30:36)
Replacing Helmets: When & Why? (32:00)
Audience: Mental Side of Accidents (35:02)
Audience: Concussions & Long-Term Effects (42:57)
Audience: Helmet Replacement Cont. (44:28)
Closing Thoughts (46:20)
CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:
Blister Cinematic
CRAFTED
Bikes & Big Ideas
Blister Podcast
Off The Couch
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. -
Jeremy Jones on Gear Reviews; Gear Mistakes; Soft vs. Hard Boots; & More
Jeremy Jones was in town last week, so in addition to getting out on snow together, Jonathan and he sat down in Blister HQ in Elevation Hotel to talk about gear reviews; the biggest gear mistakes riders make; full-camber vs. no-camber boards; soft vs. hard boots (including Shane McConkey’s tinkering on that front); and more.
RELATED LINKS:
Blister Recommended Shop: Willi’s
Get Covered: BLISTER+
Jeremy & Xavier Nidecker on Re-Up Tech
TOPICS & TIMES:
Riding CBMR, CBMR Freeride Comp (3:35)
Jonathan Boarding, Jeremy Getting on Skis (6:00)
Gear Reviews / Gear Reviewing (11:56)
Materials, Weight, & Stiffness (25:15)
Full-Camber vs No-Camber Boards (33:17)
Boards for Beginners (35:47)
Soft vs Hard Boots (42:06)
Product Design at Jones (53:34)
ReUptech (55:38)
Blister Cinematic (58:35)
CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:
Blister Cinematic
CRAFTED
Bikes & Big Ideas
Blister Podcast
Off The Couch
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. -
A Very Deep Dive on Bootfitting, Pt. 6: Ski Boot Flex w/ Pulse Boot Labs
How should you think about ski boot flex patterns, and which one is “right” for you? For the latest installment of our “Very Deep Dive on Bootfitting” series, Kara Williard talks with bootfitter and Pulse Boot Lab’s Revelstoke store manager, Bryn Vickers, to cover the complex and often misunderstood aspects of ski boot flex.
We discuss how the ankle joint and an individual’s biomechanics are the most important pieces of the puzzle; what exactly boot “flex” even means when it comes to on-snow performance; the many variables that determine what flex pattern might work best for you; and we also talk about Pulse’s latest tech, including their new foam-injected aftermarket liner.
RELATED LINKS:
Blister Recommended Shop: Pulse Boot Labs
BLISTER+ Membership: Sign Up
A Very Deep Dive on Bootfitting Series
3D Printing & Bootfitting w/ Pulse Boot Lab (Ep.234)
Stance Balancing with Pulse Boot Labs (Ep.217)
TOPICS & TIMES
Ankle Joint = #1 Priority (3:33)
How the Body Moves (6.17)
Custom Insoles (12:49)
What is Boot Flex? (17:50)
Walk Mode Vs. Fixed Cuff (22:49)
Flex Ratings (26:27)
Forward Lean & Calf Size (33:39)
Height, Weight, & Strength (39:17)
Options for Stiffening (42:26)
Options for Softening (45:59)
Final Thoughts on Boot Flex (48:49)
Pulse’s Foam Injected Liner & Other Tech (52:51)
CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:
Blister Cinematic
CRAFTED
Bikes & Big Ideas
Blister Podcast
Off The Couch
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. -
New Gear from Blister Summit 2024
Luke Koppa sits down with Kristin Sinnott, Jonathan Ellsworth, Kara Williard, and Justin Bobb to do a bit of a recap on our 2024 Blister Summit, which took place in Mt. Crested Butte last week. We go over a few of the MANY highlights of the event, and then dive into a bunch of the standout products they were each able to try at the Summit.
RELATED LINKS:
Blister Recommended Shop: Sturtevants
Blister Summit 2024: A Brief Recap of an Epic Event
BLISTER+ Membership: Sign Up
TOPICS & TIMES:
Catching Up (2:24)
Blister Awards (13:58)
Rossignol Revenant, Never Summer Cougar, & Weston Hatchet (15:35)
Dynastar M-Pro 98 W (19:55)
Rossignol Sender Soul 102 (22:42)
Icelantic Maidens (27:23)
Salomon S/Pro Race 110 (28:56)
Bishop Telemark, Uphillers, & Raide Packs (30:38)
Salomon Stance 96 (36:43)
ON3P Woodsman 100 (38:30)
Salomon QST X (39:28)
ZAG Slap 92 & Slap 112 (42:09)
CARV & Hoji (44:22)
Moment Commander 92 (46:12)
Blister Summit 2025 (53:49)
CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:
Blister Cinematic
CRAFTED
Bikes & Big Ideas
Blister Podcast
Off The Couch
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Customer Reviews
Weirdly addictive -addictivly weird
This podcast made me install an x-ray machine in my basement where I can forensically dissect my skiing gear. Welcome to the never-unending continuum of vaguely connected topics that make up a universe of their own.
🤘gear nerds!
Love what you guys are doing