Gear:30

We just launched our new Blister Labs project, Blister Community Reviews, so Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ellsworth discuss where it is today; how it will evolve; and some big questions like, how much info is too much or too little?; how to best define the difference between an intermediate, advanced, and expert skier; rating scale debates; and more.RELATED LINKS:Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+Join Us! Blister Summit 2024Video: Blister Labs Summit Panel SessionGEAR:30 #257: Previous Labs Convo TOPICS & TIMES:Solstice & World Snowboard Day (1:54)Blister Community Reviews (7:47)Defining Skier Ability Levels (20:03)Rating Scales (32:31)Should Our Reviewers Contribute? (37:55)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasBlister PodcastOff The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shane McConkey’s college roommate is back on GEAR:30, and Jonathan talks to Greg Klein (president of Willi’s Ski & Snowboard Shops) about all the stuff in the episode title, plus the $10,000 bet made at our Blister Summit that it looks like he’s won?RELATED LINKS:Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+Join Us! Blister Summit 2024TOPICS & TIMES:Shop Pizza (4:02)Greg @ the White House / Sustainability (8:17)Ski Boots, Walk Modes & Winning Bets (22:04)The Future: Cables, BOAs, or Buckles? (33:57)90-Flex Boots (41:46)Ski-Boot Pricing (46:32)Egg Beaters & Eyes-Closed Skiing (57:57)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasBlister PodcastOff The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jonathan and Folsom Custom Ski’s Mike McCabe discuss the skinniest ski in the Folsom lineup, the Spar 78; Folsom’s new huge pow ski, the Rotor; and then they discuss a new custom touring-ski project for Jonathan, and dive deep into the various layup & core combinations one would use to hit certain weight targets. Our fellow gear dorks, you’re going to dig this one.RELATED LINKS:Episode Sponsor: Powder7.comJoin Us! Blister Summit 2024Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+TOPICS & TIMES:What’s going on at Folsom? (5:30)Folsom Spar 78 (8:08)New: Folsom Rotor (11:58)Backstory: Folsom ‘Giver’ & ‘Primary’ (14:02)Bag Balm x Blister x Folsom (20:55)JE’s Custom Touring Ski Project (34:30)Which Bindings? (38:36)Which Boots? (42:21)Ski Length (52:11)Weight (54:44)The Hammer (1:08:44)Folsom’s Configurations (1:14:53)Mount Point (1:16:44)Camber Profile (1:19:03)Mike’s ‘Crashes & Close Calls’ Story (1:30:26)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasBlister PodcastOff The Couch Hosted

Luke Koppa, Kara Williard, and Jonathan Ellsworth discuss getting back on snow, the best holiday of the year, ski boots, frontside skis, mountain biking in Nepal, engagement taco parties, and new apparel.RELATED LINKS:Join Us! Blister Summit 2024Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+TOPICS & TIMES:Blister Summit Update (0:00)Back on Snow (3:41)Ski Boots (12:16)Mtn Biking in Nepal (23:49)Frontside Skis (32:02)Apparel (50:01)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasBlister PodcastOff The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What are some of the biggest mistakes skiers make when buying gear? And what do regular, recreational skiers & snowboarders need to know about ski tuning and waxing? Jonathan discusses these questions and more with Logan and Riley Boone of Boone Mountain Sports. They also talk about how they all met (it was in Austria), and Jonathan reveals the upcoming ‘Blister 90-Flex Challenge’.TOPICS & TIMES:Blister Summit Update (1:50)How / Where We All Met (8:09)Intros: Logan, Riley, & Boone Mountain Sports (13:44)Kombucha, Music Festivals, & Youth Programs (18:33)Biggest Ski Buying Mistakes? (28:42)The Blister ‘90-Flex Challenge’ (35:11)Ski Tuning (51:00)Waxing (1:08:35)Crashes & Close Calls (1:13:50)The Boone Mountain Sports Logo (1:23:30)RELATED LINKSJoin Us! Blister Summit 2024Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicBlister PodcastCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasOff The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jonathan talks with Ted Ligety (2x Olympic Gold Medalist & 5x World Cup champion) about his approach to gear; the specific gear he’s using today; how to best deal with flat light and low-vis conditions; his take on the current state of skiing and ski racing; and more.TOPICS & TIMES:How Do You Prepare & Train for Ski Season? (3:55)Ski Boots (11:25)CARV (18:59)Your Ski Quiver These Days? (35:07)Tuning & Waxing (37:32)Goggle Lenses for Flat Light (46:16)Current State of Skiing & Ski Racing? (57:34)Crashes & Close Calls (1:08:57)RELATED LINKSEpisode Sponsor: Boot MechanicsGet Yourself Covered: BLISTER+Blister Podcast ep. 14: Ted LigetyCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:NEW: Blister CinematicBlister PodcastCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasOff The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jonathan was at the Parlor Custom Skis factory in East Boston to check out the factory and talk with Parlor owner & manager, Mark Wallace, about building custom skis in Boston; assessing skiers (and skiers assessing themselves); custom vs. semi-custom skis; and more.TOPICS & TIMES:What is Parlor? (4:46)Parlor’s Ski Building Classes (7:45)Assessing Skiers & Self Assessments (21:17)Fitting skiers into the right skis (23:27)Bringing Back Old Skis (30:15)Custom vs. Semi-Custom Skis (33:11)Ski Width Controversy (38:13)Best Question I Haven’t Asked You? (58:07)Crashes & Close Calls (1:01:12)Where to Learn More about Parlor (1:09:47)RELATED LINKS:Episode Sponsor: Skiboot RxEpisode Sponsor: Taos Ski ValleyGet Yourself Covered: BLISTER+CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Off The CouchBikes & Big IdeasBlister PodcastCRAFTEDComing soon: Blister Cinematic Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jeremy Jones is back on GEAR:30, and this time, he brought along with him Xavier Nidecker, global brand director of Jones Snowboards, to talk about Jones’ new Re-Up Tech — what it is, how it works, why it matters, and what it could mean for the greater ski & snowboard industry. We also discuss FIS, POW, and climate change, and Jonathan solicits some advice about which board Jeremy and Xavier think he ought to get on as a never-ever.TOPICS & TIMES:Update: Blister Crash Course Video (2:00)Circularity (4:26)Re-Up Tech vs. Virgin Materials (7:28)Shipping & Collecting Dead Snowboards (15:24)Which Parts of the Dead Boards Get Used? (27:56)Small Steps & Big Solutions (38:56)Jones’ Fair Trade Certified Factory (48:22)FIS, POW, & Climate Change (49:50)Which Snowboard Should JE Start On? (1:10:09)Crashes and Close Calls (1:15:10)RELATED LINKS:Episode Sponsor: OpenSnow.com/BlisterGet Yourself Covered: BLISTER+CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Off The CouchBikes & Big IdeasBlister PodcastCRAFTEDComing

A very intriguing — and extremely affordable — new piece of ski-touring gear has just been released, and you ought to know about it. So on our latest GEAR:30 episode, Jonathan talks with Giray Dadali, a pro skier, engineer, ski designer, and founder of Daymaker Touring, about their new product, TEKDAPTERS, that allow you to ski tour using a pin-tech toe on the way up, then click into your DIN-certified alpine binding of choice on the way down.Giray and I dive deep into the design, materials, weight, compatibility, and rationale for this new product, and we think you’ll agree that it represents an intriguing new offering in the world of ski-touring gear.TOPICS & TIMES:When was this idea born? (6:17)Giray’s Background (8:59)Who’s It For? (11:52)TEKDAPTERS vs Original Daymaker (17:48)“Field Goal” guide rails (26:52)Universal Compatibility (31:47)Materials & Design (35:18)User-Error-Avoidance Tips (43:48)Locked-Out Pins & Avalanche DangerUsing the Right Tool for the Job (54:42)Crashes & Close Call

Jonathan Ellsworth sat down with Kara Williard, Dylan Wood, Justin Bobb, and Luke Koppa to debrief about our 2023-2024 Winter Buyer’s Guide, discuss what changed this year (and more importantly, what has *not* changed), go over some trends, and more. Along the way, we dole out our unofficial “RIP,” “Good Riddance,” and new “Best Glow-Up” awards; talk about what we’re most excited to get on this season; and Jonathan debates whether Luke isn’t even invited to his funeral, or if he’ll be managing the whole thing…TOPICS & TIMES:What’s New, What’s Different, & What’s the Same (5:34)Most Notable Trends (14:13)RIP Awards (20:21) Good Riddance Awards (30:20)Our Blister ‘Best Of’ Section (36:12)How to get the Guide (56:25)Snowboarding Talk w/ Jbobb (59:55)Crashes & Close Calls (1:18:25)RELATED LINKS:Blister Recommended shop: blacksheepsportsOrder our 23/24 Winter Buyer’s GuideBecome a BLISTER+ MemberCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Off The CouchBikes & Big IdeasBlister PodcastCRAFTED Hosted on Ac

Kara Williard sat down with Jake “Fasa” Nelson from the Moment Factory Store to clear up some of the most common bootfitting myths and misconceptions, including the idea that ski boots have to be cold and uncomfortable; why adding forward lean to a boot might not help someone get more forward over their skis; why *everyone* (not just experts) will benefit from a well-fit ski boot and custom insoles; how picking the “right” boot can’t fix all your problems, and more. We also discuss why these myths are so prevalent in the first place; provide tips on how to shop for a ski boot this season; realistic expectations you should have for a ski boot, and much more.TOPICS & TIMES Where do these misconceptions come from? (3:10)Myth 1 - Boots = Uncomfortable (6:16)Myth 2 - Boots = Cold (10:04)Myth 3 - Body Position & Forward Lean (15:44)Myth 4 - Boot Stiffness Debunked (28:31)Myth 5 - Skier Type (34:49)Myth 6 - Custom Insoles (41:23)Expectations vs. Reality (59:32)The Boot, Binding, & Ski equation

In our latest edition of GEAR THERAPY, Luke and Jonathan talk with Blister Member, Giovanni Saccarola (an Italian living in Switzerland), about his ski quiver, ski boots, and ski boot liner options.TOPICS & TIMES:Giovanni: most interesting man in the world? (8:25)Blizzard Zero G 95 (17:03)Height / Weight (23:09)Bindings & Pairing Down His Quiver (26:09)ATK Free Raiders (28:50)Giovanni’s Current Quiver (32:27)Black Crows Atris (36:184th ski (38:10)Tecnica Cochise 130 & Liners (47:20)Crashes and Close Calls (1:00:28)RELATED LINKS:Episode Sponsor: Bag BalmEpisode Sponsor: OpenSnowBecome a BLISTER+ MemberBlister Summit 2024CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Off The CouchBikes & Big IdeasBlister PodcastCRAFTED Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Norrøna has been making gear since 1929, and this family-owned company aims to make the best outdoor recreation products on the market. But that’s easier said than done, so Jonathan Ellsworth talks with Jørgen Jørgensen — the 4th-generation owner & CEO of Norrøna — about the brand’s approach to product design & testing, and the origins, evolution, and future of the brand.TOPICS & TIMES:Origins & Evolution of Norrøna (4:32)Customer Satisfaction (31:39)Product Testing (34:03)Quality Assurance & Durability (41:14)Making the "Best Products" (47:46)Blister Labs & Current Standards (51:38)PFAS (56:20)Some of Jørgen’s Favorite Norrøna Products (1:01:35)RELATED LINKS:Episode Sponsor: OpenSnowBecome a BLISTER+ MemberBlister Summit 2024CDC Factsheet on PFASCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Off The CouchBikes & Big IdeasBlister PodcastCRAFTED Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“PFAS” or “Per- and Polyfluorinated Substances” are a hot topic today, especially in the outdoor apparel world, where they’ve been used for decades, most notably in the “DWR” or Durable Water Repellant finishes that are applied to a lot of clothes these days. But that’s going to be coming to an end in the near future. So, to learn more about why this matters and what it means for manufacturers and consumers alike, Luke Koppa sat down with Alex Lauver, the Senior Director of Materials, Innovation, and Sustainability at Outdoor Research. They cover why PFAS have been so prevalent in technical apparel for so long; how their use in clothing is just the tip of the iceberg; their downsides and why we’re seeing this recent push to completely eliminate them; the challenges presented by coming up with PFAS-free alternatives; how this shift affects the entire apparel supply chain; how Outdoor Research has approached this transition and worked to stay ahead of the curve; and much more.TOPICS & TIMES:Alex’s

When it comes to gear, we’ve all been there: loads of questions, crippling confusion, severe analysis paralysis. Sometimes you don’t even know where to start. You need some help! In our 3rd session of GEAR THERAPY, Blister Member, Arika Poulin Weller, joins Blister reviewers Kara Williard and Kristin Sinnott. Arika is a longtime skier with roots in Nordic skiing (Fun Fact: she and Kristin raced together in college) and a mother who wants to spend more time skiing after moving back to CO, but she had no idea where to start. So in this episode, we break down some basics, define some ski-gear terms and what it all means on snow, and provide some recommendations for a 1-ski and 1-boot resort quiver.TOPICS & TIMESHow Arika & Kristin met (3:20)Arika’s background (7:26)Her Current Setup (9:25)Why Boots are #1 (16:29)Tech Terms (29:12)Ski Recommendations (42:34)Binding Recommendations (56:30)Boot Recommendations (1:00:38)Where to go from here? (1:03:20)Crashes & Close Calls (1:05:39)RELATED LINK

At Blister Summit 2023, we brought together ski boot designers, Tom Pietrowski (K2), Christoph Lentz (Fischer), Riccardo Bonaiti (Dalbello), Ross Herr (Dynafit), and pro skier / designer / obsessive tinkerer, Hoji, to discuss ski boot design in general; the hype and skepticism around BOA (are boot buckles dying??); the role that weight plays in the development of boots of all types; the balancing act of designing a walk mechanism; the challenges presented by the boot-binding interface, and more.TOPICS & TIMES Intros & Latest Products (4:07)Weight & Downhill Performance (12:38)The Rise of BOA (24:28)Walk Mechanisms (33:13)Boot-Binding Interface Challenges (44:01)Evaluating Fit (54:16)Women-Specific Boots (59:29)Crashes & Close Calls (1:06:56)RELATED LINKS:Episode Sponsor: Bag BalmBlister Summit 2024 Registration Blister YouTubeBecome a BLISTER+ Member23/24 Blister Winter Buyer’s GuideCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Off The CouchBikes & Big IdeasBlister PodcastCRAFTEDHappy Hour (for B

Apparel testing, show pigs, & the underrated importance of ballpoint pens. Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ellsworth discuss these things with our Blister Labs colleague, Melanie Peddle, who is a faculty member in the partnership program between Western Colorado University & the University of Colorado Boulder. We also discuss some takeaways from the compression, abrasion, and UV tests we’ve been running; steps toward developing new standards; and more.TOPICS & TIMES:Mel’s Background (1:47)Apparel Testing: Quick Overview (10:55)What We’ve Been Doing & What’s Next (15:07)Notable Takeaways (24:35)Real-World Applicability (40:31)Crashes & Close Calls (43:11)RELATED LINKS:Blister Labs: Learn MoreVIDEO: Blister Labs Summit PanelBecome a BLISTER+ MemberCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Off The CouchBikes & Big IdeasBlister PodcastCRAFTEDHappy Hour (for Blister Members) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever dreamt about skiing in New Zealand? Well, in this episode, Kara Williard talks with local Kiwi experts, John Knight and Darren Grimmett, from our Blister Recommended Shop, Outside Sports, to give us the rundown on what skiing in this Southern Hemisphere destination entails, and how to make the most of it.We discuss the best gear for the conditions and terrain in NZ; the difference between ski fields and club fields; backcountry skiing and heliskiing; plus all the other things you can enjoy while in New Zealand, including eating the best meat pies, biking, hiking, and being around some of the genuinely nicest people. TOPICS & TIMESJohn and Darren’s backgrounds (5:02)Outside Sports’ humble beginnings (11:15)Gear Trends in NZ (18:18)Skis for Variable Conditions (24:50)Getting to New Zealand & Ski Fields vs. Club Fields (27:04)Backcountry Skiing & Heliskiing (33:18)Getting Around (40:04)More than just skiing (42:51)Best Gear for NZ (47:22)Heavier BC Gear for a Reason (48:51)Ski Season It

When it comes to gear, we’ve all been there: loads of questions, crippling confusion, severe analysis paralysis. You need some help! So in our 2nd episode of GEAR THERAPY, Blister Member & Spokane-based ski patroller, Kam Smith, poses his most-pressing gear questions to Jonathan and Luke, and gets their best recommendations (and a bit of a tongue-lashing from Jonathan). Enjoy!TOPICS & TIMES:Meet Kam, Ski Patroller (4:10)Kam’s Ski Boot Situation (9:45)Our Suggestions (15:27)Spokane Alpine Haus (21:51)Kam’s Ski Quiver (27:12)Our Recommendations (34:03)Metal vs Non-Metal Skis (40:03)Folsom (47:04)Session Wrap Up (52:27)Kam’s Crashes & Close Calls Story (56:18)RELATED LINKS:See our Blister Recommended ShopsBecome a BLISTER+ Member23/24 Blister Winter Buyer’s Guide Pre-OrderCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Off The CouchBikes & Big IdeasBlister PodcastCRAFTEDHappy Hour (for Blister Members) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oliver Steffen founded Genuine Guide Gear (G3) many years ago because of his passion for innovation and problem-solving, and while this has largely been aimed at creating solutions related to gear and backcountry touring, most recently, he turned his focus to the environmental impacts and life cycles of G3’s skis and snowboards. This year, G3 is launching their recyclable “R3” ski and snowboard program, guaranteeing that products manufactured going forward can be broken down, reused, and recycled. So Kara Williard talked to Oliver about this process, what it entails, and how it can be more widely applied to the outdoor industry. Plus, we get the details on the 23/24 R3 ski and snowboard lineup, and more.TOPICS & TIMES:Founding G3 (3:43)Innovation over the years (7:12)“Right to Repair” and R3 Introduction (10:47)The Life Cycle Problem (27:11)Ride, Reuse, Recycle (32:51)R3 lineup (45:06)Scaling & Working Together (50:56)Crashes and Close Calls (58:13)What We’re Celebrating (1:00:20)RELATED LINKS:Ex