GEAR:30

Latest Episodes:

Reviewer Reports: Backcountry Ski Touring Gear w/ Paul Forward Dec 25, 2021

Show notes

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 Groomers
SKIS:
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: mountainFLOW
Episode Sponsor: PowderHound
GEAR:30 episode: mountainFLOW
GEAR:30 episode: Shop Talk: PowderHound
Blister Summit Registration
Subscribe to our Newsletter & Gear Giveaways
Become a Blister Member / Get our Buyer’s Guide

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

MountainFLOW founder, Peter Arlein, on How Ski Wax Works; its Environmental Impact; Ceramic Nano Technology; & More Dec 17, 2021

Show notes

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-newproduct, 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 LINKS

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shop Talk: Backcountry Skis, Boots, & Bindings Dec 10, 2021

Show notes

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 LINKS

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Pro's Gear: Hadley Hammer Dec 03, 2021

Show notes

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 LINKS

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shop Talk: Pulling Back the Curtain on Gear Testing Nov 26, 2021

Show notes

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 LINKS

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our 21/22 Blister Winter Buyer’s Guide Nov 19, 2021

Show notes

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 LINKS

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Moment Skis 21/22 Lineup with Luke Jacobson Nov 12, 2021

Show notes

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 LINKS

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shop Talk: Vertical Playground, Oppdal Norway Nov 05, 2021

Show notes

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:

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pete Wagner on Wagner’s new Summit Skis, Avalanche Cores, & Niehues Collab Oct 29, 2021

Show notes

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 LINKS

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shop Talk: Willi's Ski and Snowboard Shops Oct 22, 2021

Show notes

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 LINKS

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected