GEAR:30

Latest Episodes:

Shop Talk: Gear West, Long Lake, MN Feb 19, 2021

Show notes

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 mix of topics ranging from broadly applicable to all of us, to topics that help us better understand what’s going on in the local community that each shop serves.

Mark "Osman" Osell and Jeff Perry join us from Gear West in Long Lake, Minnesota. We talk about the Minnesota ski scene; the Gear West campus; dropping cliffs in the Iowa backcountry; the fantastic bike culture of Minnesota, and more.

TOPICS & TIMES

The surrounding community & ski culture of Long Lake, MN (4:32)
How covid has changed the dynamics at the shop (9:44)
The Gear West “campus” (15:42)
The progressive bike culture of MN (17:37)
Dropping cliffs in the Iowa backcountry (19:56)
“Dad boards” & the snowboard side of Gear West (23:48)
The bike side of Gear West (26:41)
What We’re Celebrating (32:46)

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Reviewing the Reviewer: Dylan Wood Feb 12, 2021

Show notes

Today we’ve got another installment of our “Reviewing the Reviewer” series, where we ask various BLISTER reviewers questions about their backgrounds and gear preferences to give you a more complete picture of the people behind our reviews. And since we like to rank & review things around here, we also give a score to each of our reviewers’ answers, then come up with a cumulative review grade for each of them. And in the hot seat today is our mountain bike and ski reviewer, Dylan Wood.

TOPICS & TIMES:

Dylan’s Dry February/ Athletic Brewing (3:58)
Dylan’s background (8:43)
What sports did you play growing up? (9:42))
How did you first get connected with Blister? (22:41)
Injuries (27:46)
Dylan’s bike & ski preferences (35:56)
Who is your favorite reviewer at Blister? (40:35)
Who is your favorite pro biker & skier? (41:56)
What’s the stupidest thing you’ve ever done? (45:14)
What are you better at than Sam Shaheen? (54:07)
What gear are you most & least picky about? (55:09)
Top 3 favorite books, movies, and musicians (58:47)
Random review (1:01:32)
What’s the best question I haven’t asked you? (1:07:11)
What We’re Celebrating This Week (1:13:22)

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The Blister Summit: What It Is, Why We Made It, & Why You Should Come Feb 05, 2021

Show notes

Our inaugural Blister Summit launches in less than two weeks! So Kristin Sinnott, our Blister Summit director, and Jonathan Ellsworth talk about the origins of the idea, why we think it’s important; why we think you should come!; and we cover a ton of the details and logistics of this first-of-its-kind event in the snowsports world.

TOPICS & TIMES

Origins of the idea for the Blister Summit (5:09)
Collecting feedback from Summit participants (9:35)
The Summit as a “Ski Tasting” event (13:15)
Don’t be intimidated about providing feedback (16:25)
Interlude: Baby Ski Quivers (22:30)
Backcountry portion of the Summit (23:39)
Which ski brands will be there? (31:50)
Why launch the Summit this year? / Health protocols (33:03)
Summit Swag! (40:45)
What We’re Celebrating This Week (42:03)

RELATED LINKS

Outdoor Gear Exchange

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Shop Talk: Powder Hound, Girdwood, AK Jan 29, 2021

Show notes

Eric Helmbrecht, owner of Powder Hound Ski & Bike Shop in Girdwood, Alaska, is back on the show to talk about this season in Girdwood; Fizz Nation; some of the gear that he and his staff are particularly high on this season; and, of course, we had to talk about Juras.

TOPICS & TIMES

Blister Summit (1:38)
Update on the season in Girdwood (2:50)
Fizz Nation (6:42)
Jura coffee makers (9:48)
Gear they’re liking in Girdwood (14:13)
What We’re Celebrating (40:32)

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A Very Deep Dive on Ski Boots, Part 5: Heel Pockets, Tongue Volume, & Atomic’s new Hawx Ultra & “Professional” Liners & Dual Strap Jan 22, 2021

Show notes

Product Manager of Atomic Ski Boots, Matt Manser, is backto talk about heel pockets and tongue volume and Luke Koppa’s feet and how plug boots are not a thing and Atomic’s new Hawx Ultra and their new “Professional” Series of Liners and Dual Straps.

TOPICS & TIMES:

Whiskey & Jonathan being late (4:63)
Atomic’s new 21/22 Hawx Ultra (8:23)
Atomic’s new Professional Series (34:08)
Mimic Professional Liner (41:31)
Tongue Volume (59:56)
Professional Dual Strap (1:11:41)
Heel Pockets (1:21:35)
Plug Boots are Not a Thing (1:29:05)
What We’re Celebrating This Week (1:41:05)

RELATED LINKS:

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Shop Talk: Outdoor Gear Exchange, Burlington, VT Jan 15, 2021

Show notes

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 history of Outdoor Gear Exchange; some of her personal favorite gear and some of the OGE staff’s favorite products; and more.

TOPICS & TIMES

About Outdoor Gear Exchange (1:42)
Burglington, VT (8:55)
Backcountry Skiing & this ski season (9:56)
EC skiing (20:53)
Some of the OGE staff’s ‘go-to’ products (26:38)
Adjustments OGE has made for COVID (41:44)

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New Volkl Mantra M6; Burly Chargers; & Movement Skis Jan 08, 2021

Show notes

Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ellsworth offer their initial thoughts on the new Volkl Mantra M6 & Secret 96; reviewer, Drew Kelly (aka, The Hulk), makes his GEAR:30 debut to compare the Volkl Katana 108 vs the HEAD Monster 108 vs the Blizzard Cochise 106; Luke discusses some of the Movement skis he’s been getting time on; & more.

TOPICS & TIMES:

Introducing: reviewer, Drew Kelly (3:09)
New volkl Mantra M6 & Secret 96 (6:18)
Volkl Katana 108 vs Monster 108 vs Blizzard Cochise 106 (12:05)
Movement Alp Tracks 106, Go 106 Ti, & Fly Two 115 (22:19)
What We’re Celebrating (26:40)

RELATED LINKS:

The Skier’s Sportshop

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2020: Gear in Review Jan 01, 2021

Show notes

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 some of the standoutproducts of 2020; offer a few gear predictions for 2021; and end with what they’re celebrating this week.

TOPICS & TIMES

The end of the Year of Ellsworth (1:15)
Luke’s new diet (2:26)
Renoun skis are still mind-blowing (4:36)
New 4FRNT Devastator & Sego Big Horn 106 (10:50)
New ski we can’t talk about yet (16:18)
Elan Wingman 86 CTi (16:47)
102 Wars: Ranger 102 vs. Mantra 102 vs. Stance 102 (19:15)
Most Surprising Products of 2020 (28:05)
Standout Products of 2020 (35:12)
Gear Predictions for 2021 (39:18)
What We’re Celebrating (50:36)

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Shop Talk: Backcountry Essentials, Bellingham WA Dec 26, 2020

Show notes

We’re talking with Chris Gerston, founder of Backcountry Essentials, talking about Bellingham; starting Backcountry Essentials; and some of the gear that he thinks works really well for skiing at Mt Baker and for volcano skiing.

TOPICS & TIMES

Gear & Beer (4:14)
Bellingham, Washington (6:20)
If Mt Baker were a beer… (7:14)
Starting Backcountry Essentials (8:29)
Quiver Killers & Tele & Disco (15:40)
Favorite products for Mt Baker & volcano skiing (19:27)

RELATED LINKS

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1-Ski-Boot Quiver; Listener Questions; Skis; Apparel; & Masks Dec 18, 2020

Show notes

Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ellsworth discuss several listener questions about ski quivers; 1-boot quivers; some game-changing news in the ski boot world; a number of skis, apparel pieces, and ski masks we’ve been testing; & what we’re celebrating this week.

TOPICS & TIMES