Reviewer Reports: Custom Insoles, Skis Boots, & Skis

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 Luke are both serious nerds when it comes to this stuff, and their conversation highlights a ton of new apparel, from crazy new tech all the way to head-turning casual pieces. Let the geek-out begin.TOPICS & TIMES:The most sustainable shoe ever? (2:15)Ultra-comfortable hardshells from Patagonia & Flylow (5:32)Super warm, super shiny, and super “extra” Mammut Anorak (14:24)What Holden’s Jacket has in common with wine corks (17:18)The recent anorak takeover at Blister (20:46)New Brand Alert: Forward (25:06)Update on the product Sam wanted to steal (27:58) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

15 Mar 201929min

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 craziest designs, their new shapes for 19/20, and the legacy of Chris Prior.TOPICS & TIMES:The origins of Prior (2:15)Why Prior shapes cores by hand (3:43)What’s the craziest custom design you’ve done? (8:08)How do your snowboard designs influence Prior’s ski designs? (12:13)Why is there a wider variety of snowboard shapes than ski shapes? (15:38)The Prior CBC and Husume (20:23)The Prior Northwest 110 and 100 (26:06)Why Prior has several niche models (31:12)How does Prior respond to trends in snowboard shapes? (33:37)Chris Prior’s lasting legacy (42:21) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

9 Mar 201946min

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 “Google Bump”; and … more Ryan Gosling.TOPICS & TIMES:“Freestyle” collection: PB&J, Meridian, Wildcat 108, Deathwish, & Wildcat (5:00)The inspiration behind Moment’s space-themed 19/20 graphics (17:00)“Freeride” collection: Commander 98, 108, 118, & 124 (24:00)Moment team rider and ski builder Tyler Curle’s ski preferences (27:50)How the Commander 124 differs from the rest of the Commander series (36:20)Luke & Jonathan’s suggestions for alternative ski names (39:43)“Tour” collection: Wildcat Tour 108, Deathwish Tour, & Wildcat Tour (41:22)“Women’s” collection: Hot Mess, Sierra, & Bella (46:00)Moment’s collaboration with Google and the “Google Bump” (53:00) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

26 Feb 20191h 2min

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 4FRNT InThayne; and the J Skis Friend. We also talk a bit about Luke and Sam’s article on caring for outerwear; and Jonathan Ellsworth makes a quasi-apology / mini confession about his previous stance on lightweight, inbound skis. Finally, there is a MASSIVELY IMPORTANT teaser about a forthcoming GEAR:30 episode.TOPICS & TIMES:Line’s Outline and new Sir Francis Bacon (3:24)Nordica Enforcer 104 Free (11:33)4FRNT Inthayne (16:36)J Skis The Friend, 183 cm (19:29)Change in perspective on lightweight inbound skis (23:30)Luke and Sam’s article on outerwear care (26:10)Sneak peek of an incredible upcoming episode (30:10) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

18 Feb 201932min

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 the products we’re dying to try (and were most tempted to just steal), and some of the other odd and / or noteworthy people and things we saw at the show.TOPICS & TIMES:New trends in apparel and skis (1:10)What we’re most curious to try (8:29)Gear we’re most tempted to steal (16:31)Weirdest thing we saw (25:44)Swagger Award (27:05)Best graphics (30:57) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2 Feb 201935min

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 the bootfitters at Pulse Boot Lab in Revelstoke have come up with a number of innovative ways to achieve both.TOPICS & TIMES:Pulse’s “mathematical” approach to bootfitting (2:12)The Pulse Fit Assistant App (5:26)New tools for shell modifications (8:30)Thermo-moldable vs. injection-style liners (11:12)Biggest trends in bootfitting (17:24)What is the Pulse Proflex? (18:48)And how exactly does it work? (22:24)Why did they choose to work with Pebax? (28:10)The Pulse ProFlex Kickstarter Campaign Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

25 Jan 201932min

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 Mindbender series (2:55)The individual skis: Mindbender 85 (9:20)Mindbender 90C (10:50)Torsional stiffness and design controls (12:21)Mindbender 90Ti (16:50)Mindbender 99Ti (18:55)Mindbender 108Ti (22:40)Mindbender 116C (29:10)Mindbender vs the previous Pinnacle series (32:25)Men’s line vs Women’s line (35:03)New “Powerwall” Tech (38:10)Mindbender Jr. Ski (41:22) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

15 Jan 201944min

We discuss the latest skis and outerwear we’re reviewing, including the Black Crows Corvus, Rossi Black Ops, Parlor Cardinal 90, Argent Skis Badger, Flylow Baker Bibs, and Patagonia Micro Puff Storm.TOPICS & TIMES:Rossignol Black Ops (1:40)Black Crows Corvus (6:35)Parlor Cardinal 90 (13:41)Argent Badger (18:51)Flylow Baker Bib (plus bibs vs. non-bibs) (21:33)Patagonia Micro Puff Storm (25:03) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

6 Jan 201928min