Shop Talk: Pulling Back the Curtain on Gear Testing

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 GroomersSKIS: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: mountainFLOWEpisode Sponsor: PowderHoundGEAR:30 episode: mountainFLOWGEAR:30 episode: Shop Talk: PowderHoundBlister Summit RegistrationSubscribe to our Newsletter & Gear GiveawaysBecome a Blister Member / Get our Buyer’s Guide Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

25 Dec 20211h 2min

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-new product, 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 LINKSAvocadoJonathan’s Sleep ExperimentGetting Here: Gunnison & Crested ButteBlister Summit RegistrationSubscribe to our Newsletter & Gear GiveawaysBecome a Blister Member / Get our Buyer’s Guide Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

17 Dec 202142min

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 LINKSJohn Weir, GEAR:30, Ep. #120Getting Here: Gunnison & Crested ButteBlister Summit RegistrationSubscribe to our Newsletter & Gear GiveawaysBecome a Blister Member / Get our Buyer’s Guide Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

10 Dec 202150min

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 LINKSGetting Here: Gunnison & Crested ButteBlister Summit RegistrationSubscribe to our Newsletter & Gear GiveawaysBecome a Blister Member / Get our Buyer’s Guide Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

3 Dec 20211h 7min

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 LINKSEpisode Sponsor: AvocadoJonathan’s Sleep ExperimentBlister Summit RegistrationSubscribe to our Newsletter & Gear GiveawaysBecome a Blister Member / Get our Buyer’s Guide Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

19 Nov 202153min

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 LINKSOff The Couch podcast: Tessa ChesserGetting to Gunnison-Crested Butte: FlightsBlister Summit RegistrationSubscribe to our Newsletter & Gear GiveawaysBecome a Blister Member / Get our Buyer’s Guide Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

12 Nov 20211h 12min

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:Vertical PlaygroundEpisode Sponsor: AvocadoJonathan's Sleep ExperimentGetting to Gunnison-Crested Butte: FlightsBlister Summit RegistrationSubscribe to our Newsletter & Gear GiveawaysBecome a Blister Member / Get our Buyer’s Guide Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

5 Nov 202159min