GEAR:30

Today we’re talking with the one and only Eric Hjorleifson about his brand-new boot, the Dynafit Hoji Free, what’s new with this boot, and how it differs from the current Hoji Pro Tour.Then you’re going hear Eric talk about trying to improve and refine the latest iteration of his favorite ski, the 4FRNT Renegade, and finally, we wrap up our gear geekery by talking a bit about outerwear and Eric’s work with Arc’teryx.And if you somehow missed it yesterday, we ran over on the Blister Podcast platform what was basically Part 1 of our conversation, where we talk to Hoji about his new film, “Hoji.”TOPICS & TIMES:Hoji on the Dynafit Hoji Free. (3:00)Differences between the Hoji Pro Tour and Hoji Free. (5:50)Did weight play a factor in designing the Hoji Free? (22:32)Hoji Free crampon compatibility? (27:12)What’s new with the 4FRNT Renegade? (30:55)The problem with updating for the sake of updating. (37:55)Does Eric geek out on outerwear, too? (43:30) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

15 Nov 201852min

Last week we talked to Will Ritter, the founder of the biggest splitboard binding company in the world, Spark R&D, about the origin story of Spark R&D, and some of the milestones and setbacks that the company has achieved — and survived — along the way.This week we’re running Part 2 of our conversation, and Will and I discuss some of Spark R&D’s current products, discuss the old hard boots vs. soft boots debate, talk collaborating with companies like CAST Touring and 22 Designs, and using solar power at the Spark R&D factory.TOPICS & TIMES:Sparks’ new "Pro Series" of bindings (1:05)Should we expect any drastic changes in Spark's splitboard interface? (4:43)Thoughts on Karakoram’s new interface? (14:02)Hard boots vs. soft boots (15:48)Will the next biggest innovation be in bindings, splitboards or boots? (21:30)Spark's collaborations with CAST Touring, 22 Designs, Phantom, etc. (29:31)What’s the best question I haven't asked you? (35:54)Using solar power at Spark R&D (38:45) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

9 Nov 201844min

Will Ritter is the founder of Spark R&D, the largest splitboard binding company in the world, and Spark R&D designs and manufactures all of their products in Bozeman, Montana. This turned into such an interesting conversation with Will that we are presenting it in two parts. Here in part 1, we talk about the history of Spark R&D, and whether or not you’ve ever ridden a snowboard, if you have ever thought about starting any company of any kind, listen closely, because I promise you that you will glean some very real insights into what actually goes into starting and running a company.And then we will be posting later part 2 of our conversation, where Will and I went deeper into Spark R&D’s specific products, we discuss hard boots vs. soft boots, how much room Will thinks there is for splitboards to improve, and more.But for now, let’s get the origin story of Spark R&D, and listen to Will kindly share some real words of wisdom for anyone thinking of starting anything.TOPICS & TIMES:Trick or Treating & the myth of the Sugar Sprite?? (1:44)When, where, and why did Will start Spark R&D? (3:48)The many products Will worked on as an engineering consultant (5:25)Working on the MFD ALLTIME touring binding with Jason Prigge (7:27)The move from consulting to factory production (10:06)The backcountry touring scene back when Will started Spark R&D (14:05)"Making One" - and other major milestones (23:35)How to have Zen get beaten into you (35:35)The state of Spark R&D today (46:35)STAY TUNED FOR PART 2... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2 Nov 201851min

Blister editors Jonathan Ellsworth, Luke Koppa, and Sam Shaheen talk about the making of our 18/19 Blister Winter Buyer’s Guide, the current state of Buyer's Guides in general, some of the “Best Of” award winners, and our Product of the Year.And if you have any comments or questions about the Guide that you’d like to see us address on a future GEAR:30 episode, feel free to email us or leave a question in the comments section to this episode’s show notes on the website.TOPICS & TIMES:On the Print Buyer's Guide & Other News (2:12)Our Guide and the state of Buyer's Guides in general (5:31)Our Product of the Year (9:12)Some of our "Best Of" Award Winners (11:56)What we'll be discussing in Part 2 (29:06) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

26 Okt 201832min

Today we're discussing the wonders and weirdness of Interbike, 2018, with Blister's bike editor, Noah Bodman. Noah gives the rundown on Interbike's new digs (it moved from Las Vegas to Reno this year), what he saw, what he didn't see, and what he rode.And we open with Jonathan Ellsworth giving a bit of an update on our 18/19 Winter Buyer’s Guide, and revealing some sketchy details about his participation at Interbike last year.TOPICS & TIMES:Update on Winter Buyer's Guide (2:20)Confessions from Interbike, 2017 (4:00)Interbike's New Digs — from Vegas to Reno, NV (6:40)The new Pivot Shuttle and the predominance of e-bikes (8:20)Pivot 429 Trail (14:45)How this year's show compared to last year's (16:20)Dumb or Niche: folding e-fat bikes (20:05)Tariffs impact on Asian companies (20:45)Single bike racks are for the lonely and / or lazy (22:06)PRESENTING SPONSOR:750 Miles of Trail in Gunnison/Crested Butte, CO Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

28 Sep 201824min

We talk to Boston-based Parlor Custom Skis co-founder, Mark Wallace, about the origins story of Parlor; the very successful “Build Your Own Skis” class they offer; the new models in their 18/19 lineup — including Parlor snowboards and splitboards; and several trends on the East Coast ski scene.And if you’d like to hear Mark talk more about custom ski building, check out our Round Table on Custom Skis, which is episode #33 of the Blister Podcast.TOPICS & TIMES:Brief history of Parlor Skis (2:50)On Parlor's "Build Your Own Skis" class (8:21)18/19 Parlor Skis Lineup (19:58)"Project Warbird" (21:20)Naming skis (22:53)Working with titanal (24:47)The Cardinal Pro (26:59)The "Dad Skinner"?? (29:24)Parlor's New Snowboards (31:39)Trends in East Coast Skiing: backcountry skiing (34:15)East Coast Ski Width (36:54)EC Snowmaking (43:55)What's the best question I haven't asked you? (48:38)PRESENTING SPONSOR:750 Miles of Trail in Gunnison/Crested Butte, CO Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

24 Aug 201853min

We are back with round 2 of Bikes vs. Skis, where our bike editor, Noah Bodman, and I ask the question, “Which particular bike company is most like which particular ski company?”And the response to Bikes vs Skis, Part 1 certainly warmed our hearts, since we learned that a lot of you wonder about these sorts of questions, too. Noah and I talk about a number of your suggestions in this episode, so listen up to see where we think you had the better answer, and where we think you are clearly crazy.Here in Part 2, Noah offers his rather surprising vote for the “best looking bikes ever made"; we discuss which bike is the equivalent of the Moment Bibby / Wildcat / Blister Pro; and we give our take on another 20+ bike companies.TOPICS & TIMES:Which bike company is Moment Skis? (4:50)Santa Cruz (7:50)Yeti (9:16)Bike equivalent of Kaestle or Stockli? (10:40)What bike is the Moment Bibby Pro? (13:19)Commencal (22:39)Canfield (25:01)Devinci (26:30)Zerode (30:35)Surly (32:17)Salsa (36:40)Intense (39:38)Kona (43:59)Rocky Mountain (46:08)J Skis? (47:40)Knolly (51:09)Schwinn (54:57)Smaller indie bike vs. indie ski co's (57:15)Scott (1:02:30)KHS (1:08:34)Diamondback (1:11:25)GT (1:13:44)Mongoose (1:16:33)How to apply for Team Disappointment (1:20:30)RELATED LINKS:Bikes vs Skis, 3rd Edition (2021): Part 1Bikes vs Skis, 3rd Edition (2021): Part 2Bikes vs Skis, 2nd Edition (2020): Part 1Bikes vs Skis, 2nd Edition (2020): Part 2Bikes vs Skis, 1st Edition (2018): Part 1Bikes vs Skis, 1st Edition (2018): Part 2PRESENTING SPONSOR:750 Miles of Trail in Gunnison/Crested Butte, CO Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

11 Aug 20181h 22min

We talk with DPS Skis founder, Stephan Drake, about DPS Dreamtime; the new DPS Wailer 110; the DPS Spoon, Lotus 138, and 124; and some very big news about DPS Phantom, the ski and snowboard base treatment that DPS introduced this past season.(If you’d like to learn more about Stephan’s own background and the history of DPS skis, you should check out Episode #38 of the Blister Podcast. And if you’d like to hear the conversation I had with Stephan about the introduction of DPS Phantom, check out Episode #59 of the Blister podcast.)Presenting Sponsor: The 750 Miles of Trail in the Gunnison Valley — Check out Outerbike in Crested ButteTOPICS & TIMES:Stephan's current ski testing (2:45)What is DPS Dreamtime? (3:22)DPS "Powderworks" - and the new DPS Wailer 110 (5:18)Clarifying the DPS framework: constructions & shapes (9:49)The DPS Lotus 138 (13:47)DPS Spoon (17:53)Lotus 138 vs. DPS Spoon (19:10)Lotus 124 vs. Lotus 138 (22:40)Cassiar 94 and Cassiar 79 (24:54)Big News about DPS Phantom (27:52) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

20 Juli 201836min