Shows / GEAR:30
GEAR:30
GEAR:30 is the podcast from BLISTER that dives deep into the details of the most interesting and innovative outdoor gear. You'll hear Blister reviewers discuss the gear they're testing, as well as product designers, professional athletes, and some of the gear-obsessed folks from our recommended shops weigh in on gear trends and the equipment they’ve been most impressed with. If you love outdoor gear, you're going to love this podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
GEAR:30A New Development in Ski Design & Ski Building
Today we are discussing a new development in ski design and ski building that could allow for the most personalized, specific match of the skier to the ski…
GEAR:30Egg-Sized Mittens, New Insulations, & Solving More Backcountry Problems w/ Raide
Raide founder, Kyle Siegel, always has hot takes on backcountry gear, the problems it can create, and interesting ways to go about solving them. And with Raide…
GEAR:30Ski Gear & Product Trends for 26/27 w/ The Ski Monster's George Michaelsen
Jonathan Ellsworth has a wide-ranging conversation about ski gear and product trends for the upcoming season with The Ski Monster owner, George Michaelsen. We…
GEAR:30Marcus Goguen on Skiing in Chile & Testing Skis; Training for the Upcoming Season; & Adrenaline Performance
Today one of the best skiers on the planet is back on the podcast, 2025 Freeride World Tour champion, Marcus Goguen, to talk with Jonathan about skiing in…
GEAR:30ON3P Skis’ Scott Andrus on The Pit of Ski Design; Scratch & Sniff Skis; Their 26/27 Lineup; & His Latest Obsession
ON3P Skis founder, Scott Andrus, is back to talk with Jonathan Ellsworth about their 26/27 lineup and a whole lot more. We Want to Hear From You! Please share…
GEAR:30Standout Powder Skis w/ Paul Forward
The first dusting of snow has covered mountains from Colorado to Alaska, and that’s all the excuse we need to chat about deep days and big powder skis with…
GEAR:30Gear Gossip, Hot Takes, & Controversy: Moment Skis' CEO, Luke Jacobson
Sydney Sweeney? January 6th? Those files that were promised to be released? Luke Jacobson is back on GEAR:30 to stir the pot, light up the comment sections…
GEAR:30How to Evaluate Gear
At Blister Summit 2026, we had professional athletes & product developers talk with Jonathan about their own approaches and best tips for how to evaluate gear…
GEAR:30Buyer’s Guide Updates + Reviewer Reports w/ Luke Koppa & Jonathan Ellsworth
Luke and Jonathan give some updates about our Winter Buyer’s Guide, then share some thoughts on ski boots, hiking boots, and other types of footwear. Note: We…
GEAR:30The Rise & Fall & Return of G3
G3 — aka, ‘Genuine Guide Gear’ — everyone who ventures into the backcountry knows them, but you’ve probably wondered what happened to them? Today, you'll get…
GEAR:30Scott Gaffney on the Most Mind-Blowing Skiers & Sessions He’s Filmed
Scott Gaffney is one of the most accomplished ski-movie directors of all-time, and in this highlight from The Blister Vault, we’re sharing this clip where…
GEAR:30Upgrade Culture; Minimalist vs Maximalist Shoe Design; & Other Topics
After the book, ‘Born to Run’ came out, minimalist, low-profile shoes were all the rage. But now, maximalism is the big trend. So who’s right and who’s wrong?…
GEAR:30The Current State of GPS Sports Watches: COROS
GPS sports watches are impressive little devices that are able to track and measure more and more things each year. But how do these devices actually work? How…
GEAR:30Reviewer Reports: The Health & Fitness Gear We're Using — or Avoiding
Nutrition apps? Body Composition Scales? Sleep Trackers? The category of home health & fitness tech is exploding, and Kristin Sinnott & Jonathan Ellsworth talk…
GEAR:30The Process of Having a Custom Ski Made for You
What’s the process like for having a custom ski built for you? What do you need to know? How much do you need to know about ski design? And are you someone who…
GEAR:30Wonder Woman, Ski Boots, & Why the Color of Your Ski Boots Matters
Today on The Vault, we’re sharing another momentous Blister moment: a section from the very first episode in a series that went on to become one of the biggest…
GEAR:30The Current State of High-Tech Footwear: Trends, Super Shoes, More
Footwear — running shoes, hiking shoes, walking shoes, etc — has never been more high-tech. Or confusing. Or expensive. It’s a wild world. So today, Jonathan…
GEAR:30Wild Rye's 10-Year Journey w/ Founder, Cassie Abel
Wild Rye is about to turn 10 years old, so Jonathan caught up with Wild Rye founder, Cassie Abel, to ask her about starting this self-funded, women-focused…
GEAR:30The Latest New Thing at Blister + Reviewer Reports
Jonathan and Kristin announce the latest new thing at Blister — ‘The Vault’ — then talk about some of their summer adventures, the new sports they’ve been…
GEAR:30Gold Forcefields, Multi-Purpose Mountain Gear, & More w/ Outdoor Vitals
From thru-hikers to ski mountaineers and backpack hunters, Outdoor Vitals’ products have gained a very diverse following. To understand why, Luke Koppa sat…
GEAR:30Buyer’s Guide News + Other Changes at BLISTER
Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ellsworth break news about our 26/27 Blister Winter Buyer’s Guide, and some other big changes at BLISTER. They also talk about the…
GEAR:30Hoji on the Future of Ski Gear; His Latest Projects; & More
Today, Hoji weighs in on the great ‘hybrid binding’ debate; then he and Jonathan discuss the future of ski binding technology; 3D printing applications in ski…
GEAR:30The Pro's Gear: Cody Townsend (round 3)
Cody is back for some straight-up gear talk, and to share where his gear preferences & practices have shifted, and where they’ve remained the same. Also, if…
GEAR:30The Debate: Should We Change Our Winter Buyer’s Guide?
For some years now, we’ve wrestled with some big ideas about how we could change our annual Blister Winter Buyer’s Guide. So today, Jonathan Ellsworth, Luke…
GEAR:30Ski Design & Your Questions
At our Blister Summit, we asked our Blister Summit attendees to pose their questions about ski design to Max Smith (vice president & ski designer at Moment…
GEAR:30Starting a Ski Company from Scratch w/ Ellis Skis
There’s no shortage of skis on the market these days, yet we’re still seeing new brands pop up. So what does it take to start your own ski company, and why do…
GEAR:30The Cutting Edge: Emerging Trends & New Products in Snowsports Gear
Jonathan talks to our patron saint of GEAR:30, Hoji; Jeff Colt (ZipFit); Shane Chappell (Burton); and Will Ritter (Spark R&D) to get their sense of the most…
GEAR:30Pulling Back the Curtain: How Things Actually Work at Global Ski / Outdoor Companies
Often on GEAR:30, we zoom way in on the particular design details of a product. But today, we zoom way out, and take a look at how some of the biggest, global…
GEAR:30Luke & Jonathan: More Reviewer Reports from Blister Summit 2026
Luke and Jonathan compare notes on a number of skis they got on at the Blister Summit; confess some crimes; and offer one public service announcement. Note: We…
GEAR:30Reviewer Reports from Blister Summit 2026: Blades, Boards, Backslaps, & More
We’re still buzzing from Blister Summit 2026, which we held last week at Snowbird, Utah. And in this conversation, a number of our reviewers got together to…
GEAR:30Reviewer Reports: 'Closing Day + Luke's a Father!' Edition
Luke’s a dad! Our patron saint of GEAR:30, Hoji, will be back at the Blister Summit! You can win custom skis at our Summit Dinner! Plus, you’ll hear lots of…
GEAR:30Which Skis are the Best Skiers Using? Ski Gear & Ski Technique w/ Carv & Stomp It Tutorials
Do narrower skis actually make you carve better on piste? What about in moguls? And what sorts of skis are the best skiers actually using? For less-experienced…
GEAR:30Blister Summit ‘26 Preview, Big Announcements, & Reviewer Reports
Monoskis! Snowblades! Price Drops! Jonathan talks with Luke Koppa and Kristin Sinnott about some big announcements about our upcoming Blister Summit, and Otto…
GEAR:30Reviewer Reports: Luke & Jonathan on Frontside Carvers, Comp Mogul Skis, & Metal Freestyle Skis
In this episode that we’re dedicating to JBobb, Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ellsworth talk frontside carvers; metal freestyle skis; and for the first time in…
GEAR:30The Ledge Boardshop: Suge (aka, Brett Scott) on Hip-Hop, Snowboard Culture, & the Current State of Snowboard Gear
Last week at Palisades Tahoe, Jonathan Ellsworth & JBobb stopped by the The Ledge Boardshop to talk about snowboard culture & the current state of snowboard…
GEAR:30Reviewer Reports: Palisades Tahoe; New Skis & Snowboards; & the Hunt for Red October
JBobb, Luke, Koppa, Kristin Sinnott and Jonathan Ellsworth just wrapped up a week at Palisades Tahoe, and today, they’re sharing lots of stories and…
GEAR:30How to Tell if a Bootfitter is Any Good; Ski Boot Trends; & Strong Opinions w/ Luke, Jonathan, & Bootfitter, Hunter Dagnon
How do you tell if you’re working with a good bootfitter? Are all ski boots getting bigger? Where are BOA dials most effective, or, are they actually just…
GEAR:30The AlpenFlow 89 Binding VS. the Rest of the 'Hybrid Bindings' Category
AlpenFlow Design spent nearly six years developing their flagship AlpenFlow89 hybrid binding, and today, Jonathan talks with AlpenFlow co-founder, Steven Waal…
GEAR:30What You're Probably Getting Wrong about Ski Width
When it comes to the question of ski width, there are some very strong opinions held by skiers, and lots of them aren’t true. Are lots of people on skis that…
GEAR:30Reviewer Reports: Paul's New Pow Ski Design; Carving Skis; & More
Luke, Koppa, Paul Forward, and Jonathan talk about some of the gear they've been reviewing; discuss topics related to that gear; and dive deep into the ideas…
GEAR:30Rewriting the Rules of Ski Boots? K2 Ski Boots’ Tom Pietrowski
(1) Why is it that typically, only the stiffest ski boots have all the best features and get the best liners and all the bells and whistles? (2) What are boot…
GEAR:30Reviewer Reports: Luke’s in the Heli, Paul’s on Carving Skis, & Jonathan’s Trading Skis w/ Pros
Why is reviewer and heli-skiing guide Paul Forward in Crested Butte testing skinny skis? How did Luke Koppa end up being the one in a helicopter? And why have…
GEAR:30Peak Skis is Back; New Gear Reveals; Current Product Reviews; & Best Snowboard Gear of the Century w/ Powder Hound AK's Eric Helmbrecht
Jonathan shares his thoughts on the stated return of Bode Miller & Peak Skis, then Powder Hound Ski & Bike Shop owner, Eric Helmbrecht, joins us to discuss…
GEAR:3025 Years: The Evolution of The North Face Summit Series w/ Sage Cattabriga-Alosa & TNF’s Head of Innovation, Cory Olson
The North Face’s iconic Summit Series collection has not only been a part of some of the greatest athletic feats of the past 25 years, it’s also had a major…
GEAR:30Gear of the Century, Part 2
What are the most significant developments in snowsports gear of the 21st century? We’ve already covered the ‘Best Skis of the Century’ on GEAR:30, and now…
GEAR:30Gear of the Century, Part 1
What are the most significant developments in snowsports gear of the 21st century? We’ve already covered the ‘Best Skis of the Century’ on GEAR:30, and now…
GEAR:30Ski Testing, Ski Technique, & Data Analytics with Carv
What can you learn when you analyze hundreds of thousands of ski turns? What does it tell you about ski technique? And what can be learned about the gear you…
GEAR:30A New Approach to Apparel: Raide Founder on Unconventional Shells, Zip-Off Baselayers, & ‘Staying Slippery’
The skis, ski boots, and bindings made for human-powered ski-touring are very different from the ones built for the resort. But what about the clothes? Raide…
GEAR:30Reviewer Reports: Early-Season Testing & Luke’s Dumbest Moment on Skis
We’re back on snow! And testing gear! And excited to talk about it! Jonathan and Luke cover several of the standout skis so far; Luke confesses to one of the…
GEAR:30Gear Gossip w/ Moment Skis’ Luke Jacobson
Today we spill some tea, break some news, fire off a few rants, and we walk through Moment’s 25/26 lineup, including what Moment CEO, Luke Jacobson, believes…
GEAR:30The Science of Staying Warm: Innovations in Insulation w/ PrimaLoft
If you’ve worn a puffy jacket in the past 30+ years, there’s a good chance it used PrimaLoft insulation. And they’ve just announced their warmest insulation to…
GEAR:30Best Skis of the Century, Part 5
What are the Top 10 skis of the century? Top 3? #1 Ski? Today, Blister reviewers Dylan Wood, Luke Koppa, and Jonathan Ellsworth reveal their selections, and we…
GEAR:30Best Skis of the Century, Part 4
What are the Top 10 skis of the century? Top 3? #1 Ski? Today, Blister reviewer, Paul Forward, reveals his very personal picks, plus we share a story from the…
GEAR:30Blizzard-Tecnica: 10 Years of Designing Women-Specific Skis & Boots
Do “women-specific” skis need to exist? What about ski boots? In our conversation today, Leslie Baker-Brown shares her thoughts after leading…
GEAR:30Best Skis of the Century from Each Brand, Part 3: Listener & Industry Selections
In Part 3 of our series on the Best Skis of the Century, Luke and Jonathan discuss some of the great answers from our BLISTER+ members and Digital Access Pass…
GEAR:30Best Skis of the Century from Each Brand, Part 2
In Part 2 of our series on the Best Skis of the Century, Luke Koppa and Sascha Anastas join Jonathan Ellsworth to dive into the best skis from 23 more brands…
GEAR:30Best Skis of the Century from Each Brand, Part 1
Today, we are kicking off a new series, where we will debate and try to identify the best skis of the 21st Century from over 30 ski brands. So over the next…
GEAR:30Stinius & Hoji on Developing the New 4FRNT Sinister
Today we’re talking with Hoji and Stinius Skjøtskift about the creation of Stinius’ new pro model, the 4FRNT Sinister. There are lots of great stories in this…
GEAR:30Our 25/26 Winter Buyer's Guide: Trends, Controversies, & Luke's Least Favorite Thing In It
Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ellsworth talk about our big new book, the Blister 25/26 Winter Buyer’s Guide, including the big takeaways, trends, and controversies…
GEAR:30The Company that Created an Industry: Alpacka Raft
We see new brands pop up all the time, but what happens when your idea is so novel that it essentially births an entire sport and industry? That was the case…