GEAR:30

We sat down at the Outdoor Retailer / SIA show to discuss some of the most notable trends, interesting products, weirdest products, and the thing at the show that caused Jonathan to legally change his name.

TOPICS & TIMES:

• New trends in apparel (3:43)
• New trends in skis (10:58)
• Gear we’re most curious to try (14:20)
• Gear we’re most tempted to steal (31:00)
• Weirdest thing we saw (39:41)

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In part 2 of our conversation with SCARPA CEO, Kim Miller, Kim offers his predictions for the ski industry and how SCARPA is positioning itself for the future; discusses which materials they use in their boots and why; shares the lessons learned from the Maestrale 2017 recall; and then unveils a brand-new boot, the F1 LT.

To see the new SCARPA F1 LT for yourself, head over to the BLISTER Youtube Channel to watch a video of the conversation.

TOPICS & TIMES:

• How did the popularity of the Maestrale RS shape your line? (1:11)
• SCARPA’s approach to sustainability (5:55)
• Ski industry predictions (9:52)
• Which different plastics are in the F1 & Maestrale XT? ( 16:35)
• The Maestrale 2017 recall (30:00)
• Unveiling the new F1 LT boot (34:30)

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We talk to Lange’s Global Brand Director, Thor Verdonk, about Lange’s use of 'dual core' technology; why “ski boots should be alive”; the brand-new, 3rd generation, Lange XT3; heat-moldable shells; 3d printed boots; the future of Lange; and more.

TOPICS & TIMES:

• What is “dual core” technology? (4:30)
• Elasticity & ski boot weight (9:27)
• Which boots are the hardest to develop? (13:53)
• Heat moldable shells (15:53)
• Elasticity / “Suspension” (17:30)
• Lange XT (1st Gen.) (18:45)
• Lange XT Freetour (2nd Gen.) (19:50)
• Lange XT3 (New 3rd Gen.) (22:43)
• What’s next for Lange? (34:13)
• 3D printed boots? (38:50)

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Last week we talked about the best ski gear of the past decade, so now it’s time to make our predictions about what gear will look like 10 years from now? What product categories have the most room for improvement? What ski gear will actually change the most? What gear will change the least? And what are our wildest gear predictions for where gear could be in 10 years? We discuss all of this and more in a roundtable discussion.

TOPICS & TIMES:

• Thoughts on our last episode (2:25)
• Our gear predictions (17:25)
• Gear w/ the most room for improvement (34:30)
• What gear will actually change most? (44:16)
• Gear that will change the least (50:26)
• “Women-specific” products? (52:26)
• Wildest predictions (55:10)

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Of the entire past decade, what was the most influential ski, ski boot, and ski binding? What was the best ski? What were the biggest trends? And what was our selection for the Best Product of the Decade? We cover all of this and more.

TOPICS & TIMES:

• Most Influential Ski, 2000-2009 (3:00)
• Most Influential Ski, 2010-2019 (5:30)
• Best Ski (13:40)
• Most Influential Ski Boot (32:30)
• Most Influential AT Binding (40:58)
• Best Ski Binding (46:02)
• Biggest Trends (51:30)
• Best Product (56:24)

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Today we’re catching up with Blister reviewer, Paul Forward, about some of the skis, AT boots, and an AT binding that Paul has been spending time on in Girdwood, Alaska. Paul and Jonathan Ellsworth discuss the Volkl Mantra 102; the DPS Koala 119; the new Atomic Backland Carbon AT boot; the Fritschi Xenic lightweight touring binding; and more.

TOPICS & TIMES:

• Volkl Mantra 102 (4:40)
• Mantra 102 vs. Mantra M5, etc. (8:30)
• DPS Koala 119, 189 cm (13:20)
• Koala 119 vs. (OG) Moment Bibby vs. Dynastar Menace Proto (16:19)
• New Atomic Backland Carbon AT Boot (21:03)
• Scarpa Maestrale XT Boot (27:00)
• New Fritschi Xenic AT Binding (30:22)
• Paul’s Advanced Wilderness Life Support course (35:10)

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Earlier this week, Sam Shaheen visited SCARPA’s North American headquarters to talk with SCARPA’s CEO, Kim Miller, and they had a great conversation that we’ll be releasing in two parts. 

Here in Part 1, Kim and Sam discuss his impressive career in the outdoor industry; SCARPA’s philosophy of ski boot design; their position within the market; the specifics of the new Maestrale XT; Kim’s thoughts on boot/binding compatibility; and more.

TOPICS & TIMES:

• Kim’s storied career & backcountry adventures (4:00)
• Scarpa’s approach to ski boots (23:35)
• Kim’s one-boot quiver (32:25)
• Maestrale XT (42:45)
• “Frankenboots” (58:30)
• Boot / binding compatibility (1:02:35)

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Last week, Sam Shaheen, Luke Koppa, and I addressed some of the questions you have been asking us about ski quivers, and we also discussed the topic of the one-boot quiver. And now, we are running part 2 of this conversation, this time, with our reviewers Kristin Sinnott, Sascha Anastas, and Kara Williard.

TOPICS & TIMES:

• Ski Quivers (3:35)
• One Boot Quiver? (22:25)

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We recently published the 19/20 edition of our reviewers’ personal selections for their 5-ski, 4-ski, 3-ski, 2-ski, and 1-ski quivers. And now, we’re addressing some of your questions related to how we design our quivers; what our biggest takeaways are; the dreaded 1-boot quiver; and more.   

And if you’d like to get our recommendations for assembling your own ski quiver, then just become a Blister Member, send us an email, and we’ll remove the guesswork for you.

TOPICS & TIMES:

• Principles for selecting ski quivers (3:50)
• Why the single-brand ski quiver question? (17:08)
• Our selections & their relevance / applicability (21:45)
• Lower vs Higher snowfall areas? (32:22)
• How do we choose which ski to ride on a given day? (36:00)
• Mount points (41:22)
• Separating resort vs. touring 1-ski quivers (46:39)
• Where’s the LINE Sick Day 104? (49:52)
• One *Boot* Quiver? (51:13)

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DWRs — or “Durable Water Repellent” coatings — play a huge role in the performance of your outdoor gear, and are used on nearly every waterproof garment on the market. But most DWRs are made with chemicals called PFCs, which can be harmful to you and the environment.

Nikwax, however, makes products intended to extend the lifespan of outdoor gear, and none of their specialized cleaning, conditioning, or waterproofing products have ever used PFCs. So we talked with Heidi Allen from Nikwax about how DWRs work; the dangers of PFCs; how the industry is attempting to shift away from PFCs; garment care; and more.

TOPICS & TIMES:

• Heidi’s background growing up off-the-grid (1:00)
• Durable Water Repellent (DWR) overview (2:54)
• DWRs vs. Membranes? (6:50)
• Hydrophobic vs. Oleophobic? (11:38)
• Why do clean garments perform better? (17:15)
• Alternatives to PFCs (19:06)
• Environmental & transparency initiatives at Nikwax (27:01)
• The future of DWRs (31:09)
• Páramo (33:30)

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