GEAR:30

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 impressions, and talking about the gear they reviewed — but didn’t bring with them. Thanks to everyone who made this a truly unforgettable trip.

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Please share with us the questions, topics, or stories you’d like us to cover on GEAR:30. You can email those to us here.

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Palisades Tahoe

Palisades Demo Center

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TOPICS & TIMES:

Getting There w/o Skis & Boards (1:34)

How Jonathan Jinxed Us (6:06)

What Luke’s Reading (10:22)

Day 1:

- Demo Center & People We Met Up With (14:23)

- Favorite Runs of the Day (17:31)

- Skis & Boards (19:23)

- Palisades Patrol Shreds Harder Than You (23:10)

- Slot Bar Sneak Attack (26:33)

Day 2:

- Armada Declivity 102 & Antimatter 100

- Day 2 Favorite Runs (37:00)

- Day 2 Equipment Picks (41:12)

Day 3:

- Rakim & Alpine Meadows (48:55)

- Connery Lundin (54:44)

- Wildfour & Rocker (59:35)

Day 4: (1:02:36)

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Bikes & Big Ideas

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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 ruining the industry? Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ellsworth dive into these topics — and present some valuable tips and tricks — with the help of our longtime friend and boofitter, Hunter Dagnon.

Note: We Want to Hear From You!

Please share with us the questions, topics, or stories you’d like us to cover on GEAR:30. You can email those to us here.

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Palisades Tahoe

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TOPICS & TIMES:

Boot-Fitters vs Boot-Sellers (5:43)

Higher-Volume Boots (8:50

What is an “Average” Foot? (9:29)

Bootfitting Red & Green Flags (12:25)

Shell Fit (18:07)

Concept of Comfort (20:45)

BOA (29:41)

“Pinner” Fit (36:00)

Boot Geometry Changes (43:44)

Volume Shifts & Performance (59:30)

Plastic Types (1:06:38)

JE's Case for Lower Volume (1:34:10)

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Bikes & Big Ideas

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AlpenFlow Design spent nearly six years developing their flagship AlpenFlow89 hybrid binding, and today, Jonathan talks with AlpenFlow co-founder, Steven Waal, about that development process. Then they compare / contrast the AlpenFlow 89 to all the major players in the hybrid binding space. You’re guaranteed to learn a lot about the “Do-It-All” category of ski bindings.

Note: We Want to Hear From You!

Please share with us the questions, topics, or stories you’d like us to cover on GEAR:30. You can email those to us here.

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Lone Pine Gear Exchange

Snowbird

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GEAR:30 ep 357: AlpenFlow Founders’ Story

GEAR:30 ep 345: What’s New in Binding Design

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Blister Studios (our new channel)

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TOPICS & TIMES:

Sale: Lone Pine Gear Exchange (2:46)

Overview of AlpenFlow (5:32)

The AlpenFlow 89 Binding (8:05)

What’s Changed Since the Blister Summit? (13:38)

Pin Toes vs Non-Pin Toes (23:44)

Release Characteristics & ISO 13992 (33:20)

Product Comparisons:

Marker Kingpin (39:00)

Marker Duke PT (42:35)

Atomic / Salomon Shift 2.0 (45:00)

ATK Freeraider 15 (46:26)

Cast 2.0 Touring System (49:05)

ATK Hy 13 (51:22)

Tyrolia Attack Hybrid 14 (52:46)

Best Question I Haven’t Asked You?(53:40)

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Bikes & Big Ideas

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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 are too wide? Will a skinnier ski always carve better than a wider ski? What’s the ideal width for mogul skiing? And is there any real difference in bottomless powder between a 120mm-wide and a 135mm-wide ski? Today, Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ellsworth walk through the entire range of skis from 65mm to 135mm wide, and hope to clear up a number of confusions and debunk some myths about ski width.

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Please share with us the questions, topics, or stories you’d like us to cover on GEAR:30. You can email those to us here.

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CARV

Palisades Tahoe

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Blister Studios (our new channel)

Blister Review (our original channel)

CHECK OUT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNELS:

Blister Studios (our new channel)

Blister Review (our original channel)

TOPICS & TIMES:

Test Our Opinions Yourself w/ Carv (1:80)

Blister to Palisades Tahoe (2:34)

This Week’s Gear Giveaway (3:12)

Blister Summit 2026 (3:45)

The Question of Ski Width (4:53)

Ski Width Ranges

65mm - 71mm (11:49)

72mm - 78mm (16:48)

79mm - 85mm (27:41)

86mm - 92mm (38:08)

Q: Width / Getting a Ski On Edge (39:48)

93mm - 99mm (45:06)

100mm - 106mm (53:19)

107mm - 113mm (53:34)

114mm - 120mm (57:21)

Coastal Snowpack (1:07:17)

Significant Width Breaks (1:14:14)

What's Optimal? (1:16:45)

Ideal Width for Skiing Moguls? (1:20:38)

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Bikes & Big Ideas

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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 behind a new pow ski design that Paul has been thinking about for years, and are now being incorporated into a brand new ski.

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Please share with us the questions, topics, or stories you’d like us to cover on GEAR:30. You can email those to us here.

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Episode Sponsor: OpenSnow

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Blister Studios (our new channel)

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TOPICS & TIMES:

Hallelujah! Check the Forecast! (2:58)

Snowbird (4:03)

Our Very Unique Gear Giveaway (5:24)

Paul Back in AK (6:47)

Paul’s Boot Surprise: Atomic Remedy 130 (13:08)

Luke on the 1000 Skis Carve (22:57)

Carving (28:12)

Jonathan’s Mistake / PSA (38:02)

Paul’s New Pow Ski Design (41:15)

The Heritage Lab HB 135 (53:47)

Flex Pattern vs Shape (1:04:50)

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Bikes & Big Ideas

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(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 manufacturers doing about the fact that many of the best skiers on the mountain also have the least amount of money in their bank accounts? And (3) did K2 just create the first ski boot that was truly designed for women, from the ground up? To address these questions, we’re talking with Tom Pietrowski, the global product line manager for K2 ski boots.

Note: We Want to Hear From You!

We’d love for you to share with us the questions, topics, or stories you’d like us to cover on GEAR:30. You can email those to us here.

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Episode Sponsor: Carv

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Episode Sponsor: OpenSnow

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For BLISTER+ Members: Discounted Blister Summit Registration

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CHECK OUT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNELS:

Blister Studios (our new channel)

Blister Review (our original channel)

TOPICS & TIMES:

Blister Summit (2:30)

This Week’s Gear Giveaway (3:49)

Tom’s Super Hot Take (5:02)

K2 Cortex 140 (12:49)

Boa Cable Length (15:41)

K2 Cortex Team 120 (18:23)

Flex Rating vs Price of Ski Boots (21:30)

New Recon (28:15)

K2 Anthem: the 1st True Women's Ski Boot? (30:48)

K2 Boot Collection Upgrades (47:06)

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Bikes & Big Ideas

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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 Luke and Jonathan been able to test the same new ski boot? Today we discuss it all, as well as a bunch of new freeride skis from 4FRNT and Heritage Lab; Jonathan swapping skis with Daron Rahlves; Luke face-planting in front of some other pro skiers, and more.

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Episode Sponsor: Carv

Episode Sponsor: Snowbird

Episode Sponsor: OpenSnow

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CHECK OUT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNELS:

Blister Studios (our new channel)

Blister Review (our original channel)

TOPICS & TIMES:

Carv (1:38)

Snowbird & Giveaway (2:23)

Luke’s Trip Report (5:39)

Jonathan’s Trip Report (15:43)

Salomon S/Pro Alpha C BOA (21:24)

4FRNT Sinister (32:28)

Heritage Lab Skis (37:08)

Part 2: Jonathan & Paul Forward (41:05)

Testing Ski Boots, Skis, & Carv (45:35)

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Bikes & Big Ideas

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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 several big new product announcements; review some current ski & snowboard gear; and then Eric shares his top 10 list of the most important developments in snowboard gear of the 21st century.

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Enter Our Weekly Gear Giveaways

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CHECK OUT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNELS:

Blister Studios (our new channel)

Blister Review (our original channel)

TOPICS & TIMES:

Why My Voice is Gone (0:04)

Blister Summit 2026 (2:59)

Peak Skis is Back?? (4:11)

The ‘New New’ Gear (16:27)

- Nordica Nordica Promachine 3 (16:59)

- Salomon S/Pro Alpha C BOA (27:49)

- Atomic / Salomon Shift² 16 (35:33)

- Armada Snowboards (41:48)

- Current Ski & Snowboard Gear Reviews (44:38)

- 4FRNT MSP 99 (45:55)

- Marker X binding (47:04)

- Armada Ski Boot (49:13)

- Atomic Remedy (51:22)

- Rossignol XV Sashimi ( 52:48)

JE's Snowboard Questions (54:07)

Top 10 Snowboard Gear of the Century (58:00)

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Bikes & Big Ideas

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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 influence on the technical apparel we all use today.

In this 2-for-1 conversation, Luke Koppa dives into its backstory, major milestones, and standout pieces with The North Face’s Global Head of Innovation, Cory Olson. He also talks with the one and only Sage Cattabriga-Alosa to get his perspective as an athlete who’s been involved with this series for its entire run — including how he went from hitting backcountry booters in the baggiest clothes he could find, to summiting high-altitude peaks in the most technical gear on the market.

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Episode Sponsor: Snowbird

Episode Sponsor: OpenSnow

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CHECK OUT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNELS:

Blister Studios (our new channel)

Blister Review (our original channel)

TOPICS & TIMES:

OpenSnow (2:09)

Snowbird (4:25)

Weekly Gear Giveaway (6:03)

Sage's History w/ The North Face (7:10)

Sage’s Ah-Ha Moments w/ Apparel (23:00)

Layering Evolution (36:30)

Sage’s Standout Products (40:56)

Cory Olson’s Role at The North Face (49:52)

Historic and Throwback Pieces (54:14)

Standouts Materials (56:36)

Athlete Feedback & Design Impact (1:01:11)

PFAS-Free Apparel: Present & Future (1:05:19)

Care & Washing (1:10:20)

Himalayan Suit (1:18:58)

Summit Series x Streetwear (1:23:30)

Future Projects (1:32:01)

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Bikes & Big Ideas

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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, we’re ranking the most important gear and / or technological developments in skiing and snowboarding. And today, you’re going to get the real story of the first rockered ski.

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Get CARV

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Our Blister Recommended Shops

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CHECK OUT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNELS:

Blister Studios (our new channel)

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TOPICS & TIMES:

Weekly Gear Giveaway (2:27)

New Boot Testing & Carv (3:42)

BLISTER+ (5:19)

Greg’s Background in Skiing (6:32)

Greg’s Top 10

#10: Removal of Fluoro Waxes (11:12)

#9: GripWalk (14:31)

#8: Tuning Robots (16:53)

#7: Gore Tex Patents Expiration (20:56)

#6: Step in / Step on Snowboard Bindings (25:51)

#5: Hybrid AT Systems

#4: Ski Boot Design (35:16)

Rockered Skis Unsolved Mysteries (46:13)

#3: Rockered Skis (44:17)

#2: Twin Tip Skis (50:19)

#1: K2 Four (53:46)

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Bikes & Big Ideas

Blister Podcast

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