GEAR:30

Jonathan talks to the reigning FWT champion, Marcus Goguen, about the gear he skis on to film, rip around the resort, and yes, win the FWT. We also talk about his new YouTube series (it’s must-see-TV), and Marcus breaks news about his new project that comes out in October.Note: We Want to Hear From You!Please let us know if there’s a topic you’d like us to cover or a guest you’d like us to have on GEAR:30. Or if you’d like to nominate yourself for a ‘Gear Therapy’ episode, let us know that, too! You can email us at info@blisterreview.comRELATED LINKS:BLISTER+ Get Yourself CoveredGet Our Newsletter & Weekly Gear GiveawaysBlister Podcast #341: Marcus GoguenMarcus’ YouTube ChannelTOPICS & TIMES:Shoutout to BLISTER+ Members (2:19)Paintball! (3:55)2025 FWT Championship Season (6:09)Marcus’ New YouTube Series (10:29)The gear Marcus used most this past season (18:02)Mount Point: Thoughts & Preferences (26:00)Rocker Profile vs Sidecut (30:05)Are You More Particular about Skis or Boots? (34:14)Ski Poles (38:31)Product Testing / R&D (40:56)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasBlister Podcast

Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ellsworth discuss the latest with respect to public lands and the revisions to the reconciliation bill; share more news about Peak Skis; and preview some new gear they’re going to be talking about and testing in the very near future.RELATED LINKS:BLISTER+ Get Yourself CoveredGet Our Free Newsletter & Gear GiveawaysLuke Koppa on Public Lands SaleGEAR:30 ep. 353: Our Thoughts on Peak SkisJason Blevins’ article on Peak SkisTOPICS & TIMES:Skratch Labs (1:30)New BLISTER+ Program (2:04)Public Lands Status & the Revised Bill (8:14)More Peak Skis News (14:29)New Gear We’re Reviewing (23:04)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasBlister Podcast

Today, Jonathan lays out more fully his thoughts about the Peak Skis debacle; Luke Koppa offers his perspective too; and they discuss Jonathan’s initial comments made here on GEAR:30 back on May 23, what he’s been up to and learning since then, and what we think needs to happen going forward.RELATED LINKS:Skratch LabsBLISTER+ Get Yourself CoveredJason Blevins’ article on Peak SkisGEAR:30 ep 191: Bode on Peak SkisGEAR:30 ep 163: Bode on Crosson SkisPeak's Crowdfunding Form C DocTOPICS & TIMES:Be Like Rocco, Rosemary, & Shashi (1:10)Some Background re: Peak (4:54)Reckless Spending (8:01)False Promises & Broken Contracts (11:57)How to Operate in the Outdoor Community (16:00)Lawsuits (23:17)Peak’s Crowdfunding Initiative (26:55)What Needs to Happen Next? (31:00)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasBlister Podcast

Today, we head south to the snow, and back behind the counter at Outside Sports in New Zealand. We talk about the gear and innovations they're stoked on; what it takes to keep a mountain town business thriving; sustainability from a local shop’s perspective; business strategies for adapting to the unpredictability of climate change; and a whole lot more. RELATED LINKS:Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+Blister Recommended Shop: Outside Sports Ep.260: A Guide to Skiing in New Zealand with Outside SportsTOPICS & TIMES Consumer-Driven Conversation (4:54)Momentum: Local Distributor in NZ (7:57)What’s Been Most Exciting? (12:42)The Challenges (20:48)Commitment to Values (25:44)1% for the Planet (26:25)Helping the Community (27:46)Climate Change in NZ (32:44)How to Adapt (34:54)Exciting New Gear (40:24)The Winter Ahead (46:12)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasBlister Podcast

In this panel conversation from Blister Summit 2025, we discuss why all of your outdoor apparel recently changed — and how that will impact your own experiences.Specifically, we’re talking about the ban on PFAS chemicals; why they’d been so extensively used in outdoor apparel (and far beyond); the real-world performance differences between them and new PFAS-free alternatives; and what you need to know to make the most of your own apparel.To cover all of this, we brought together an excellent panel of industry professionals, including Eric Wallis (Patagonia), Dan Abrams (Flylow), Tom Mason (Ortovox), and Ross Herr (Rab). RELATED LINKS:Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+TOPICS & TIMES:What Are PFAS? (3:31)Why the Move Away from PFAS (8:09)New vs. Old DWR & Waterproof Membranes (10:15)New Discoveries (18:56)Exciting Trends (25:35)Audience Questions:Down vs Synthetic (28:55)Caring For PFAS-Free Layers (32:23)3rd-Party Water Repellants (35:53)Non-Porous Membranes (40:05)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasBlister Podcast

In past years, we’ve done a series called ‘Bikes vs Skis’ where we’ve posed the question: Which bike company is most like which ski company? But this year, we’re zooming out a bit, and instead are putting up the whole ski industry vs the bike industry. In part 2 of this conversation, we take a look at the state of ski shops vs bike shops; what each industry is doing to grow participation and engagement in their sport; gear trend wins and fails; and we weigh in on which industry has the brighter future. You’ll hear from Blister reviewers Luke Koppa, Jonathan Ellsworth, David Golay, Simon Stewart, Kara Williard, and Xan Marshland.RELATED LINKS:BLISTER+ Get Yourself CoveredSki vs Bike Industry, Part 1Our ‘Bikes vs Skis’ Series:Bikes vs Skis, 4th Edition (2023): Part 1Bikes vs Skis, 4th Edition (2023): Part 2Bikes vs Skis, 4th Edition (2023): Part 3Bikes 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 2TOPICS & TIMES:Ski Shops vs Bike Shops (3:13)Growing Participation: Ski vs Bike Industry (12:52)Lift Tickets (25:01)BMX Bikes (26:30)Gear Wins & Fails (29:43)Brighter Future? Ski or Bike Industry? (38:41)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasBlister Podcast

In past years, we’ve done a series called ‘Bikes vs Skis’ where we’ve posed the question: Which bike company is most like which ski company? But this year, we’re zooming out a bit, and instead are putting up the whole ski industry vs the bike industry, to identify the significant similarities or differences; assess the relative health of each; and see how the trends in one might align with trends in the other. Today, you’ll hear from Blister reviewers Jonathan Ellsworth, Luke Koppa, David Golay, Simon Stewart, Kara Williard, and Xan Marshland.RELATED LINKS:BLISTER+ Get Yourself CoveredOur ‘Bikes vs Skis’ Series:Bikes vs Skis, 4th Edition (2023): Part 1Bikes vs Skis, 4th Edition (2023): Part 2Bikes vs Skis, 4th Edition (2023): Part 3Bikes 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 2TOPICS & TIMES:Health of the Bike Industry (4:52)Volatility in the Ski Industry (12:11)Supply Chain Complexity (16:35)Which Categories are Growing or Shrinking? (18:45)Enduro vs DH Bikes (33:44)Pow Skis & DH Bikes (36:40)Small Brands & Niche Products (39:02)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasBlister Podcast

Today, you — our prestigious GEAR:30 listeners — provided the questions, and Jonathan Ellsworth and Luke Koppa are offering their answers.Topics include our go-to backpacks for ski-touring; how a given brand’s size, location, and ethos factor into our own purchasing decisions; what skis to get if you’re spending a lot of time cruising slow-speed groomers; when and how to replace ski boot liners when they wear out; and we answer one of the most frequent questions we get: what were our favorite skis this season?RELATED LINKS:Skratch Labs: Fuel Up, Hydrate, & Recover Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+TOPICS & TIMES:Go-To Ski Touring Backpacks (7:32)Supporting Indie Brands vs. Big Brands (21:07)Ideal Skis for Slower Groomer Laps? (30:56)Ski Boot Liner Longevity: When / How to Replace? (39:11)ON3P Woodsman vs. Moment Countach (49:16)Scarpa 4-Quattro Pro (53:48)Quiver Overlap (101:54)Our Favorite Skis This Season (1:09:58)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasBlister Podcast

Jonathan talks to BLISTER members, Bobak Farzin and Lukas Friedli, who recently teamed up to take on the famous Haute Route. We talk about their trip; the gear they used; what gear worked well; what worked less well; and they offer some great advice for anyone thinking about doing any multi-day ski touring trip, or anyone interested in the Haute Route itself.RELATED LINKS:Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+TOPICS & TIMES:Introductions (2:33)Background on the Haute Route (10:40)Ski Selection (19:11)Ski Boot Selection (23:06)Bindings Selection (26:21)Gear Regrets? (29:00)Packs — and Pack Weight (32:18)Trickiest Gear Selections? (41:14)Gear You Were Happiest With (49:54)The Skiing! (52:20)Coffee & Coffee Gear (1:00:44)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasBlister Podcast