GEAR:30

For the first time in company history, Armada is releasing a ski boot: the AR ONE. It’s a project that’s been in development for five years, and this release comes with a number of questions, like: why do a boot? And why now? What sort of boot is the AR ONE, how is it different from what’s out there, and … who's it for? We discuss all of these questions and more with Matt Rihm, Armada’s VP of Product, and Bransford Briggs, Ski Boot Product Manager.RELATED LINKS:CARV: getcarv.com (use code BLISTER32)Blister Rec Shop: Boot MechanicsGEAR:30 Ep #327 w/ Boot MechanicsBLISTER+: Get Yourself CoveredBlister Summit 2025TOPICS & TIMES:Boot Mechanics (1:20)Carv (2:11)The New Armada AR ONE (6:37)A “Hybrid Cabrio” Boot (12:40)Matt's Background (14:50)Bransford’s Background (15:34)Development of the Boot (18:10)Heel Hold (21:26)Liner (24:09)Fit (25:30)Instep & the 2nd Buckle (28:33)Redneck Engineering (31:56)Plastic (34:28)Fine-Tuning Flex (39:00)Range of AR ONE Models (44:51)Who’s It For? (49:12)Where to Find Them (52:05)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicBlister PodcastCRAFTEDBikes & Big Ideas

In the latest installment of our “Very Deep Dive on Bootfitting” series, Kara Williard is joined by Master Bootfitter & Instructor — and Founder of Boot Mechanics, a Blister Recommended Shop  — Jeremy Johnston. This one is all about you, the audience, as we make our way through a bunch of your questions. We discuss the process of stance alignment; what’s happening on both ends of the spectrum when it comes to low-volume and high-volume boot design; the process of downsizing; forward lean and ramp angle; and a bunch of other bootfitting mysteries and complexities. RELATED LINKS:1: Blister Rec Shop: Boot Mechanics 2: GetCarv.com, use code: BLISTER323: OpenSnow.com/buy, use code: blister504: Blister Summit 2025: Learn More5: Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+TOPICS & TIMES:Boot Mechanics Background (3:44)Stance Alignment Process (8:38)Adjusting Flex & Forward Lean / 1-Boot Quivers (17:54)Are Boots Getting Roomier? (23:50)Performance Boots (28:22)Performance Boots for HV Feet (30:30)How Long do Insoles Last? (39:16)Downsizing / Cuff Height (42:34)Forward Lean & Ramp Angle (47:55)Junior Boots (56:46)Bootfitting Complexities (1:01:56)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicBlister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasCRAFTED

This week, DPS introduced a new product that represents quite a departure for the company: the DPS Carbon Pisteworks 79. And today, you’re going to hear one of the deepest dives we’ve ever done on GEAR:30 about the design and development of a new ski; how Blister Labs was involved; and the lengthy process of developing a ‘metal ski without the metal.’RELATED LINKS:Blister Rec. Shop: Powder HoundSubmit your Bootfitting QuestionsBlister Summit 2025Blister Pod: Jonathan on this DPS PrototypeBlister Pod: Ted Ligety on this New SkiTOPICS & TIMES:Powder Hound Updates (2:39)Next GEAR:30: Submit Your Questions (4:30)DPS’s 20th Anniversary, News, & New Release (5:30)Weight & Suspension (11:47)Ted Ligety's Involvement (19:27)Dr. Sean Humbert (22:19)Goals for the ProjectNumerical Simulation (38:36)Modal Testing (48:21)Lab Tests & Field Measurements (49:51)Building a Metal Ski Without the Metal (51:18)Locating the DPS Pisteworks 79 (53:09)Where to Get the Pisteworks 79 (57:06)

Today, Olin Glenne, the owner of Sturtevants bike & ski shop is back on GEAR:30 to talk about the state of the bike industry and ski industry; the World Cup Finals that are being held in Sun Valley in March of 2025; Sun Valley’s impressive ski race programs and some things those programs are doing that might be good ideas for race programs elsewhere to consider. Olin and Jonathan also talk a lot about ski tuning and ski finishing; ski base flatness (and who should obsess the most about it); and more.RELATED LINKS1: 5850 Fest2: Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+3: Get Our Winter Buyer’s Guide4: Blister Summit 2025: Learn MoreTOPICS & TIMES5850 Fest (1:11)Status of the Bike industry (4:16)Status of the Ski Industry (6:16)Ski Season Readiness (9:04)WC Finals in Sun Valley (13:03)Sun Valley’s Racing Program (18:43)Ski Tuning & Ski Finishing (30:27)What’s New at Sturtevants (53:13)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicBlister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasCRAFTED

Luke and Jonathan offer their early-season reviewer reports, then Jonathan talks to Bangtail Bike & Ski’s new owner about why he did something that no other shop in the world has done — but why others might want to.RELATED LINKS1: Blister Rec Shop: Powder7.com2: GetCarv.com, use code: BLISTER323: Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+4: Get Our Winter Buyer’s Guide5: Blister Summit 2025: Learn MoreTOPICS & TIMESPowder 7 (1:44)Carv Update (3:04)JE’s Updates (5:01)Powder / Chop Skis Episode (5:46)James Bond, Babysitter (6:59)Opening Day in CB (9:43)Luke’s Report (15:00)- RMU Apostle 106- Rossignol Sender Soul 102- Fischer Curv GT 85- Ferreol Explo 86- Black Crows Octo vs Mirus Cor- Line Blade- Rossignol Arcade 88JE's Skis (26:41)- Armada Declivity 108- Armada Declivity 102Shop Talk: Bangtail’s 1st (32:08)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicBlister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasCRAFTED

CARV is a slick and sophisticated system that aims to help skiers improve their skiing and have more fun on snow. And this winter, Blister is partnering with CARV to do 2 things: (1) see how — and how well — CARV accomplishes this for our team of Blister reviewers; and (2) see if the analysis we get from CARV provides insights that will enhance our ski reviews. So if you’re a fan of new tech, high edge angles, and / or getting better at skiing, listen up.RELATED LINKS1: Blister Rec Shop: Pulse Boot Lab & Ski Co2: Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+3: Get Our Winter Buyer’s Guide4: Blister Summit 2025: Learn MoreTOPICS & TIMES:Pulse Boot Lab & Ski Co (1:56)Blister Summit Update (3:15)What is CARV? (9:13)The Ski Coaching Paradox (11:46)Confirmation Bias in Skiing (19:05)Origin Story, Duct Tape, & University (20:57)Tech & its Evolution (23:43)Data & Data Interpretation (31:16)Edging & Transitions (38:21)Ski IQ (41:20)CARV Off Piste? (43:07)CARV 2 & Blister Reviews (52:47)Summary & Final Thoughts (1:00:55)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicBlister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasCRAFTED

Recently, Austin Smith created a stir when he posted a video of a prototype of a snowboard binding … that rotates. So Jonathan talks with Austin about the idea, his prototyping process, the testing process, and his predictions for whether we’ll see a development like this come to market.RELATED LINKSOpenSnow.com/buy (use code Blister50)Blister Rec Shop: Teton Village SportsGet Yourself Covered: BLISTER+Get Our Winter Buyer’s GuideTOPICS & TIMES:OpenSnow Deal for GEAR:30 Listeners (1:30)Blister Rec Shop: Teton Village Sports (2:17)BLISTER+ News / Time to Get on Snow (3:16)Austin’s Roadtrip (5:50)Rotating Snowboard Binding (9:13)Testing the Prototype (12:02)Safety vs. Ride Quality (18:23)Future Predictions for Bindings (20:51)Realizing Dreams, Lessons Learned (23:22)Board Preferences & Riding Styles (25:21)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicBlister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasCRAFTED

On this week’s episode, Kara Williard sits down with some of the crew from our Blister Recommended Shop, Powder7, to quiz them on gear; discuss the skis, boots, and outerwear they’re most excited about this season; gear they’re sad to see go; the best and worst topsheets; and get some of their hot takes. Then we dive into the topic of circular business and how Powder7 has maintained this as a key part of their business model since they were based out of a garage through their ski trade-in / ski recycling program.RELATED LINKSBlister Recommended Shop: Powder7Our Full List of Blister Recommended ShopsGet Yourself Covered: BLISTER+Get Our Winter Buyer’s GuideTOPICS & TIMESMost Exciting Skis This Season? (4:30)Boots (11:23)Bindings (17:51)Blizzard Anomaly & Black Pearl (23:01)Gear Updates / Overhauls (28:56)Outerwear & Apparel (31:02)Awards: Topsheets (36:38)Powder7 Bussiness Circularity (41:54)Event Season & What’s Next (55:40)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicBlister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasCRAFTED