Reviewer Reports: Backcountry Ski Touring Gear w/ Paul Forward

At Blister Summit 2024, we got a state of the union on the present and future of ski boot design from 3 people with a wealth of experience in this world: Eric “Hoji” Hjorleifson, Matt Manser, and Greg Klein. They cover everything from the reception and performance of BOA boots to Hoji’s new Dynafit Ridge Pro boot; cold feet (literal & metaphorical…), and much more.RELATED LINKS:Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+Blister YouTube ChannelBlister Recommended ShopsTOPICS:Intro 4:12BOA Ski Boots: How’s It Gone So Far? 5:36Weight: Still a Big Factor?13:27Hoji’s New Dynafit Ridge Pro Boot 25:20“Welcome Fit” 39:06Footbeds & Boot Shell Plastic 45:31Upper-Cuff BOAs? 54:09Selling Shells w/o Liners? 56:34Solutions for Cold Feet? 1:02:40“True” size-22 Shells 1:04:57Throat / Instep Fit 1:06:47Canting & Cuff Alignment 1:09:11“Custom” Boots 1:11:20CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasBlister PodcastOff The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re back with Eric Helmbrecht, co-owner of Powder Hound in Girdwood, AK, to discuss Alaska’s banner El Niño season; the gear he enjoyed most; the gear Kara Williard brought to Girdwood; what’s changed at Alyeska Resort since joining the Ikon pass; the reliability of various AT & alpine bindings, and more.RELATED LINKS:Shop Talk: Powder Hound, Girdwood, AK (Ep.133)Shop Talk: Celebrating 10 Years of Powder Hound in Girdwood, AK (Ep.222)Trends, Favorite Gear, and Most / Least Durable Products, with Eric Helmbrecht of Powder Hound AK (Ep.41) Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+Blister Recommended ShopsTOPICS & TIMESAlaska’s Epic El Niño (3:07)Eric’s Favorite Gear (4:55)Kara’s Gear for AK (7:05)BOA Boots (10:57)Ski Tuning Upgrade (13:17)Ski Racing in AK (17:03)Alyeska on the Ikon Pass (20:03)Eric’s Trip Recommendations (25:19)Alpine Bindings (28:01)Binding Reliability & Longevity (30:56)Eric’s Preferences (40:53)AT Bindings & Trends (44:40)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasBlister PodcastOff The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ellsworth discuss some of the new skis they’ve been testing this springRELATED LINKS:Blister Rec Shop: Powder HoundGet Yourself Covered: BLISTER+TOPICS & TIMES:Intro & Updates (2:36)Blizzard Anomaly 88 (9:50)K2 Omen Team (20:00)Blizzard Anomaly 94 (23:32)Armada Declivity X 102 & Declivity X 108 (33:58)Moment Commander 102 (40:46)Line Pandora 99 & Pandora 106 (49:14)Black Crows Corvus (57:38)Rossignol Sender Free 118 (1:03:57)Crashes & Close Calls (1:10:07)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasBlister PodcastOff The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After years in the backcountry and a near-death experience, IFMGA Guide, Jeff Banks, wanted to build a tool that could simplify and improve the decision-making of any backcountry user. The result is Aspect Avy. Kara Williard sat down with Jeff to discuss how this app compares to and complements other backcountry tools; key features such as Adaptive Slop Shading and “No Go Zones”; how it accounts for human factors; different types of risk; the general state of tech in the backcountry; and more.RELATED LINKS:Download Aspect Avy for FREEBlister Rec Shop: Boulder OrthoticsGet Covered: BLISTER+VIDEOS: BLISTER YouTube ChannelInvest in Aspect AvyTOPICS & TIMES:Jeff’s Background: IFMGA & Nordic (3:10)Jeff’s Near-Death Experience (6:15)Intro to Aspect Avy (9:18)Adaptive Slope Shading (10:31)No-Go Zones, Coaching Tool, & Runout Zones (13:21)Human Factors (19:17)Adaptive Tools (23:20)Who’s It For? (30:32)Tech & Backcountry Skiing (46:26)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasBlister PodcastOff The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What’s in and what’s out in ski design? And how have U.S. ski companies been doing over the past few years? At Blister Summit 2024, we discussed this and much more with Moment Skis CEO, Luke Jacobson, and Icelantic Skis founder, Ben Anderson. We cover notable trends; why skis cost what they do; the challenges of manufacturing skis in the U.S.; whether a core-shot-proof ski is possible, and more.And, if you’d like to check out the video of this conversation, then head over to the BLISTER YouTube channel to watch this, plus other panel sessions from all of our Blister Summits, plus new brand lineup videos, etc.RELATED LINKS:Blister Rec Shop: Lone Pine Gear ExchangeGet Covered: BLISTER+VIDEOS: BLISTER YouTube ChannelTOPICS & TIMES:Introductions 3:21Manufacturing Challenges 8:08Ski Costs vs. Ski Prices 14:10Exciting New Ski Materials? 26:01Audience Questions 35:50CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasBlister PodcastOff The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Jonathan, Luke, Kara, Kristin, and JBobb were testing a bunch of skis, boots, snowboards, and apparel in Taos Ski Valley. But it was more than just a review trip, since it was also the first time back at TSV for several of us who previously spent many seasons there — which meant there were a lot of feelings.So in this conversation, we discuss a number of the carving-oriented and narrower all-mountain skis we were on this week; Luke’s food choices; the heated debate between Taos’ Chair 2 (West Basin) vs Chair 12 (Kachina Peak); and more. RELATED LINKS:Blister Recommended Shop: Powder Hound AKBLISTER+ Membership: Learn More & Sign UpVIDEOS: Blister YouTube ChannelTOPICS & TIMES:We’re Back! (5:45)The Great Debate: Taos’ Chair 2 vs. Chair 12 (11:27)Luke’s Green-Chile Cheeseburger (25:00)Morning Groomers & Carving Skis (30:53)Afternoon Steeps & All-Mountain Skis (44:31)Crashes & Close Calls: Jonathan’s Latest (1:05:54)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasBlister PodcastOff The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Luke Koppa and Kara Williard talk with Trygve Sande, one of the founders of Vertical Playground (VPG), which is our Blister Recommended Shop in Oppdal, Norway, to get a read on the past, present, and future of backcountry gear. We discuss current trends; all-time pivotal pieces of gear; the most durable products; the easiest ones to use; gear that helps break down the barriers to entry; skiing in Norway; and last but not least, Trygve’s involvement and collaboration with Hoji and 4FRNT’s new concept ski. RELATED LINKS:Vertical Playground GEAR:30 Ep.169: Vertical Playground, Oppdal Norway Get Covered: BLISTER+VIDEOS: Blister YouTube Channel TOPICS & TIMESVPG background (2:19)Current Backcountry Trends (5:20)All-Time Pivotal Gear (11:01)Frame & Tech Bindings (13:09)Most Durable Products? (20:46)Top Products: Ease of Use (24:31)Hoji Lock (25:31)Dynafit Ridge Binding (31:11)Performance-to-Weight Ratio (28:06)Best Gear for Norway (31:26)Backcountry Accessories (33:38)Backpacks (35:20)Backcountry Gear Demos (36:54)Hoji & the Raven & 4FRNT Concept Ski (41:00)Summer at VPG (47:19)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasBlister PodcastOff The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we’re discussing current helmet technology, head injuries, and best practices for skiers & snowboarders with Blister reviewer (and physician assistant), Sascha Anastas; Sr. Director of R&D at Giro, Steven Kennedy; the CMO of MIPS, Frederik Kjellberg; and pro skier, Drew Petersen.RELATED LINKS:Blister Recommended Shop: Boone Mtn SportsGet Covered: BLISTER+VIDEOS: Blister YouTube ChannelTOPICS & TIMES:MIPS Backstory & Purpose (4:28)Skull Fractures & Concussions (9:10)Helmet R&D & Various Testing Standards (14:50)Athlete Perspective on Helmet Testing (19:56)Advice for Buying Helmets (25:02)Different Versions of MIPS (28:06)Drew’s Take: Choosing Helmets (30:36)Replacing Helmets: When & Why? (32:00)Audience: Mental Side of Accidents (35:02)Audience: Concussions & Long-Term Effects (42:57)Audience: Helmet Replacement Cont. (44:28)Closing Thoughts (46:20)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasBlister PodcastOff The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jeremy Jones was in town last week, so in addition to getting out on snow together, Jonathan and he sat down in Blister HQ in Elevation Hotel to talk about gear reviews; the biggest gear mistakes riders make; full-camber vs. no-camber boards; soft vs. hard boots (including Shane McConkey’s tinkering on that front); and more.RELATED LINKS:Blister Recommended Shop: Willi’sGet Covered: BLISTER+Jeremy & Xavier Nidecker on Re-Up TechTOPICS & TIMES:Riding CBMR, CBMR Freeride Comp (3:35)Jonathan Boarding, Jeremy Getting on Skis (6:00)Gear Reviews / Gear Reviewing (11:56)Materials, Weight, & Stiffness (25:15)Full-Camber vs No-Camber Boards (33:17)Boards for Beginners (35:47)Soft vs Hard Boots (42:06)Product Design at Jones (53:34)ReUptech (55:38)Blister Cinematic (58:35)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasBlister PodcastOff The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How should you think about ski boot flex patterns, and which one is “right” for you? For the latest installment of our “Very Deep Dive on Bootfitting” series, Kara Williard talks with bootfitter and Pulse Boot Lab’s Revelstoke store manager, Bryn Vickers, to cover the complex and often misunderstood aspects of ski boot flex. We discuss how the ankle joint and an individual’s biomechanics are the most important pieces of the puzzle; what exactly boot “flex” even means when it comes to on-snow performance; the many variables that determine what flex pattern might work best for you; and we also talk about Pulse’s latest tech, including their new foam-injected aftermarket liner.RELATED LINKS:Blister Recommended Shop: Pulse Boot LabsBLISTER+ Membership: Sign Up  A Very Deep Dive on Bootfitting Series3D Printing & Bootfitting w/ Pulse Boot Lab (Ep.234)Stance Balancing with Pulse Boot Labs (Ep.217)TOPICS & TIMESAnkle Joint = #1 Priority (3:33)How the Body Moves (6.17)Custom Insoles (12:49)What is Boot Flex? (17:50)Walk Mode Vs. Fixed Cuff (22:49)Flex Ratings (26:27)Forward Lean & Calf Size (33:39)Height, Weight, & Strength (39:17)Options for Stiffening (42:26)Options for Softening (45:59)Final Thoughts on Boot Flex (48:49)Pulse’s Foam Injected Liner & Other Tech (52:51)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasBlister PodcastOff The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.