A New Approach to Apparel: Raide Founder on Unconventional Shells, Zip-Off Baselayers, & ‘Staying Slippery’

A New Approach to Apparel: Raide Founder on Unconventional Shells, Zip-Off Baselayers, & ‘Staying Slippery’

Author: BLISTER December 12, 2025 Duration: 1:03:46
The skis, ski boots, and bindings made for human-powered ski-touring are very different from the ones built for the resort. But what about the clothes? Raide has been rethinking what apparel for the skintrack vs. the resort should look like, and their new collection is quite the ambitious debut. Luke Koppa discusses it all with Raide founder, Kyle Siegel. RELATED LINKS: Carv Digital Ski Coach System Enter Our Weekly Gear Giveaways Our Blister Recommended Shops Join Us At Blister Summit 2026 For BLISTER+ Members: Discounted Blister Summit Registration Get Yourself Covered with BLISTER+ CHECK OUT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNELS: Blister Studios (our new channel) Blister Review (our original channel) TOPICS & TIMES: Carv & This Week’s Giveaway (3:03) Raide State of the Union (6:15) Raide’s First Apparel (12:22) New TourTech System (13:13) Hybrid Bibs (16:15) Raide’s New Waterproof/Breathable Fabrics (29:13) DWR Coatings (32:51) Testing & Impacts of Washing (36:36) Bib & Shell Featureset (39:26) Zip-Off Baselayer (44:52) Hybrid Hoody (51:36) Kyle’s Favorite Non-Raide Products (56:57) Future Raide Products? (1:01:02) CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Blister Cinematic CRAFTED Bikes & Big Ideas Blister Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For anyone who has ever stood in a shop debating the merits of a new jacket or stared at a trail map while thinking about their skis, GEAR:30 is that conversation. This BLISTER podcast goes far beyond basic specs and marketing claims, offering a nuanced, often technical look at the equipment that defines our time outside. The discussion is driven by the people who live with these products: our own reviewers who are putting gear through its paces in real conditions, the designers who obsess over materials and intent, and the athletes whose livelihoods depend on performance. We also check in with the seasoned folks from our network of recommended shops, who see what works and what doesn’t after a season of hard use. Episodes dig into specific items, broader trends in innovation, and the sometimes-surprising realities of long-term testing. It’s a deep, authentic resource for anyone who appreciates the intersection of sports, design, and technology, and who believes the right tool can transform an experience. Tune in for honest, detailed talk that treats outdoor gear with the seriousness and curiosity it deserves.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

GEAR:30
Podcast Episodes
Ski Testing, Ski Technique, & Data Analytics with Carv [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:54
What can you learn when you analyze hundreds of thousands of ski turns? What does it tell you about ski technique? And what can be learned about the gear you use to make those turns — and the gear we test and evaluate? L…
Gear Gossip w/ Moment Skis’ Luke Jacobson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:37:16
Today we spill some tea, break some news, fire off a few rants, and we walk through Moment’s 25/26 lineup, including what Moment CEO, Luke Jacobson, believes to be the most significant changes to the line. Note: We Want…
The Science of Staying Warm: Innovations in Insulation w/ PrimaLoft [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:26
If you’ve worn a puffy jacket in the past 30+ years, there’s a good chance it used PrimaLoft insulation. And they’ve just announced their warmest insulation to date. So today, we get all the details on PrimaLoft UltraPea…
Best Skis of the Century, Part 5 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:33:10
What are the Top 10 skis of the century? Top 3? #1 Ski? Today, Blister reviewers Dylan Wood, Luke Koppa, and Jonathan Ellsworth reveal their selections, and we also share some of the picks and insights from a number of p…
Best Skis of the Century, Part 4 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:02
What are the Top 10 skis of the century? Top 3? #1 Ski? Today, Blister reviewer, Paul Forward, reveals his very personal picks, plus we share a story from the Blister archives that involves New Zealand farmers and helico…
Blizzard-Tecnica: 10 Years of Designing Women-Specific Skis & Boots [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:49
Do “women-specific” skis need to exist? What about ski boots? In our conversation today, Leslie Baker-Brown shares her thoughts after leading Blizzard-Tecnica’s Women2Women program for the past 10 years. Few people have…
Best Skis of the Century from Each Brand, Part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:25:55
In Part 2 of our series on the Best Skis of the Century, Luke Koppa and Sascha Anastas join Jonathan Ellsworth to dive into the best skis from 23 more brands, and we also discuss some of the best and most notable women-s…