Introducing: Blister Labs

Introducing: Blister Labs

Author: BLISTER January 18, 2022 Duration: 52:30

Today we are excited to introduce you to a very big new initiative at Blister: Blister Labs. Blister Labs is a new partnership between Blister, the University of Colorado Boulder, and the brand-new, state-of-the-art engineering facility at Western Colorado University in Gunnison, Colorado. Joining me to talk about why we believe that Blister Labs represents a significant new development in the outdoor industry is Dr. Jeni Blacklock, who is the director of the Rady Partnership Program between CU Boulder and Western Colorado University.

TOPICS & TIMES:

  • What is Blister Labs? (2:17)
  • The Rady Engineering Facility at Western (6:21)
  • CU Boulder’s involvement (8:04)
  • New standards? (11:29)
  • Key faculty: Greg Vanderbeek & Sean Humbert (14:16)
  • Jeni’s current position & background (22:38)
  • Working at a bike shop and the NIST (31:37)
  • Some of Jeni’s recent work (41:05)
  • Blister Labs & the new “Outdoor Industry Engineering” program (43:23)

RELATED LINKS:


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: 398

GEAR:30
Podcast Episodes
Folsom Custom Skis: 22/23 Updates [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:34
Folsom builds custom skis in Denver, Colorado, and they have a LOT going on these days. So we discussed it all with their head ski builder / owner / CEO, Mike McCabe, including their 22/23 lineup; new shapes; new constru…
Blister Labs: Product Manufacturers vs. Researchers & Reviewers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:55
Can engineering actually help us discover real-world characteristics about products that will be meaningful to end users? Or, when we incorporate quantitative data, do we mostly run the risk of having that data leading p…
A Very Deep Dive on Bootfitting, Pt 1: The Basics [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:25:03
Few things in the world of ski gear are as complex, important, or misunderstood as bootfitting. So in this 1st episode of our new series on bootfitting, we dive into the basics with Sam Tischendorf, Masterfit University…
Blister Labs: MTB Wheelset Testing & Establishing Proof of Concept [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:58
Greg Vanderbeek is back with a Blister Labs update on our mountain-bike-wheels testing. We discuss why the dynamic modeling we’ve been doing in the field is a critical component for ongoing testing back at Western Colora…
Optics & the Eyewear Industry with Julbo CEO, Dave Crothers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:41
You do your research when it comes to your ski & bike & trail gear. But what about your eyewear? Julbo CEO, Dave Crothers, makes the case that there’s a whole lot more to lens technology that everyone ought to be conside…
Reviewing the Reviewer: Kara Williard [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:28
On the latest edition of our Reviewing the Reviewer series, our resident ski reviewer, bike tester, boot fitter, and sustainable farmer, Kara Williard, is in the hot seat. We cover everything from ski and bike gear prefe…
Our (Massive) Ski Binding Shootout + Wildlife Encounters [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:57
Luke Koppa, Kara Williard, and Jonathan Ellsworth talk about our upcoming test, where we’ll be mounting up more than 20 pairs of the same ski with more than 20 different alpine bindings in the attempt to find out what re…