Reviewer Reports: 'Closing Day + Luke's a Father!' Edition

Reviewer Reports: 'Closing Day + Luke's a Father!' Edition

Author: BLISTER April 10, 2026 Duration: 1:05:51

Luke’s a dad! Our patron saint of GEAR:30, Hoji, will be back at the Blister Summit! You can win custom skis at our Summit Dinner! Plus, you’ll hear lots of talk from Luke and Jonathan about the skis they tested to close out the year at CBMR! (So many exclamation points!!!)

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Please share with us the questions, topics, or stories you’d like us to cover on GEAR:30. You can email those to us here.

RELATED LINKS:

Join Us @ Blister Summit 2026

Win Custom Skis @ Summit Dinner

Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+

Enter Our Weekly Gear Giveaway

See Our Blister Recommended Shops

TOPICS & TIMES:

Blister Summit Dinner — Win Skis

Luke’s a Dad! (3:08)

Closing Day (5:38)

Blister Summit Snow & Forecast (9:45)

Hoji (12:16)

Win Folsom Custom Skis @ Summit Dinner (13:40)

Panel Sessions & Athlete Guests (16:46)

Armada ARV 106 Ti (22:57)

Kastle Sublime 93 (25:51)

Kastle at Summit (32:45)

Doberman Multi Pista (33:17)

Heritage Lab RC95 (36:48)

Line Poisson (40:13)

Moment Deathwish 112 (50:25)

Moment Wildcat 108 (54:14)

M-Free 108 (1st Gen) at Snowbird (56:26)

Most Surprising Ski of the Season? (59:22)

Skis We Want to Check Out @ the Summit (1:01:51)

CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:

Blister Cinematic

CRAFTED

Bikes & Big Ideas

Blister Podcast


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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: 100

GEAR:30
Podcast Episodes
The New Armada AR ONE Ski Boot: What Is It & Who's It For? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:32
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…
Reviewer Reports: Luke Koppa & Jonathan Ellsworth [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:04
Luke and Jonathan discuss some of the frontside skis they’ve recently been on; why choosing the right frontside ski requires as much consideration as any other type of ski; and they give an update on how they’ve been usi…
The Design & Development of the New DPS Carbon Pisteworks 79 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:50
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 desig…
Reviewer Reports + a Shop Talk First [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:00
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.RELAT…
Gear Quiz, Ski Recycling, & Circular Business w/ Powder7 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:49
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…
Powder Ski Comparisons: Old vs New vs What Should Be Next? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:40:01
The snow’s been falling here in Crested Butte, and we’re already fantasizing about those really deep days. So today, Jonathan Ellsworth and Paul Forward are discussing pow skis. They start by making the case for wide pow…