Your Questions: Our Favorite Skis This Season; Big vs Small Brands; Quiver Overlap; & More

Your Questions: Our Favorite Skis This Season; Big vs Small Brands; Quiver Overlap; & More

Author: BLISTER May 23, 2025 Duration: 1:21:27

Today, you — our prestigious GEAR:30 listeners — provided the questions, and Jonathan Ellsworth and Luke Koppa are offering their answers.

Topics include our go-to backpacks for ski-touring; how a given brand’s size, location, and ethos factor into our own purchasing decisions; what skis to get if you’re spending a lot of time cruising slow-speed groomers; when and how to replace ski boot liners when they wear out; and we answer one of the most frequent questions we get: what were our favorite skis this season?

RELATED LINKS:

Skratch Labs: Fuel Up, Hydrate, & Recover 

Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+

TOPICS & TIMES:

Go-To Ski Touring Backpacks (7:32)

Supporting Indie Brands vs. Big Brands (21:07)

Ideal Skis for Slower Groomer Laps? (30:56)

Ski Boot Liner Longevity: When / How to Replace? (39:11)

ON3P Woodsman vs. Moment Countach (49:16)

Scarpa 4-Quattro Pro (53:48)

Quiver Overlap (101:54)

Our Favorite Skis This Season (1:09:58)

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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
Moment Skis 24/25 Lineup with Luke Jacobson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Jonathan talks with Moment Skis CEO, Luke Jacobson, about Moment’s latest skis; some former Moment skis; some other companies’ skis; Moment snowboards?; why Hoji is a traitor(!!); and more.RELATED LINKSGet Yourself Cover…
24/25 Ski Season & Big Moves w/ Spokane Alpine Haus [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:06
Kara Williard catches up with Drew and Rachel Harding of our Blister Recommended Shop, Spokane Alpine Haus, to hear all about the exciting recent developments at the shop; how this news runs counter to a lot of what you…
GEAR THERAPY: Elite Football Player Gets Back into Skiing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:31:17
When it comes to gear, we’ve all been there: loads of questions, crippling confusion, severe analysis paralysis. You need some help! So in this edition of GEAR THERAPY, BLISTER+ member, Pete Brantley, talks about getting…
ON3P Skis 24/25 Lineup with Scott Andrus [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:07
We talk to ON3P Skis founder, Scott Andrus, about the 24/25 ON3P lineup; building skis in Portland, Oregon; and we dive into the weeds about numerous aspects of ski design and ski manufacturing that you really won’t hear…
The Pro's Gear: Cody Townsend [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:43:21
We spend so much time reviewing the news these days on our Blister Podcast, we were officially overdue to have Cody Townsend back on GEAR:30 to talk about his current gear preferences and the specific gear he’s using mos…
A Very Deep Dive on Bootfitting, Pt.7: The Pedorthist’s Perspective [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:31
A Pedorthist is someone who is trained in the assessment of lower limb anatomy, biomechanics, and, of course – feet. Heather Van Glider is not only a Pedorthist, but also an experienced ski bootfitter, making her particu…
Venture Snowboards — and New Venture Skis — w/ Klem Branner [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:52
This week Venture Snowboards announced that they will also be making Venture skis. So Jonathan talked with Venture’s Klem Branner about why skis — and why skis now; what’s harder or easier about making skis vs snowboards…