Reviewer Reports: Testing at Palisades, Ski Touring Gear, Favorite Ski Socks & Midlayers

·1 hr 10 min·5 clips

Luke drove to Palisades Tahoe with a dozen skis to test during the Level 1 Super Unknown event.

This episode of Gear:30 features a Reviewer Reports segment with hosts Luke Kappa, Kristen Sinnott, and Jonathan Ellsworth. Luke begins by describing his recent trip to Palisades Tahoe for spring skiing, where he brought a dozen skis to test. He highlights first impressions of the mountain, including skiing KT-22, visiting the Wildflower Bakery, and watching the Level 1 Super Unknown competition. Luke discusses specific skis he tested, such as the Völkl Revolt 101 and ON3P Jeffrey 100 and Mango 100. Jonathan then shares his experiences with touring gear, praising the Solomon QST Echo 106 and MTN 96 skis, along with the Solomon MTN binding and Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD boots. Kristen talks about her trip to Costa Rica and Moab, mentioning gear for biking and skiing. The conversation shifts to ski socks, with each host revealing their most-used brands: Jonathan prefers Minus 33, Kristen likes LaBent and FITS, and Luke mentions FITS and Bridgedale. They review midlayers, focusing on the Patagonia Nano Air Ultralight and its Free Ride version, discussing fit, warmth, and versatility. The episode concludes with a lighthearted exchange about ice cream and future podcast topics. Throughout, the hosts provide detailed insights based on personal testing, covering a range of outdoor gear from skis to apparel.

As heard by us

A Palisades test day turns into a practical look at playful resort skis and lightweight tech bindings.

Gear 30 follows Luke Kappa after a recent drive to Palisades Tahoe with a dozen skis in the car, turning a gear haul into a grounded discussion of how equipment actually feels.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

Press play when you want a Palisades test day with ski-gear detail and a little ice-cream diplomacy.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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