Kara Williard, Author at BLISTER

Blizzard-Tecnica’s Women2Women Program with Leslie Baker-Brown (Ep.223)

November 21, 2022November 18, 2022 by Kara Williard

Kristin Sinnott and Kara Williard talk with Blizzard-Tecnica’s Women2Women program founder and ski legend, Leslie Baker-Brown, about her background in ski racing; her 32 years of work for Blizzard-Tecnica; their design process for women’s gear (including designing the #1 selling ski in the world); what gives her hope and inspiration for the future; and where we can still work to improve the industry.

Shop Talk: Celebrating 10 Years of Powder Hound in Girdwood, AK (Ep.222)

November 11, 2022 by Kara Williard

Our Blister Recommended Shop, Powder Hound, is celebrating its 10-year anniversary, so we caught up with one of the owners, Eric Helmbrecht, to go over some of the major trends, takeaways, and reflections he has after a decade of running a local, year-round shop in Girdwood, AK.

BLISTER Bootfitting 101: Aftermarket Upgrades

Bootfitting 101: Aftermarket Liners & Power Straps

November 4, 2022 by Kara Williard

In this next installment of our Bootiftting 101 series, we build on the many steps to achieving a great fitting pair of ski boots by exploring some of the aftermarket liners and other upgrades you can invest in to potentially further improve your setup.

A Very Deep Dive on Bootfitting, Pt. 4: Big-Mountain Freeride Bootfitting with Fasa (Ep.221)

June 21, 2023November 4, 2022 by Kara Williard

For the fourth installment of our Very Deep Dive on Bootfitting, we talked with Fasa, who not only works at the Moment Ski Factory, but also happens to run one of the best bootfitting shops in the Reno area. Fasa runs us through what a “big-mountain freeride” approach to bootfitting looks like; how his background in running informs his understanding of feet and biomechanics; some weirdness about what athletes can tolerate, and much more.

Moment Factory Store

September 18, 2023October 31, 2022 by Kara Williard

The Moment Factory Store is much more than just a ski factory. They offer a curated selection of hardgoods, in addition to a robust array of ski and bootfitting services, and an impressive demo program. Find out more about this unique shop in our summary.

Bootfitting 101: Selection, Fine Tuning, & Customization

October 25, 2022October 25, 2022 by Kara Williard

In this edition of our Bootfitting 101 series, we discuss some of the factors to consider and approaches to take when figuring out which ski boot is best for you, and then cover some of the common methods bootfitters will use to take that boot's fit from "good" to "great."

Luke Koppa reviews the Artilect Jacket for BLISTER.

Stuff We Like: October 2022

October 24, 2022October 24, 2022 by Kara Williard

The October edition of our "Stuff We Like" series offers an assortment of items, from packable chairs to cozy yet breathable midlayers, casual pants, headlamps, bike bibs, and more. Check it out to see the latest gear our reviewers have been digging.

Deep Dive: Salomon Ski Boots Brand Lineup, 22/23

October 21, 2022October 20, 2022 by Kara Williard

Our Deep Dive series on ski boot lines is back for the 22/23 season, starting with Salomon's expansive collection, including their brand-new S/Pro Alpha and MTN Summit series. We discuss all notable specs, features, most similar boots from other brands, and more. Become a Deep Dive subscriber or Blister Member to check it out.

Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions

To get our comprehensive Deep Dives and our initial, unfiltered reports on new gear, become a member and receive many other services, deals, and discounts.

If you’re already an active member, please log in.

(If you're already logged in and a member in good standing and seeing this message in error, please refresh this page in your browser.)

Pulse Custom Boot Lab is a Recommended Ski Shop for BLISTER.

Pulse Boot Lab

May 10, 2024October 6, 2022 by Kara Williard

With all the bootfitting techniques Pulse has developed, their goal of getting you to love your ski boots is no exaggeration. It's why they have the reputation of some of the most skilled bootfitters in the industry. Find out more about their innovations in our summary below.

Kara Williard reviews the Ride Concepts Wildcat for BLISTER.

Ride Concepts Wildcat Shoe

September 28, 2022September 27, 2022 by Kara Williard

The Ride Concepts Wildcat is a protective mid-top flat pedal shoe that’s more versatile than its burly looks would suggest.

A Very Deep Dive on Bootfitting, Pt 2: Your Questions Answered by Master Bootfitters, Sam and Kara (Ep.214)

September 16, 2022 by Kara Williard

Kara and Sam dive even further into some of the mysteries and complexities of bootfitting while responding to several really interesting and important questions from the audience. We bet that you’ve had some of these questions yourself, so here are some in-depth answers to consider before spending time in your ski boots this winter.