I mean it’s a bit all over the place. But it also feels very authentically you. It’s very difficult to unbox that much in a short

And personally I didn’t get the impression that you were trying to sell me the stuff you were unboxing at all, except for the very obvious links to here for the risers and mittens. But boots, camera, phone, goggles, lens inserts felt like stuff you were just getting to improve your experience on the mountain this upcoming season 

@superfelix Should I make it more clear that everything was free except for the camera and the phone? 

(Your mittens are curing now, package will ship today or tomorrow.)

The idea I wanted to express was the promise never to give out affiliate codes.  I felt it needed a caveat about Trenched Products but I got carried away.  But this is a theme I want to keep hitting throughout the season, so people know that I'm not pushing products for my own benefit but recommending products I like and products I use myself.

For example, Flow sends me some free gear but it's always commitment free.  I asked them for gear because that's what I want to ride.  I'm not pushing some random brands because I'm making money off an affiliate code.   Outdoor Master keeps sending me gear too, but I'll never wear it in a video.   Theoretically, this separates me from guys like Malcolm Moore and Jonathan Buck House, who wear Outdoor Master and hand out affiliate codes like candy and will ride whatever brands pay them the most. 

But I need the caveat because I do sell gear too, but only stuff I designed or helped develop.  So it's a delicate balance, trying to build credibility that I can then leverage to push my own brand...   This wasn't the original intention of this video, not sure if it works.

It’s alright, but you could make a (very) short intro explaining your position.

I’m definitely interested in those two boots!  Even if the Sun are a size larger, I wouldn’t mind just trying them on to test fitment.  The single dial is a bit of a red flag for me with my high instep & chicken legs.  

@wild-cherry Awesome! Looking forward to winter and snow! 

For me it was not clear that everything was free. I guess it was just clear that you bought the phone and camera and that you got the one pair of boots (that you helped design?) and googles. 

Personally I really appreciate people being super clear about what they’ve paid for, what they have gotten for free and what strings are attached, and what they have gotten money for making a video about. 

I don’t know if it’s a good idea to mix pushing reviews and opinions with trying to sell something.

If we look at YouTube I think ricketyskireviews is top tier in terms of announcing how he gets his skis and gear, he’s also called out other ski YouTubers about not being good about being transparent. He uses various stores affiliate programs so he gets a kickback on a sale, but he’s in a different situation reviewing and recommending so many skis. You have big snowboards and boots and boots should really be bought in a store ideally… and for the other gear your affiliation is quite clear  

Justaride Lars is really good at being transparent about his role as a stranda ambassador.

Malcom Moore is on the verge of being unacceptable when it comes to pushing stuff and being transparent in my opinion.

I have ZERO trust in Buckhouse because how he shills. But I have disregarded him as I would categorize him as a life style influencer rather than someone who has something useful to communicate 

I'll be more clear about what was free and my (lack of) affiliations.  Thanks @superfelix.

Any thoughts on the current written script?  Or the pacing of it?  Is it too fast to read?

I like the excited enthusiasm, it always feels like Christmas when new gear arrives.

What board doctor said. I like the enthusiasm! It’s always fun to unbox stuff. I probably would have liked a more long form video. For shorts I don’t expect much information. They’re ”garbage” views in that sense, done out of addiction rather than wanting to learn if that makes sense? But I guess you have to do short form because of the algorithm 

@wild-cherry   Quick disclaimer: I work in sales for a marketing company, so my brain automatically looks at this stuff from a “how does this land with the viewer?” angle. I’m not trying to sell anything here (hehe), and I even used ChatGPT to help me structure these thoughts for you, James.

From a general marketing perspective, your reel is already on a good track. A few tweaks could make it even stronger:

• The short verbal disclaimer at the start (like Lars does) is great. It makes the video feel more genuine and less like a straight product plug, and it fits the positive, relaxed vibe you already have (unless when you rant of course...lol)

• Give a bit more context on why you’re looking at new goggles and other gear. As a carver wanting the stiffest, most responsive interface, the boot angle makes sense, but your audience doesn’t necessarily know that story. A quick “here’s what I’ve been using and what I’m trying to improve” shows you’re solving a real problem, not just showcasing products.

• Try to define one clear outcome you want from this reel. For example:
  • get people to comment with questions about your setup
  • spark interest in a future, longer breakdown
  • or simply position your channel as a go-to place for carving-focused gear insights
  Having a single main goal helps you shape the script and the call to action.

• For each product you mention, frame it as a simple problem → solution:
  “Here’s what wasn’t working for my carving,” → “here’s what I’m hoping this new piece fixes,” → “here’s the specific benefit for carving.”
  That structure builds trust and avoids the “uh oh, another product pusher” reaction.

• Lars is a solid model: he’s very educational, gives lots of value, and keeps things fresh by mixing formats. You can borrow that approach by always tying gear back to clear carving benefits and occasionally changing how you present it (quick teaser reel, deeper breakdown, Q&A, etc.).

• Finally, think about the top 2–3 questions viewers are likely to have and answer them in the reel itself:
  • What were you using before?
  • What exactly are you trying to fix or improve?
  • Who is this setup best for (level/style/conditions)?
  Pre-answering those makes the video more valuable and saves you time replying to the same questions on forums and socials later.

All of this is just about making your intent super clear and keeping the focus on helping other riders. The more it feels like “here’s what I’m learning so it can help you,” the stronger your personal brand and your channel will grow over time.

Hope it helps!