Nick Goepper’s Starter Pack: Winter Olympics 2026

Pit Viper’s Magic Magnet system makes changing lenses easy, even when wearing gloves. Goepper only offers two: a blackout lens for daytime sessions and a clear lens for nighttime. With an ultra-wide field of view, the BN5000 delivers sharper spatial awareness at full throttle, and the bold flames on the grippy strap don’t hurt either. “They make you go faster,” he jokes, “and they keep your head nice and warm on cold days.”

Its Bluetooth speaker

“I have music 24/7,” he says, holding up his Sony SRS-XB100. It’s compact enough to hang on a backpack but powerful enough to cut through wind and open spaces, with deep bass that does justice to Goepper’s eclectic spin. On any given day, that could mean Juicy J’s “Moonwalking,” Sum 41’s “Underclass Hero” or Kreator’s “Satanic Anarchy.”

“Nowadays it’s a combination of metal, hip-hop and the occasional country song,” he says. The speaker is IP67 rated against dust and water and lasts up to 16 hours on a charge. It’s long enough to survive long days of training and travel. (For more, check out our guide to the best Bluetooth speakers.)

An inexpensive foam roller

Amazon Basics

High density foam roller

Goepper travels with a 12-inch foam roller to relieve sore legs and tight back muscles. It is compact, inexpensive and durable. Plus, it cleans easily, an underrated feature when you’re hopping between hotels and locker rooms. “Bonus tip,” adds Goepper, “It’s a great pillow if you ever get stuck in an airport.”

The playlist

Courage calls: fortune favors the brave

“When I travel, I have a lot of time to wait and I really like to read,” says Goepper. At the moment it is Courage callsRyan Holiday’s stoic meditation on fear, courage and heroism. Drawing on figures like Florence Nightingale, Charles de Gaulle, and Martin Luther King Jr., the book presents courage as an everyday practice rather than a personality trait. For an athlete who walked away, came back stronger, and learned to compete on his own terms, he’s an ideal companion.

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