BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Win Hats from Passage
The two winners of our Gear Giveaway this week will get any hat from Passage Hat Co!
Esker Woodsy
We put a ton of miles on Esker’s Aluminum Woodsy to find out how it lives up to Esker’s claim of being “Built for the Backcountry”.
Deep Dive: Esker Woodsy
We compare the Esker Woodsy to the Santa Cruz Bronson 5, Spot Mayhem 140, Rocky Mountain Instinct, and Salsa Blackthorn 145.
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.
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Stuff We Like: October 2025
In this edition of ‘Stuff We Like,’ our reviewers discuss a wide variety of products that have stood out to them, from budget sunglasses to electric air pumps, gear-organization solutions, boot / glove dryers, running vests, breathable midlayers, and more.
‘Shredder’ w/ Jonathan Ellsworth & Justin Bobb (Ep.56)
In honor of Halloween, we are talking about Shredder. And this is one of the most important conversations we’ve ever had here at Blister, because we aren’t sure that anybody’s actually seen this film, and we are on a mission to change that.
Understanding Alaska & John McPhee’s ‘Coming into the Country’ w/ Paul Forward, Blister Book Club (Ep.380)
Alaska is very much in the news these days, and understanding more about it and the Arctic has never been more important. That’s why Paul and Jonathan are discussing John McPhee’s book, Coming Into the Country, since it’s arguably the best book ever written about Alaska.
SRAM Eagle 90 Transmission
SRAM’s T-Type groups have been extremely popular, but until recently were limited to expensive electronically-shifted versions. Is the new Eagle 90 mechanical version a worthy option? Here’s our take.
Best Skis of the Century from Each Brand, Part 3: Listener & Industry Selections (Ep.366)
In Part 3 of our series, Luke and Jonathan discuss some of the great answers from our BLISTER+ members and Digital Access Pass subscribers, as well as the selections from various ski designers, pro skiers, and folks from a few of our Blister Recommended Shops.
Flash Review: Öhlins TTX2 Air m.2
Öhlins has given their TTX Air shocks an overhaul, and here’s our early take on the updated TTX2 Air m.2.
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.)
Öhlins TTX Air m.2 Shocks
Öhlins has made a range of updates to their lineup this year, and we’ve started spending time on the new TTX2 Air m.2 shock. Check out what’s new, what isn’t, and get our early take on how the new TTX2 Air performs.
Debatable: Should Rampage Be Shut Down?
Like many of you, we have been thinking about and talking a lot about Red Bull Rampage over the past week. And given the number of athlete injuries — and the seriousness of some of those injuries — that occurred during practice sessions and during the competition, we ought to ask: has Rampage gone too far? Should it be shut down? Or modified? Or are injuries just a necessary part of what it takes to put on one of the most spectacular and truly mind-blowing sports events in the world?
Win Outerwear from Obermeyer
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get the A.M.F. Jacket & Pant or the Skyward Jacket & Pant from Obermeyer!
Madrone Cycles on the Jab Derailleur & Going Head to Head w/ SRAM and Shimano (Ep.297)
Developing a high-end MTB derailleur is hard, and SRAM and Shimano have vast resources (not to mention decades of experience) to draw on. So why is a small Oregon-based brand throwing its hat into the ring?
‘LISTERS: A Glimpse Into Extreme Birdwatching’ w/ Luke Koppa, Jonathan Ellsworth, & Eli Brown (Ep.55)
‘LISTERS: A Glimpse Into Extreme Birdwatching’ is the hilarious — and surprisingly heartfelt — documentary you didn’t know you needed in your life. But you do. And today, Luke, Eli, and I make an impassioned case for why you do.
Trickstuff Maxima Brakes
Trickstuff’s brakes have long been the stuff of legend — and legendarily hard to come by, even if you’re willing to throw down their steep asking price. But now they’re becoming more widely distributed and more readily available under DT Swiss’ ownership, and we’ve put a massive amount of vert on their flagship Maxima gravity brake to see how it stacks up.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Win Hats from Passage
The two winners of our Gear Giveaway this week will get any hat from Passage Hat Co!
Esker Woodsy
We put a ton of miles on Esker’s Aluminum Woodsy to find out how it lives up to Esker’s claim of being “Built for the Backcountry”.
Deep Dive: Esker Woodsy
We compare the Esker Woodsy to the Santa Cruz Bronson 5, Spot Mayhem 140, Rocky Mountain Instinct, and Salsa Blackthorn 145.
Stuff We Like: October 2025
In this edition of ‘Stuff We Like,’ our reviewers discuss a wide variety of products that have stood out to them, from budget sunglasses to electric air pumps, gear-organization solutions, boot / glove dryers, running vests, breathable midlayers, and more.
‘Shredder’ w/ Jonathan Ellsworth & Justin Bobb (Ep.56)
In honor of Halloween, we are talking about Shredder. And this is one of the most important conversations we’ve ever had here at Blister, because we aren’t sure that anybody’s actually seen this film, and we are on a mission to change that.
Understanding Alaska & John McPhee’s ‘Coming into the Country’ w/ Paul Forward, Blister Book Club (Ep.380)
Alaska is very much in the news these days, and understanding more about it and the Arctic has never been more important. That’s why Paul and Jonathan are discussing John McPhee’s book, Coming Into the Country, since it’s arguably the best book ever written about Alaska.
SRAM Eagle 90 Transmission
SRAM’s T-Type groups have been extremely popular, but until recently were limited to expensive electronically-shifted versions. Is the new Eagle 90 mechanical version a worthy option? Here’s our take.
Best Skis of the Century from Each Brand, Part 3: Listener & Industry Selections (Ep.366)
In Part 3 of our series, Luke and Jonathan discuss some of the great answers from our BLISTER+ members and Digital Access Pass subscribers, as well as the selections from various ski designers, pro skiers, and folks from a few of our Blister Recommended Shops.
Flash Review: Öhlins TTX2 Air m.2
Öhlins has given their TTX Air shocks an overhaul, and here’s our early take on the updated TTX2 Air m.2.
Öhlins TTX Air m.2 Shocks
Öhlins has made a range of updates to their lineup this year, and we’ve started spending time on the new TTX2 Air m.2 shock. Check out what’s new, what isn’t, and get our early take on how the new TTX2 Air performs.
Debatable: Should Rampage Be Shut Down?
Like many of you, we have been thinking about and talking a lot about Red Bull Rampage over the past week. And given the number of athlete injuries — and the seriousness of some of those injuries — that occurred during practice sessions and during the competition, we ought to ask: has Rampage gone too far? Should it be shut down? Or modified? Or are injuries just a necessary part of what it takes to put on one of the most spectacular and truly mind-blowing sports events in the world?
Win Outerwear from Obermeyer
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get the A.M.F. Jacket & Pant or the Skyward Jacket & Pant from Obermeyer!