BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles

2025-2026 Jones Howler
The Jones Howler is an aggressive board for steep, technical terrain and big backcountry hits, but it’s appeal goes beyond all-out charging. Check out our Full Review for more.

The Whiskey that Set a Land Speed Record: Montgomery Distilling (Ep.89)
Today, Eli talks with owner and land speed record holder, Ryan Montgomery, of Montgomery Distilling to discuss the similarities between aquavit and gin; the labor of love known as kirschwasser; and the world’s first bourbon-based amaro.

Deep Dive: Chromag Reazon
We compare the Chromag Reazon to the Chromag Darco, Chromag Lowdown, Forbidden Druid V2, Knolly Fugitive 140, Propain Hugene 3, Trek Fuel EX Gen 7, Kona Process 153, Reeb Steezl, Transition Sentinel, and Starling Murmur.
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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Chromag Reazon
Instead of drooling over aerospace-grade carbon, why can’t we get stoked on bicycle-grade steel? The Chromag Reazon makes one of the most compelling cases for bringing steel into high-end Trail bikes we’ve seen to date.

‘Farming Turns’ w/ Chris Rubens & Jonathan Ellsworth (Ep.59)
Chris Rubens is a professional skier and a professional farmer. His excellent 25-minute film, ‘Farming Turns,’ will be available on YouTube on Wednesday, and Jonathan talks to Chris about it all — including a great cameo performance from Chris’ longtime friend, Hoji.

10 Quick Things: ‘Movie Premieres, Robots, & Snowboards’ Edition (Ep.383)
Jonathan shares some highlights and updates from the whirlwind of a trip he’s currently on.

MRP Lift V2 Fork Damper
We’re used to rear shock dampers coming tuned for a given bike and rider, but it’s much less common in forks. MRP thinks that should change, and their Lift V2 fork damper upgrade is offered in five rider-weight-specific tunes, on top of some other interesting features. Check it all out here, including our early on-trail impressions.

Flash Review: MRP Lift V2 Fork Damper
The MRP Lift V2 fork damper promises increased composure over stock options and comes in a range of rider-weight-specific tunes, but how does it perform? Here’s our early take.
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.)

Best Skis of the Century, Part 5 (Ep.369)
What are the Top 10 skis of the century? Top 3? #1 Ski? Today, Blister reviewers Dylan Wood, Luke Koppa, and Jonathan Ellsworth reveal their selections, and we also share some of the picks and insights from a number of pro skiers and ski industry professionals.
Win Outerwear From Beringia
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get a men’s or women’s St. Elias Jacket and Bibs from Beringia!

Fox 34 SL
Can a super lightweight fork still perform in more serious terrain? Fox has pulled out the stops to make their new 34 SL do just that, and the result is quite impressive — but there’s plenty of nuance to that story, too. Check out our Full Review after a few months riding the Fox 34 SL.

Reviewer Reports: Bikes Big & Small, Wet-Weather Gear, & More (Ep.300)
David and Zack give the rundown on a whole bunch of the latest gear they’ve been testing, including the high-pivot, gearbox-equipped Priority Vanth, some excellent new wet-weather gear, and more.

Atherton A.150.M
There’s a new mixed-wheel version of Atherton’s 150mm-travel All-Mountain bike — the A.150.M. But it’s far from just being the existing A.150 with a smaller rear wheel.

HiFi Audio, Aesthetics, & Design w/ Heaven 11’s Itai Azerad (Ep. 88)
How do you reconnect with music? Simon talks with Itai Azerad of Heaven 11 about bringing back the ritual of listening to music, their new Billie Amp MK3, and why its design and aesthetics offer a unique approach to HiFi.

HEL Advocate Brakes
HEL has a lot of experience making brakes and other hydraulic systems in the motorsports world, but they’re new to the bike industry. So, what new features do their Advocate brakes bring to the market, how do they actually perform, and what are they like to live with? Here’s what we’ve found out.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:

2025-2026 Jones Howler
The Jones Howler is an aggressive board for steep, technical terrain and big backcountry hits, but it’s appeal goes beyond all-out charging. Check out our Full Review for more.

The Whiskey that Set a Land Speed Record: Montgomery Distilling (Ep.89)
Today, Eli talks with owner and land speed record holder, Ryan Montgomery, of Montgomery Distilling to discuss the similarities between aquavit and gin; the labor of love known as kirschwasser; and the world’s first bourbon-based amaro.

Deep Dive: Chromag Reazon
We compare the Chromag Reazon to the Chromag Darco, Chromag Lowdown, Forbidden Druid V2, Knolly Fugitive 140, Propain Hugene 3, Trek Fuel EX Gen 7, Kona Process 153, Reeb Steezl, Transition Sentinel, and Starling Murmur.

Chromag Reazon
Instead of drooling over aerospace-grade carbon, why can’t we get stoked on bicycle-grade steel? The Chromag Reazon makes one of the most compelling cases for bringing steel into high-end Trail bikes we’ve seen to date.

‘Farming Turns’ w/ Chris Rubens & Jonathan Ellsworth (Ep.59)
Chris Rubens is a professional skier and a professional farmer. His excellent 25-minute film, ‘Farming Turns,’ will be available on YouTube on Wednesday, and Jonathan talks to Chris about it all — including a great cameo performance from Chris’ longtime friend, Hoji.

10 Quick Things: ‘Movie Premieres, Robots, & Snowboards’ Edition (Ep.383)
Jonathan shares some highlights and updates from the whirlwind of a trip he’s currently on.

MRP Lift V2 Fork Damper
We’re used to rear shock dampers coming tuned for a given bike and rider, but it’s much less common in forks. MRP thinks that should change, and their Lift V2 fork damper upgrade is offered in five rider-weight-specific tunes, on top of some other interesting features. Check it all out here, including our early on-trail impressions.

Flash Review: MRP Lift V2 Fork Damper
The MRP Lift V2 fork damper promises increased composure over stock options and comes in a range of rider-weight-specific tunes, but how does it perform? Here’s our early take.

Best Skis of the Century, Part 5 (Ep.369)
What are the Top 10 skis of the century? Top 3? #1 Ski? Today, Blister reviewers Dylan Wood, Luke Koppa, and Jonathan Ellsworth reveal their selections, and we also share some of the picks and insights from a number of pro skiers and ski industry professionals.
Win Outerwear From Beringia
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get a men’s or women’s St. Elias Jacket and Bibs from Beringia!

Fox 34 SL
Can a super lightweight fork still perform in more serious terrain? Fox has pulled out the stops to make their new 34 SL do just that, and the result is quite impressive — but there’s plenty of nuance to that story, too. Check out our Full Review after a few months riding the Fox 34 SL.

Reviewer Reports: Bikes Big & Small, Wet-Weather Gear, & More (Ep.300)
David and Zack give the rundown on a whole bunch of the latest gear they’ve been testing, including the high-pivot, gearbox-equipped Priority Vanth, some excellent new wet-weather gear, and more.


