BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles

Pivot Shuttle LT
The redesigned Pivot Shuttle LT is now the most adjustable bike in Pivot’s lineup — and it gets the new Race version of the excellent Gen 5 Bosch CX motor, and more. Our First Look has the details.

Flash Review: Pivot Shuttle LT
Pivot’s new Shuttle LT brings class-leading adjustability and Bosch’s CX-R Race motor to the fight for supremacy in the hotly contested full-power long-travel eMTB category. Check our first impressions.
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.)
From British Sleeping Bags to PFAS-Free Ski Jackets | Rab’s Origins & Latest Lineup
Rab got its start making high-end mountaineering sleeping bags, but they’ve evolved and expanded a lot since then. In this conversation from Blister Summit 2025, we talk with the folks at Rab about their push into ski and snowboard outerwear, the move away from PFAS chemicals in outdoor apparel, what we should expect from these new PFAS-free materials, and more.
Off the Clock: Drew Bledsoe on Skiing, Football, & Wine (Ep.392)
The Patriots are in the Super Bowl this Sunday, and so for the first episode of our new series, ‘Off the Clock,’ we’re talking with former New England Patriots quarterback, Drew Bledsoe. But football was not the first love of this former #1 pick in the NFL draft, skiing was. And today, you’ll hear just how much skiing has meant to Drew throughout his entire life.

Flash Review: Kavenz VHP G2
Update 2.2.2026: We’ve got a lot more time on the Kavenz VHP G2 now, and what we’re finding is pretty interesting.
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.)

Flash Review: 25/26 Liberty Scope 99
We’ve been spending time on some of Liberty’s latest lightweight freeride skis — here are our initial thoughts on the most versatile model in the collection, the Scope 99.
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.)
2025-2026 Liberty Scope 99
Liberty has expanded their Scope series by adding some new widths and shapes. Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the new Scope 99.
2025-2026 Line Optic 88
The Optic 88 pairs a metal-laminate construction with a shape and rocker profile reminiscent of much wider freeride skis. How well does that uncommon recipe work? Here’s our Full Review.
Deep Dive: Line Optic 88
We compare the Optic 88 to the Line Optic 96, J Skis Fastforward, Salomon QST 94, Line Blade, Blizzard Rustler 9, Black Crows Serpo, K2 Mindbender 89Ti, DPS Wailer 90, ON3P Woodsman 92, Head Kore 88 Ti, Salomon Stance Pro 90, Renown Endurance 88, & more.
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.)

Win K2 Skis!
Win any in-stock Reckoner ski from K2 and choose from playful park skis to skis designed to hit the biggest lines on the mountain, the Versatile Reckoner line has skis to suit many different styles.

Rewriting the Rules of Ski Boots? K2 Ski Boots’ Tom Pietrowski (Ep.380)
Why is the price of a ski boot typically related to how stiff it is? And what are boot manufacturers doing about the fact that many of the best skiers on the mountain also have the least amount of money in their bank accounts? And, did K2 just create the first ski boot that was truly designed for women, from the ground up?

Hope EVO Brakes
Hope is calling the new GR4 and TR4 an evolution of the Tech 4 series, but there are some big changes under the hood. We’ve been riding both and are ready with our take.
Burrito Grease, Gore-Tex, & Adult-Sized Kids’ Clothes | Flylow’s Story & Latest Outerwear
Flylow is an apparel brand with unusual origins, and an unusual approach to designing clothing for skiing, snowboarding, and other outdoor activities. Fortunately, their co-founder, Dan Abrams, is great at telling this story.

Best Bikes of the Century, Part 3 (Ep. 311)
Our search for the best bikes of the century concludes with Blister reviewers Zack Henderson, Xan Marshland, David Golay, and Simon Stewart revealing their top selections, with help from some bike industry legends like Wade Simmons.

Zero Gravity Beer: 20 Years of Independent, Craft Brewing in Vermont (Ep. 98)
We talk with Zero Gravity’s Christopher Costello about the keys to Zero Gravity Beers’ success; what has evolved and what’s stayed the same for them over these 20 years; the current state of New England brewing; and more.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:

Pivot Shuttle LT
The redesigned Pivot Shuttle LT is now the most adjustable bike in Pivot’s lineup — and it gets the new Race version of the excellent Gen 5 Bosch CX motor, and more. Our First Look has the details.

Flash Review: Pivot Shuttle LT
Pivot’s new Shuttle LT brings class-leading adjustability and Bosch’s CX-R Race motor to the fight for supremacy in the hotly contested full-power long-travel eMTB category. Check our first impressions.
From British Sleeping Bags to PFAS-Free Ski Jackets | Rab’s Origins & Latest Lineup
Rab got its start making high-end mountaineering sleeping bags, but they’ve evolved and expanded a lot since then. In this conversation from Blister Summit 2025, we talk with the folks at Rab about their push into ski and snowboard outerwear, the move away from PFAS chemicals in outdoor apparel, what we should expect from these new PFAS-free materials, and more.
Off the Clock: Drew Bledsoe on Skiing, Football, & Wine (Ep.392)
The Patriots are in the Super Bowl this Sunday, and so for the first episode of our new series, ‘Off the Clock,’ we’re talking with former New England Patriots quarterback, Drew Bledsoe. But football was not the first love of this former #1 pick in the NFL draft, skiing was. And today, you’ll hear just how much skiing has meant to Drew throughout his entire life.

Flash Review: Kavenz VHP G2
Update 2.2.2026: We’ve got a lot more time on the Kavenz VHP G2 now, and what we’re finding is pretty interesting.

Flash Review: 25/26 Liberty Scope 99
We’ve been spending time on some of Liberty’s latest lightweight freeride skis — here are our initial thoughts on the most versatile model in the collection, the Scope 99.
2025-2026 Liberty Scope 99
Liberty has expanded their Scope series by adding some new widths and shapes. Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the new Scope 99.
2025-2026 Line Optic 88
The Optic 88 pairs a metal-laminate construction with a shape and rocker profile reminiscent of much wider freeride skis. How well does that uncommon recipe work? Here’s our Full Review.
Deep Dive: Line Optic 88
We compare the Optic 88 to the Line Optic 96, J Skis Fastforward, Salomon QST 94, Line Blade, Blizzard Rustler 9, Black Crows Serpo, K2 Mindbender 89Ti, DPS Wailer 90, ON3P Woodsman 92, Head Kore 88 Ti, Salomon Stance Pro 90, Renown Endurance 88, & more.

Win K2 Skis!
Win any in-stock Reckoner ski from K2 and choose from playful park skis to skis designed to hit the biggest lines on the mountain, the Versatile Reckoner line has skis to suit many different styles.

Rewriting the Rules of Ski Boots? K2 Ski Boots’ Tom Pietrowski (Ep.380)
Why is the price of a ski boot typically related to how stiff it is? And what are boot manufacturers doing about the fact that many of the best skiers on the mountain also have the least amount of money in their bank accounts? And, did K2 just create the first ski boot that was truly designed for women, from the ground up?

Hope EVO Brakes
Hope is calling the new GR4 and TR4 an evolution of the Tech 4 series, but there are some big changes under the hood. We’ve been riding both and are ready with our take.


