Kara Williard
This season the women's QST Stella 106 got the same update seen previously on the unisex version, and the results have been similarly impressive. Check out our full review & Deep Dive comparisons to see where it slots into the women's all-mountain category.
Deep Dive: Salomon QST Stella 106
We compare the QST Stella 106 to the Armada ARW 106 UL, Blizzard Sheeva 10, Blizzard Sheeva 11, Faction Dancer 3X, Fischer Ranger 102, K2 Mindbender 106C, Line Blade Optic 104, Majesty Vadera Ti, Nordica Santa Ana 104 Free, ZAG Slap 104, Head Kore 103 W, & Volkl Secret 102.
Flash Review: 22/23 Fischer Ranger 90
Here are a couple of our reviewers' initial impressions of Fischer's brand-new all-mountain ski, the Ranger 90.
2022-2023 Majesty Vadera Ti
After some time this season and last, we have quite a bit to say about Majesty’s women-specific, metal-laminate freeride ski, the Vadera Ti — check out our Full Review and Deep Dive comparisons for the rundown.
Deep Dive: Majesty Vadera Ti
We compare the Majesty Vadera Ti to the Armada ARW 106 UL, Blizzard Sheeva 11, Faction Dancer 3X, Fischer Ranger 102, K2 Mindbender 106C, K2 Mindbender 115C, Line Blade Optic 104, Nordica Santa Ana 104 Free, Majesty Vadera Carbon, Salomon QST Stella 106, & Wagner Summit 106.
Flash Review: 22/23 Fischer Ranger 115 GW DYN
Here are our initial impressions of the stiffest women-specific boot in Fischer's 50/50 boot series, the Ranger 115.
2022-2023 Faction Dancer 2X
The Faction Dancer 2X isn't your traditional dual-metal-laminate all-mountain ski, and for certain folks, that's going to make it very appealing. Check out the Full Review for more info.
Reflections, Photos, & Trip Report from Skiing Antarctica
In our latest installment of our Open Mic series, Blister reviewer, Kara Williard, reflects on her recent ski trip to Antarctica, including travel logistics, a bit of history, and lessons learned.
Midlayer Roundup 2022
If you're in the market for a new midlayer, be sure to check out this roundup — our reviewers compare and contrast 19 different men's & women's insulators, ranging from ultra-breathable fleeces to a variety of puffies and softshells. We've just updated it with 7 new additions from Patagonia, Outdoor Research, Strafe, Le Bent, & Artilect.
2022-2023 Nordica Santa Ana Unlimited 93
Nordica’s Santa Ana series has gained a lot of fans over the years, and with the Santa Ana Unlimited 93, Nordica has done a good job maintaining some of the most notable qualities of the Santa Ana series while cutting out a whole lot of weight for a more uphill-friendly ski. Check out our full review for more.
Blister’s Holiday Gift Guide 2022 — Under the Tree
Next up in our 2022 Gift Guide series are the items that our reviewers think will make an awesome addition beneath the tree this holiday season — check out their picks, which include something for just about anyone.
Blister’s Holiday Gift Guide 2022 — Stocking Stuffers
Struggling to find the perfect gift for someone in your life? Our reviewers are here to help — check out some of their top stocking stuffer ideas for this year, with several new suggestions here in Part Two.
Shop Talk: Willi’s Ski & Board on Ski Shops as Conduits and Founding Winter Divas (Ep.224)
Kristin Sinnott and Kara Williard caught up with Kjerstin Klein, co-owner of Willi’s Ski and Board, to talk about Kjerstin’s amazingly diverse background; what it means to stay innovative and adaptable as a local, family-run business; the vital role that local ski shops play in the ski industry; why Kjerstin founded the Winter Divas women’s focus group to help guide the industry, and more.
Blizzard-Tecnica’s Women2Women Program with Leslie Baker-Brown (Ep.223)
Kristin Sinnott and Kara Williard talk with Blizzard-Tecnica’s Women2Women program founder and ski legend, Leslie Baker-Brown, about her background in ski racing; her 32 years of work for Blizzard-Tecnica; their design process for women’s gear (including designing the #1 selling ski in the world); what gives her hope and inspiration for the future; and where we can still work to improve the industry.
Shop Talk: Celebrating 10 Years of Powder Hound in Girdwood, AK (Ep.222)
Our Blister Recommended Shop, Powder Hound, is celebrating its 10-year anniversary, so we caught up with one of the owners, Eric Helmbrecht, to go over some of the major trends, takeaways, and reflections he has after a decade of running a local, year-round shop in Girdwood, AK.
Bootfitting 101: Aftermarket Liners & Power Straps
In this next installment of our Bootiftting 101 series, we build on the many steps to achieving a great fitting pair of ski boots by exploring some of the aftermarket liners and other upgrades you can invest in to potentially further improve your setup.
A Very Deep Dive on Bootfitting, Pt. 4: Big-Mountain Freeride Bootfitting with Fasa (Ep.221)
For the fourth installment of our Very Deep Dive on Bootfitting, we talked with Fasa, who not only works at the Moment Ski Factory, but also happens to run one of the best bootfitting shops in the Reno area. Fasa runs us through what a “big-mountain freeride” approach to bootfitting looks like; how his background in running informs his understanding of feet and biomechanics; some weirdness about what athletes can tolerate, and much more.
Moment Factory Store
The Moment Factory Store is much more than just a ski factory. They offer a curated selection of hardgoods, in addition to a robust array of ski and bootfitting services, and an impressive demo program. Find out more about this unique shop in our summary.
Bootfitting 101: Selection, Fine Tuning, & Customization
In this edition of our Bootfitting 101 series, we discuss some of the factors to consider and approaches to take when figuring out which ski boot is best for you, and then cover some of the common methods bootfitters will use to take that boot's fit from "good" to "great."
Stuff We Like: October 2022
The October edition of our "Stuff We Like" series offers an assortment of items, from packable chairs to cozy yet breathable midlayers, casual pants, headlamps, bike bibs, and more. Check it out to see the latest gear our reviewers have been digging.