Blister Reviewer BadgeKara Williard

Kara Williard reviews the Salomon QST Stella 106 for Blister

2022-2023 Salomon QST Stella 106

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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.
Kara Williard reviews the Salomon QST Stella 106 for Blister

Deep Dive: Salomon QST Stella 106

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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.

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Flash Review: 22/23 Fischer Ranger 90

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Here are a couple of our reviewers' initial impressions of Fischer's brand-new all-mountain ski, the Ranger 90.

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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2022-2023 Majesty Vadera Ti

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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

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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.

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.)

Kara Williard reviews the Fischer Ranger 115 GW DYN

Flash Review: 22/23 Fischer Ranger 115 GW DYN

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Here are our initial impressions of the stiffest women-specific boot in Fischer's 50/50 boot series, the Ranger 115.

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.)

Kara Williard reviews the Faction Dancer 2X for BLISTER.

2022-2023 Faction Dancer 2X

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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.
Kara Williard reviews the OR Shadow Insulated Hoodie for BLISTER.

Midlayer Roundup 2022

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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.
Kara Williard reviews the Santa Ana Unlimited 93 for BLISTER.

2022-2023 Nordica Santa Ana Unlimited 93

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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.

Shop Talk: Willi’s Ski & Board on Ski Shops as Conduits and Founding Winter Divas (Ep.224)

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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)

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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.

A Very Deep Dive on Bootfitting, Pt. 4: Big-Mountain Freeride Bootfitting with Fasa (Ep.221)

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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

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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.
Luke Koppa reviews the Artilect Jacket for BLISTER.

Stuff We Like: October 2022

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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.
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