Blister Reviewer BadgeMatt Mitchell

New Balance Fresh Foam X More Trail v3

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The New Balance Fresh Foam X More Trail v3 is a lot of shoe by just about any standard. As one of the most cushioned ultra-distance options currently on the market, it has so far escaped several of the common pitfalls that plague many models in the hyper-maximalist trail shoe category. Check out our initial impressions to learn more.

New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro v7 GTX

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The Gore-Tex version of New Balance’s updated Hierro v7 could be a popular model in North America this spring and summer, considering the Mountain West’s unprecedented snowpack. We’ve just begun testing, but so far the shoe’s off to an auspicious start, drawing comparison to models we've reviewed favorably in the past. Check out our initial impressions to learn more.

Sarah Ostaszewski on Winning Round 3 at the Cocodona 250 (Ep.172)

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Sarah Ostaszewski has run the Cocodona 250 all three years of its existence and each time she’s gotten faster and faster. Her latest attempt on the grueling 250-mile course took her just over three days, good enough for the win and a fourth-place overall finish. We sat down with Sarah to talk about the allure of multi-day events; why she keeps coming back to the Cocodona 250; and more.

Nike Pegasus Trail 4

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The Pegasus Trail 4 feels like Nike is bringing one of their most popular off-road models full circle. Updates introduce new technology to a shoe that’s reverted to its original identity as a fairly lightweight road-to-trail hybrid after spending a few iterations masquerading as a burly ultra-distance option. Check out our initial impressions to learn more.

Brooks Catamount 2

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After some wide-ranging testing, the Brooks Catamount 2 has all of the makings of a dynamic mid-distance trail shoe that draws comparisons to models we’ve been quite fond of in the past. Check out our full review to learn more.

Sarah Keyes on Living & Training in the Adirondacks, US Long Distance Team Dreams, & Pastry (Mis)adventures (Ep.171)

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In her first season running for The North Face, Sarah Keyes just secured a spot on the US Long Distance team ahead of next month’s World Mountain Running Championships. So, Matt Mitchell sat down with her to chat about how the opportunity came about; calling the Adirondacks home; East Coast vs. West Coast trail running scenes; pastries; and much more.

COROS Vertix 2

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The updated Vertix 2 is the most feature-laden (and expensive) watch in COROS’ lineup. As the brand’s flagship model, it’s intended to support an exhaustive list of activities for an exhausting amount of time with one of the longest estimated battery lives we’ve tested. But at what point does taking the idea of “do-it-all” begin to subtract from a watch’s functionality? Check out our full review to learn more.

Blister Brand Guide: Altra Running Shoe Lineup, 2023

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While all Altra shoes share their signature zero-drop platform and "FootShape" fit, there’s still a ton of variation within both their road and trail lineups, including several new models for 2023. Check out our Brand Guide for a full breakdown of what sets each shoe apart from the others, and which ones best match your running style.

Hoka Challenger 7

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With the Challenger 7, Hoka attempts to do more with less. The latest iteration of the brand’s longstanding road-to-trail model benefits from a top-to-bottom overhaul that sees its weight decrease significantly despite adding 2 mm of stack height to a midsole that feels sprightly out of the box. Check out our full review to learn more.

Blister Brand Guide: Craft Running Shoe Lineup, 2023

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Craft is perhaps better known for making moisture-wicking technical layers than shoes, but since breaking into the footwear space a few years ago, they’ve already turned out an impressive lineup of innovative shoes for roads, trails, and everything in between. Check out our 2023 Brand Guide to see what’s new from Craft this year and which of their models might make the most sense for you.

Andy Wacker on Creating A Roadmap to Professional Trail Running (Ep.167)

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Earlier this year, Salomon Athlete Andy Wacker launched The Trail Team, an independent development program aimed at providing mentorship, skill development, and media exposure to 6 aspiring pro trail runners in the US. We spoke to him, as well as two of his Trail Team athletes, Lauren Gregory and Sam Hendry, about the organization’s backstory, their respective goals, and much more.

La Sportiva Jackal II BOA 

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When La Sportiva and BOA collaborate, you can generally expect good things. With the recently released Jackal II BOA, an update to a model we crowned as La Sportiva’s best long-distance specific trail option to date at the time of writing, both brands hope to continue their track record of turning out some of the industry’s best high-performance mountain shoes. Check out our initial impressions to learn more.
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