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BLISTER
  • Reviews
    • GEAR 101
      • Skiing 101
      • Mountain Biking 101
      • Trail Running 101
      • Outerwear 101
      • Boot Fitting 101
      • Climbing 101
      • Paddle Sports 101
      • Snowboarding 101
      • Weekly Gear Giveaways
    • Skiing
      • Flash Reviews – Skiing
      • Deep Dive Comparisons
      • BLISTER Ski Reviews
      • Ski Boots
      • AT Bindings
      • Climbing Skins
      • Alpine Bindings
      • Ski Quivers
    • Mountain Biking
      • Mountain Bike Buyer’s Guide
      • Flash Reviews — MTB
      • MTB Brand Guides
      • Bikes & Frames
      • Forks & Shocks
      • Brakes
      • Tires
      • Wheels
      • Saddles & Seatposts
      • Drivetrain & Pedals
      • Bike Shoes
      • Apparel & Armor
      • Bike Racks
    • Apparel
      • Jackets
      • Pants
      • Midlayers
      • Goggles
      • Helmets
    • Running
      • Running Shoe Brand Guides
    • Topic of the Week
    • Weekly Gear Giveaways
    • Snowboarding
    • Backpacks
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    • More Reviews
  • Become a Blister Member
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    • All Things Climbing
    • BLISTER Podcast
    • GEAR:30
  • Blister Labs
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GEAR 101

Trail Running 101: What Do I Need to Trail Run?

May 17, 2022 by Hilary Oliver
Photo by Tony DiPasquale

In our Trail Running 101 series, we’ll be covering just about everything you might want to know to get started in the sport, as we

…
Categories GEAR 101, Trail Running 101

Trail Running 101: What is Trail Running?

May 12, 2022May 12, 2022 by Hilary Oliver
What is Trail Running?

In our new Trail Running 101 series, we’ll be covering just about everything you might want to know to get started in the sport, as well as tips and

…
Categories GEAR 101, Trail Running 101

Tech Tip of the Week: Quieting Shimano Brake Pad Rattle

August 21, 2021August 21, 2021 by David Golay
How to quiet Shimano brake pad rattle
How to quiet Shimano brake pad rattle
Shimano Finned Brake Pads (XT M8120 Brakes)

Intro

Heat dissipation is one of the biggest challenges in mountain bike brakes, and companies have tried all man

…
Categories Features, GEAR 101, Topic of the Week

Mountain Bike Tires: A Guide & Comparisons

August 13, 2021August 13, 2021 by David Golay
Blister Guide to Mountain Bike Tires
Blister Guide to Mountain Bike Tires
Pedalling to the top of 401 trail, Crested Butte, Colorado.
Article Navigation:  Intro //  Maxxis //  Schwalbe //  e*thirteen //  WTB //  Michelin //  Versus //  Spe
…
Categories GEAR 101, Mountain Biking 101, Tires

Mtn Biking 201: A Guide to Tire Casings & Rubber Compounds

August 13, 2021 by David Golay
Jonathan Ellsworth using the Maxxis Minion DHR II front and rear, Happy Hour, Crested Butte, Colorado.

Intro

There are more mountain bike tires on the market

…
Categories GEAR 101, Mountain Biking 101, Tires

How to Care for Your Waterproof Outerwear & Down Jackets

November 5, 2020November 5, 2020 by Sam Shaheen
Blister's guide to taking care of your waterproof, down, and other technical apparel (photo by Taylor Ahearn)
Blister's guide to taking care of your waterproof, down, and other technical apparel (photo by Taylor Ahearn)
Luke Koppa in the Spyder Sanction GTX Jacket, Mt. Crested Butte, CO. (photo by Taylor Ahearn)
Review Navigation:  Intro //  Why Clean? //  Waterproof & Water-Re
…
Categories Apparel, GEAR 101, Outerwear 101

How to Think about Ski Length

December 9, 2020September 28, 2020 by Luke Koppa
Blister Gear 101: How to think about ski length
Blister Gear 101: How to think about ski length
Drew Kelly (5'11" / 180 cm) on the light, stiff, & minimally rockered 183 cm Black Crows Corvus Freebird, Crested Butte, Colorado.

We get a lot of quest

…
Categories GEAR 101, Recommended, Skiing 101

Climbing Skins: A Guide & Comparisons

October 30, 2020July 17, 2020 by Paul Forward
Blister's climbing skin guide and comparisons
Blister's climbing skin guide and comparisons
Reviewers Drew Kelly & Jonathan Ellsworth skinning the backcountry near Crested Butte, Colorado.

Intro

Paul Forward: Boots, bindings, and skis for ski to

…
Categories Climbing Skins, GEAR 101, Reviews, Skiing, Skiing 101, Tires

Biking 101: Hubs

June 9, 2020June 7, 2020 by David Golay
Hubs 101: Blister breaks down mountain bike hubs, how they work, and why you should or should not buy more expensive hubs
Hubs 101: Blister breaks down mountain bike hubs, how they work, and why you should or should not buy more expensive hubs
Upper Loop trail, Crested Butte, Colorado
Article Navigation:  Intro //  How Hubs Work //  Terminology //  Why Spend More on Hubs? //  Bottom Line

Intro

There is a

…
Categories GEAR 101, Mountain Biking 101

Biking 101: Mtn Bike Fork Offset

May 14, 2020 by David Golay
Mountain bike fork offset 101; Blister covers what fork offset is and how it affects your bike
Mountain bike fork offset 101; Blister covers what fork offset is and how it affects your bike
Blister reviewer Banks Kriz riding Point Lookout trail in Crested Butte, CO on the Transition Smuggler w/ a reduced-offset fork.
Article Navigation:  Intro // 
…
Categories GEAR 101, Mountain Biking 101

What You’re Wearing, Part 5: Bison Fibers? (Ep.93)

May 13, 2020March 26, 2020 by Sam Shaheen
On Blister's GEAR:30 Podcast, Sam Shaheen talks to United By Blue apparel designer, Brendan Raugh, about bison wool, bison down, and how United By Blue is using all sorts of bison fibers in apparel and more.


TOPICS & TIMES:

  • Brendan’s background & current role (1:35)
  • United By Blue’s mission to clean waterways (2:35)
  • Why use bison fibers? (7:15)
  • Their unique
…
Categories GEAR:30, Outerwear 101, Podcasts

Glossary – Snowsports

October 29, 2019October 28, 2019 by Jonathan Ellsworth
Snowsports Glossary, Blister

Mank? Refrozen Death Cookies? Crud — as opposed to “Chop”? Readers have been writing in over the years to say that a Glossary could be pretty u…

Categories Features, GEAR 101, Skiing 101, Snowboarding 101

Saving Weight in Your Backcountry Ski Setup

October 26, 2019October 26, 2019 by Cy Whitling
Blister's reviewers discuss where to save weight and where to cut weight in your backcountry ski setup
Article Navigation:  Intro //  Priorities //  Cy Whitling's Take //  Sam Shaheen's Take //  Luke Koppa's Take //  Paul Forwards's Take

[Editor’s Note: WeR

…
Categories GEAR 101, Skiing, Skiing 101, Topic of the Week

Which Mountain Bike Pedals, and Why?

October 13, 2019October 9, 2019 by David Golay
Blister reviewers discuss which mountain bike pedals they prefer, how different mountain bike pedal systems differ, and more.
Blister reviewers discuss which mountain bike pedals they prefer, how different mountain bike pedal systems differ, and more.
Banks Kriz using the Crankbrothers Mallet DH pedals, Point Lookout, Crested Butte, CO.
Review Navigation:  Intro //  Noah Bodman //  David Golay //  Banks Kriz //
…
Categories GEAR 101, Mountain Biking 101

Biking 101: Bike Fit & Geometry — Part 1

September 17, 2019September 15, 2019 by Noah Bodman
Blister Mountain Biking 101: Fit & Geometry; how to interpret a mountain bike geometry chart
Blister Mountain Biking 101
Article Navigation:  Intro //  Fit vs. Ride Characteristics //  Geometry related to Fit //  Geometry related to the Ride //  Other Measurements // Bottom Line

Why

…
Categories Featured, Features, GEAR 101, Mountain Bike Reviews, Mountain Biking 101

What You’re Wearing, Part 4: Hemp (Ep.65)

May 13, 2020September 13, 2019 by Sam Shaheen
Sam Shaheen talks with Jungmaven founder, Rob Jungmann, about hemp, its history, its many uses, and its future on Blister's GEAR:30 podcast


TOPICS & TIMES:

  • Anti-hemp propaganda (5:40)
  • The battle for hemp legalization (9:15)
  • The future of the U.S. hemp industry (13:31)
  • Is there an ongoing hemp s
…
Categories GEAR:30, Outerwear 101, Podcasts

What You’re Wearing, Part 3: Down (Ep.64)

May 13, 2020September 6, 2019 by Sam Shaheen
Sam Shaheen talks with Allied Feather & Down's Matthew Betcher about down, its performance characteristics, misconceptions about fill power, proper care, and animal welfare, and the Allied's Track My Down initiative on Blister's GEAR:30 podcast.


TOPICS & TIMES:

  • Klaus Obermeyer ‘inventing’ the down jacket (2:40)
  • What does a “fill-power” rating actually mean? (8:03)
  • Duck down vs. Goose down (24:15)
  • H
…
Categories GEAR:30, Outerwear 101, Podcasts

What You’re Wearing Part 2: Wool (Ep.62)

May 13, 2020August 23, 2019 by Sam Shaheen
Sam Shaheen talks to Icebreaker's Josh Vaughan about wool, its performance attributes, its environmental impact, and more on Blister's GEAR:30 podcast.


TOPICS & TIMES:

  • How climate affects wool quality (2:55)
  • The process: from herding sheep to the final fabric (9:03)
  • How & Why is wool blended with othe
…
Categories GEAR:30, Outerwear 101, Podcasts

What You’re Wearing, Part 1: Synthetic Fibers (Ep.57)

May 13, 2020July 19, 2019 by Sam Shaheen
Sam Shaheen talks with Gore's Sara Ellis about synthetic fibers, their pros and cons, how they compare to natural fibers, Gore's new fabric with Under Armour, and more on Blister's GEAR:30 Podcast


TOPICS & TIMES:

  • Synthetic vs. Natural fibers (2:15)
  • Where do synthetic fibers come from? (8:08)
  • Which synthetics are the most durable? (9:17)
  • Polyester vs.
…
Categories GEAR:30, Outerwear 101, Podcasts

A Very Deep Dive on Ski Boots, Part 2: Flex Patterns (Ep.55)

March 31, 2020July 5, 2019 by Jonathan Ellsworth
Atomic's global product manager for ski boots, Matthew Manser, discusses ski boot flex ratings and more on Blister's GEAR:30 podcast.


TOPICS & TIMES:

  • Flex Patterns & All the Feels (4:13)
  • “Progressive” vs. “Linear” flex patterns (5:10)
  • The mess that is Flex Ratings (13:13)
  • How Atomic a
…
Categories GEAR 101, GEAR:30, Podcasts, Skiing 101
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