Reviews

Blister's 2019-2020 5-ski Quiver Selections

5-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (23/24)

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With ski season kicking off soon (or already) in the Northern Hemisphere, it’s once again time to think about ski quivers. We’re starting by asking our reviewers what they’d pick if they were putting together a 5-ski quiver — you can now see what our founder, Jonathan Ellsworth, would pick.
David Golay reviews the Canyon Lux Trail for Blister

2024 Canyon Lux Trail

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There’s a ton of diversity in the shorter-travel Trail bike world these days, and maybe no brand singlehandedly demonstrates that better than Canyon. Their Lux Trail, Neuron, and Spectral 125 all share similar-ish travel numbers but have very, very different geometries and intended uses. Now, Canyon’s giving the most XC-oriented bike of the bunch, the Lux Trail, a big update.
Dylan Wood & Luke Koppa review the Scarpa Maestrale RS for Blister

Flash Review: 23/24 Scarpa Maestrale RS

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Update 11.6.23: We're skiing again! Check out Dylan Wood's thoughts after he got his chance to try the updated Scarpa Maestrale RS.

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David Golay reviews the Transition TransAM for Blister

2024 Transition TransAM

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Earlier this year, Transition brought back their Smuggler after a lengthy hiatus. Now, they’re reaching even deeper into the vault to bring back the TransAM, their do-everything aggressive hardtail that was last offered back in 2016, but now in a version that feels like a worthy modernization of a classic.
David Golay reviews the Enve AM30 wheels for Blister

Enve AM30 Wheels

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Enve was one of the first really big players in the carbon-fiber MTB wheel game and built a reputation for high-end, high-priced wheels. But their AM30 wheels are a lot more affordable than you might expect — and ride pretty differently from the Enves of old, too.
David Golay reviews the Cotic Jeht Gen2 for Blister

Cotic Jeht Gen2

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The new Cotic Jeht may not look very different from the original, but Cotic’s engineers have by no means been taking it easy — there are lots of subtle tweaks that add up to a compelling-looking end result. Check out our First Look for the rundown on their updated do-it-all Trail bike.
David Golay reviews the Velocio Trail Access Hardshell for BLISTER.

Stuff We Like: October 2023

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October’s edition of our Stuff We Like series includes a bunch of great gear, including our bike editor’s current favorite rain shell and high-volume hip pack, as well as some excellent pain-relieving ointment, boat-friendly apparel and packs, and more. Check it out to see all the latest stuff our reviewers have been digging.

What We’re Wearing, Skiing 23/24: Luke Koppa

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Most of our reviews and conversations have the goal of helping you, our audience, figure out what gear might work best for you and your particular preferences, circumstances, etc. However, it can be fun (and sometimes, maybe, even illuminating) to occasionally shrug off the cloak of objectivity and just talk about what we personally use and enjoy. In our new “What We’re Wearing” series, we’re doing just that, having several of our reviewers run us through their head-to-toe kits for this winter. First up, our managing editor and self-diagnosed apparel obsessive, Luke Koppa.

Layering 101: Types of Outdoor Apparel & How to Layer for Different Activities & Climates

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There are a zillion new baselayers, insulators, and shells out there — and the options are constantly evolving and diversifying. So in our updated "Layering 101" guide, we sort out what makes certain types better / worse than others, and outlined how we think about layering for various cold-weather outdoor activities.
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