Reviews
DPS has added a new ski to fill the void between the Koala 103 & Koala 118 — check out our Full Review of the new Koala 111 to see how exactly it blends together the playfulness of the 103 with the high-speed stability of the 118.
Deep Dive: DPS Koala 111
We compare the Koala 111 to the DPS Koala 118, DPS Koala 103, Rossignol Sender Free 110, Dynastar M-Free 108, Salomon QST Blank, Icelantic Nomad 105, Rossignol Sender Squad, K2 Reckoner 112, Meier Leeper, Rossignol Blackops 118, Moment Wildcat, Line Blade Optic 114, Moment Countach 110, Head Kore 111, K2 Mindbender 108Ti, RMU North Shore 110, Black Crows Anima, Fischer Ranger 108, Black Crows Corvus, Nordica Enforcer 110 Free, J Skis Friend, 4FRNT Hoji, Nordica Unleashed 108, Blizzard Rustler 11, Atomic Bent 110, & Parlor McFellon Pro.
Bacons, Chronics, & More: 23/24 Line Skis | Blister Summit 2023 Video
We discuss all the new skis Line is launching for 23/24, including the new Bacon 108 & Bacon 115; how they compare to the previous Sir Francis Bacon & Outline; the revised Chronic 94 & brand-new Chronic 101; we get some teasers about upcoming projects, and more.
Marin Rift Zone E
A new Marin Rift Zone eMTB drops today from Marin, a brand making a strong case as a value leader in eMTBs.
Flash Review: 23/24 Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD 130 BOA GW
Update 4.14.23: Jonathan adds some of his thoughts on how the Hawx Ultra XTD 130 BOA has performed in Alaska, including with the addition of Atomic's "Gnar Bar" and Mimic Professional Liners.
2023-2024 Salomon QST 92
This season we got on the latest version of the QST 92 to see how much of its wider siblings’ traits it carried over into a narrower package, and what the end result would be. Check out our Full Review & Deep Dive comparisons to see what we found.
Deep Dive: Salomon QST 92
We compare the QST 92 to the Salomon QST 98, Salomon Stance 90, Blizzard Rustler 9, DPS Pagoda 90 RP, Line Blade Optic 92, Line Blade Optic 96, Folsom Cash 93, Black Crows Serpo, Folsom Spar 88, Shaggy's Ahmeek 95, J Skis Fastforward, K2 Mindbender 89Ti, Line Blade, 4FRNT MSP 91, Nordica Enforcer 94, Blizzard Brahma 88, Head Kore 93, Atomic Maverick 95 Ti, Armada Declivity 92 Ti, Volkl M6 Mantra, & Fischer Ranger 90.
The Craft Skiery: 23/24 Meier Skis | Blister Summit 2023 Video
We sat down with Meier’s Michelle Kidd & Parker Davis to discuss the brand’s origins and some of their latest and most popular ski models. We cover their sustainability efforts, including using bio-based resins, beetle-kill pine, and repurposing waste materials; creating skis that meet the demands of athletes like Owen Leeper while still catering to more average skiers, and more.
Flash Review: 23/24 Rossignol Forza 70D V-Ti
Rossignol is launching a whole new line of piste-oriented skis, and we've been spending time on the top-end model. Check out our initial thoughts on the Forza 70D V-Ti.
Fizik Terra Artica GTX Shoe
A lot of the waterproof mountain bike shoes on the market are also very heavily insulated and warm, but if you’re after a wet-weather clipless shoe for cool-but-not-frigid temperatures, the Fizik Terra Artica GTX might just be the ticket.
Blister Brand Guide: Craft Running Shoe Lineup, 2023
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.
Devinci Chainsaw
Stevie Smith was an enormous inspiration to the current generation of Canadian mountain bikers, and his longtime frame sponsor, Devinci, has launched a new, more-affordable Enduro / DH bike in his honor — appropriately named the Chainsaw.
Flash Review: 23/24 DPS Kaizen 105
For 23/24, DPS discontinued their Pagoda line and replaced it with the brand-new Kaizen series. Check out our initial thoughts on the Kaizen 105.
Flash Review: 23/24 Blizzard Rustler 10
Here are some of our initial thoughts on the revised Rustler 10, how it compares to the previous version, and the rest of the market.
Salomon Sense Ride 5
Despite what may be considered conservative updates, the Salomon Sense Ride 5 keeps with the model’s established role as a versatile option intended for everyone from experienced ultrarunners in search of a no-frills daily trainer to folks looking to venture out onto the trails for perhaps the first time. Check out our full review to learn more.
2023-2024 RMU North Shore 114
One of the newest additions to RMU's lineup, the North Shore 114 is their big-mountain ski designed for freestyle & freeriders alike. Check out our Full Review & Deep Dive comparisons to see where it falls in the powder category.
Deep Dive: RMU North Shore 114
We compare the North Shore 114 to the RMU North Shore 110, RMU Professor 121, Moment Wildcat, Head Kore 117, 4FRNT Hoji, Salomon QST Blank, Elan Ripstick 116, Atomic Bent 110, Meier Leeper, Icelantic Nomad 115, Black Crows Anima, DPS Koala 118, Line Blade Optic 114, Line Vision 118, Dynastar M-Free 118, Rossignol Blackops 118, Line Outline, J Skis Friend, Volkl Revolt 121, 4FRNT Inthayne, K2 Reckoner 112, Nordica Enforcer 115 Free, & Prior Northwest 116.
Hayes Dominion T4 Brakes
The Hayes Dominion A4s have been one of our favorite brakes for a while now, but how about the lighter Dominion T4? Do they share the magic of the A4 or are they something else entirely? We’ve been logging a lot of time on the T4s and are ready to weigh in.
Flash Review: 23/24 Salomon Stance 102
Salomon updated their Stance line of metal-laminate skis for 23/24, and the new Stance 102 has been very surprising so far. Check out our initial on-snow impressions.
La Sportiva Jackal II BOA
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.
