Reviews | BLISTER Outdoor Media & Gear Reviews

ON Cloudventure Peak

November 23, 2020 by Kieran Nay

ON's shoes immediately stand out due to their unique midsole "pods," and we've been testing their recently revised, lightweight trail racer, the Cloudventure Peak. Check out our review to see where we think it excels, where it falls short, and how it compares to the competition.

4-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (20/21)

November 20, 2020November 20, 2020 by Jonathan Ellsworth

In Part Two of our reviewers' 4-ski quiver selections, Jonathan Ellsworth & Kristin Sinnott add their picks for the 20/21 season.

Blister Brand Guide: Nike Trail Running Shoe Lineup, 2020

November 16, 2020November 16, 2020 by Gordon Gianniny

Nike continues to expand their trail-running lineup, and in our Brand Guide we cover every shoe in their 2020 Trail lineup to help you figure out how each shoe differs and which might make the most sense for you.

Hayes Dominion A4 Brakes

June 23, 2021November 13, 2020 by David Golay

After 6 months of testing, the Hayes Dominion A4 has become one of our all-time favorite brakes for aggressive trail and DH riding.

5-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (20/21)

November 23, 2020November 10, 2020 by Jonathan Ellsworth

It's once again that time of year where we spend way too much time thinking about ski quivers, so we're kicking off our reviewers' personal quiver selections with the big ones: 5-ski quivers.

David Golay reviews the Smith Forefront 2 Helmet & Smith Attack MAG MTB Glasses for Blister

Smith Forefront 2 Helmet & Attack MAG MTB Glasses

November 6, 2020 by David Golay

Smith recently updated their highest-end Trail helmet, the Forefront 2, and we've been testing the new version along with their Attack MAG MTB Glasses to see how the two work together and how they compare to the competition.

Blister's guide to taking care of your waterproof, down, and other technical apparel (photo by Taylor Ahearn)

How to Care for Your Waterproof Outerwear & Down Jackets

November 5, 2020November 5, 2020 by Sam Shaheen

Ok, people, our outwear nerds / gurus want you to start properly taking care of and cleaning your waterproof jackets & pants, down jackets & mid layers, and other technical apparel to keep them performing at their best. So they’ll tell you how, and recommend several products to use.

Altra Superior 4.5

November 3, 2020 by Gordon Gianniny

The Superior remains Altra's most minimally cushioned, all-round trail shoe, but how different is the latest Superior 4.5 compared to prior iterations, and who should be considering the new shoe? Check out our review.

David Golay reviews the Guerrilla Gravity Gnarvana for Blister

2020 Guerrilla Gravity Gnarvana

November 3, 2020November 3, 2020 by David Golay

Enduro racer? Long-legged Trail bike? Both? After 3 months of riding, we've updated our full review of Guerrilla Gravity's longest-travel bike, the Gnarvana, and provide our take on where it slots into the market.

Jonathan Ellsworth & Luke Koppa review the Sego Condor 108 for Blister in Crested Butte, Colorado.

2021-2022 Sego Condor 108

December 9, 2021October 30, 2020 by Luke Koppa

Sego's Condor 108 was one of the more surprising skis we got on last season, and we think it is a reliable, predictable, and versatile tool that will work for a lot of skiers - whether you take a more directional or more playful approach to the mountain. Check out our Full Review & Deep Dive Comparisons.

Luke Koppa reviews the 2020-2021 Strafe Cham Jacket & Cham Pants for Blister

Strafe Cham Jacket & Pants

October 27, 2020October 27, 2020 by Luke Koppa

This season Strafe once again updated their touring-oriented Cham Jacket & Pant, and we think the latest iteration is one of the best backcountry outerwear kits we’ve used. Check out our full, in-depth review to see why.

Ultimate Direction Race Vest 5.0

October 15, 2020 by Gordon Gianniny

One of our reviewers says that the Ultimate Direction Race Vest 5.0 may be the best running vest he's used for moderate distances and races. Check out our review to see why, and how it compares to alternatives from Nathan & Salomon.

David Golay reviews the RockShox ZEB fork for Blister

RockShox ZEB Ultimate Fork

October 8, 2020 by David Golay

We've spent the last couple of months using the new RockShox ZEB — check out our updated review for thoughts on how it compares to forks like the RockShox Lyrik & Manitou Mezzer Pro, and who we think is going to get along best with it.

Noah Bodman reviews the Fox 38 Fork and compares it to the Fox 36 & Rockshox Lyrik for Blister

2021 Fox 38 Fork

October 1, 2020October 1, 2020 by Noah Bodman

We've spent the last 3 months riding Fox's burliest single-crown fork, the 38, and comparing it to other mainstays in the category to see just how much of a difference the bigger chassis (and new internals) make on the trail. Spoiler alert: it's a significant difference, but there's more to it. Check out our full review.

Manitou Mezzer Pro Fork

October 1, 2020September 24, 2020 by David Golay

Manitou's Mezzer Pro was one of the first "extra-stiff," single-crown forks to hit the market, and we've spent the last 4 months comparing it to its growing competition. Check out our full review to see how it stacks up.

David Golay reviews the EXT Storia Lok V3 coil shock for Blister

EXT Storia Lok V3 Shock

September 22, 2020September 22, 2020 by David Golay

EXT's custom shocks have been used on everything from F1 cars to motocross, but they also make some very interesting suspension components for mountain bikers. We've been testing the latest version of their Enduro-oriented Storia Lok shock, and it is very impressive. Check out our full review for an in-depth explanation.

Car Camping Gear Roundup — 2020

September 23, 2020September 19, 2020 by Luke Koppa

We've rounded up a bunch of gear that has made our camping experiences more enjoyable, whether you need products that work for both car-camping and backpacking, like to head out with your little one, or simply want to make your next car-camping trip more pleasant.

Blister Brand Guide: Hoka One One Shoe Lineup, 2020

September 15, 2020 by Gordon Gianniny

Hoka's shoe lineup is now more diverse than ever: they still make plenty of maximal, high-cushion shoes, but they also offer a lot of more minimal options for both roads and trails, as well many casual variations designed to bring the brand's comfy, plush ride to everyday shoes. Check out our Brand Guide for a rundown on their entire 2020 lineup.

Blister Brand Guide: Altra Running Shoe Lineup, 2020

August 25, 2021September 9, 2020 by Gordon Gianniny

Interested in Altra’s road or trail shoes but not sure where to start? Check out our Brand Guide, where we cover their entire 2020 lineup, highlight what's changed since last year, and help you differentiate between all of their shoes.

La Sportiva Lycan II

November 5, 2020September 8, 2020 by Gordon Gianniny

The original La Sportiva Lycan was designed to be a softer, wider, and more cushioned shoe for mellow, smooth trails. But with the new Lycan II, they went in a very different direction, positioning it as a mid-distance shoe for “rocky and highly technical terrain.” So how do the two versions compare, and why should you opt for the Lycan II over Sportiva’s numerous other “mountain running” shoes?

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