Reviews

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?

David Golay reviews the Privateer 141 for Blister

2021 Privateer 141

September 6, 2020 by David Golay

Today Privateer launched their second bike, the 141, which maintains much of the modern geometry, sensible design, and very competitive price point of their Enduro-oriented 161 bike, but packages it into a shorter-travel, more versatile design for the masses. The result seems very compelling — check out our First Look for more.

Blister's 2020 Mountain Bike Jersey Roundup

Men’s Mountain Bike Jersey Roundup — 2020

January 12, 2021September 3, 2020 by Luke Koppa

We've rounded up 11 men's mtb jerseys that our reviewers have been using for the past 1-2 seasons — many of which are currently on sale. Check out our roundup to see how they compare, and which ones might work well for how and where you ride.

Salomon Sense Ride 3

September 1, 2020September 1, 2020 by Maddie Hart

Now in its 3rd iteration, the Salomon Sense Ride is a shoe that stands out not because it's exceptional at one particular thing, but because of how well it performs across such a wide spectrum of trails and distances. Check out our full review.

Dylan Wood reviews the Rocky Mountain Instinct BC Edition for Blister in Crested Butte, Colorado.

2020 Rocky Mountain Instinct BC Edition

May 10, 2021September 1, 2020 by Dylan Wood

We've now had 3 reviewers on Rocky Mountain's "aggressive trail" bike, the Instinct BC. Check out our updated review for each of their takes, and how the bike compares to several other options in its class.

Luke Koppa reviews the Rossignol BLACKOPS Sender for Blister in Crested Butte, Colorado.

2021-2022 Rossignol BLACKOPS Sender

December 9, 2021August 28, 2020 by Luke Koppa

The new Rossignol BLACKOPS Sender fills an interesting role. It essentially serves as a replacement for the exceptionally popular Soul 7, it’s also positioned as the easier alternative to the new BLACKOPS Sender Ti, and now we’re chiming in on how it compares to both of those skis, and who we think will like it the most. Check out our full review & Deep Dive comparisons.

2021 Fox Float X2 Shock

August 27, 2020 by Noah Bodman

The Float X2 is Fox's most downhill-oriented air shock, and they made a lot of changes to it for 2021. Do those changes actually make a difference? We'd say yes, and also think they make it one of the standout air-shocks on the market today — whether you're racing DH or just want better downhill performance out of your Trail bike.

La Sportiva Jackal

November 5, 2020August 26, 2020 by Gordon Gianniny

La Sportiva has become known for making rugged, stable shoes for running in mountainous terrain. But with their new Jackal, they're targeting runners who want all-day comfort for longer outings, and we think they've done a good job of accomplishing that goal.

2021 Fox Transfer Dropper Post

August 24, 2020 by Noah Bodman

The Fox Transfer dropper post has been one of the more reliable options on the market in the past, and they made some notable updates for 2021 that we think make the newest iteration even more appealing. Check out our full review.

Luke Koppa reviews the Majesty R12 / ATK Raider 12 binding for Blister

2020-2021 ATK Raider 12 / Majesty R12

September 20, 2020August 21, 2020 by Luke Koppa

ATK had already made an excellent, lightweight touring binding in their previous Raider 2.0, but we think their new R12 binding is even better. Check out our review of this lightweight, freeride-oriented AT binding.

Scarpa Spin Ultra

August 18, 2020 by Maddie Hart

Nowadays just about every major brand makes a few shoes targeted at running longer distances, but their approaches vary a good deal. The Scarpa Spin Ultra sets itself apart from some of its competition thanks to a comfy midsole and upper, but there's more to it than just that. Check out our full review.

Blister Brand Guide: Yeti Mountain Bike Lineup, 2021

October 4, 2021August 17, 2020 by Dylan Wood

Yeti's lineup sees some notable changes for 2021, including the return of a Yeti hardtail, a new XC bike, and of course, plenty of full-suspension Trail bikes. Check out our Brand Guide to learn more about the line and which bike might make sense for you.

2021-2022 Volkl Blaze 106

December 12, 2024August 14, 2020 by Luke Koppa

We’re always skeptical when brands claim that their lightweight skis offers “no compromises on the down,” but after spending time on it this past season, the new Volkl Blaze 106 clearly stood out as a lightweight ski that’s still lots of fun on the descent. Check out our full review & Deep Dive comparisons.

Luke Koppa reviews the Atomic Hawx Prime XTD 130 for Blister

2021-2022 Atomic Hawx Prime XTD 130

December 10, 2021August 11, 2020 by Luke Koppa

This spring and summer, we used the new Atomic Hawx Prime XTD 130 for everything from steep, icy couloirs to pow laps to backcountry booter sessions, and think many people should have this AT boot on their radar. Check out our full review and Deep Dive comparisons.