Podcasts | BLISTER Outdoor Media & Gear Reviews

Reviewer Reports: Paul’s New Pow Ski Design; Carving Skis; & More (Ep.381)

February 6, 2026February 6, 2026 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Luke Koppa, Paul Forward, and Jonathan talk about some of the gear they've been reviewing; discuss topics related to that gear; and dive deep into the ideas behind a new pow ski design that Paul has been thinking about for years, and are now being incorporated into a brand new ski.

Neko Mulally on the 2026 Frameworks Roster, Bikes, & More (Ep.312)

February 5, 2026 by David Golay

Frameworks has had a busy offseason between signing Aaron Gwin, launching updated versions of the Enduro and DH bikes, and a whole lot more. Neko Mulally is back to tell us all about it.

In Pursuit of the Perfect Coffee Grinder: Zerno founder, Vel Genov (Ep. 99)

February 4, 2026 by Eli Brown

Zerno is one of the hottest brands in the world of specialty coffee, and today, Jonathan talks with Zerno’s founder, Vel Genov, about what led Vel to design & manufacture coffee grinders in Chicago; his obsession with quality, functionality, and aesthetics (rather than price); burr sizes and why they matter; manufacturing & product design; and more.

Off the Clock: Drew Bledsoe on Skiing, Football, & Wine (Ep.392)

February 2, 2026February 2, 2026 by Jonathan Ellsworth

The Patriots are in the Super Bowl this Sunday, and so for the first episode of our new series, 'Off the Clock,’ we’re talking with former New England Patriots quarterback, Drew Bledsoe. But football was not the first love of this former #1 pick in the NFL draft, skiing was. And today, you’ll hear just how much skiing has meant to Drew throughout his entire life.

Rewriting the Rules of Ski Boots? K2 Ski Boots’ Tom Pietrowski (Ep.380)

January 30, 2026 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Why is the price of a ski boot typically related to how stiff it is? And what are boot manufacturers doing about the fact that many of the best skiers on the mountain also have the least amount of money in their bank accounts? And, did K2 just create the first ski boot that was truly designed for women, from the ground up?

Best Bikes of the Century, Part 3 (Ep. 311)

January 29, 2026 by Simon Stewart

Our search for the best bikes of the century concludes with Blister reviewers Zack Henderson, Xan Marshland, David Golay, and Simon Stewart revealing their top selections, with help from some bike industry legends like Wade Simmons.

Zero Gravity Beer: 20 Years of Independent, Craft Brewing in Vermont (Ep. 98)

February 3, 2026January 29, 2026 by Eli Brown

We talk with Zero Gravity’s Christopher Costello about the keys to Zero Gravity Beers’ success; what has evolved and what’s stayed the same for them over these 20 years; the current state of New England brewing; and more.

Mikaela Shiffrin’s Record, Alex Honnold’s Climb, Eileen Gu’s Run, & More (Ep.392)

January 27, 2026 by Jonathan Ellsworth

The past few days have been filled with some incredible highs: Shiffrin’s record; Honnold’s climb; Gu’s run; McMorris’ X Games dominance; & Richards’ hot start on the FWT. But at the same time, we are all witnessing some staggering lows. And today, we talk about it all.

Reviewer Reports: Luke’s in the Heli, Paul’s on Carving Skis, & Jonathan’s Trading Skis w/ Pros (Ep.379)

January 23, 2026 by Luke Koppa

Luke and Jonathan recap some of their recent testing trips full of ‘firsts’; several of the new skis and boots they’ve been testing; and Paul Forward discusses why he left Alaska to come test skinny skis down in Crested Butte.

Manitou & Reynolds on 32’’ Wheels (Ep.310)

January 22, 2026January 22, 2026 by David Golay

There’s no longer any doubt that 32’’ wheels are coming for mountain bikes. Here’s a look behind the curtain at what it takes to develop parts for them, where they’re headed, and more.

Reviewing the News w/ Cody Townsend, December ‘25 & January ‘26 (Ep.391)

January 19, 2026 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Cody & Jonathan discuss the seasons Lyndsey Vonn & Mikaela Shiffrin are having; the return of Bode Miller & Peak Skis; Alex Honnold’s upcoming live free solo on Netflix; whether ski areas fudge their snowfall and conditions reports; & Jonathan makes good on the bet he lost to Cody.

Peak Skis is Back; New Gear Reveals; Current Product Reviews; & Best Snowboard Gear of the Century w/ Powder Hound AK’s Eric Helmbrecht (Ep.378)

January 16, 2026 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Jonathan reacts to the stated return of Peak Skis, then Powder Hound AK’s Eric Helmbrecht joins to discuss several big new product announcements; review some current ski & snowboard gear; and then Eric shares his top 10 list of the most important developments in snowboard gear of the century.

Reviewer Reports: Chain Dampers, Gearboxes, High-Pivots & More (Ep.309)

January 15, 2026 by David Golay

Is pedal kickback real? How does the efficiency of conventional drivetrains stack up against gearboxes — and how do belt vs. chain drives factor in? How lively and responsive can you really make a high-pivot bike? We’ve got updates on a whole bunch of bikes we’ve been testing, and wade into those questions and more along the way.

The Science – and Politics – of ‘Functional Beverages’ w/ Fabric founder, Tom Eddleston (Ep. 97)

January 14, 2026 by Eli Brown

Functional beverages (specifically THC-infused drinks) have experienced a meteoric rise, yet the category is still shrouded in misinformation. So Eli talks with Fabric founder, Tom Eddleston, about what goes into crafting functional THC-beverages with real intention.

Mountain Town Economics 2.0, w/ Jason Blevins, Part 1 (Ep.390)

January 12, 2026 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Jason Blevins is back to give us the latest on Telluride reopening and the end of the ski patrol strike, and we ask the big questions: what are the responsibilities of the owners of ski areas, and how do we create more stable relationships between ski areas and mountain towns?

25 Years: The Evolution of The North Face Summit Series w/ Sage Cattabriga-Alosa & TNF’s Head of Innovation, Cory Olson (Ep.377)

January 9, 2026 by Luke Koppa

The North Face’s iconic Summit Series collection has had a major impact on the outdoor apparel industry, and today, we dive into its backstory, major milestones, and standout pieces with The North Face’s Head of Innovation, as well as TNF athlete, Sage Cattabriga-Alosa.

Reviewing the News w/ Mike Ferrentino & Simon Stewart (Ep.308)

January 8, 2026 by Simon Stewart

The lads go through some of the new year’s bike news, plus Mike drops his opinion on 32” wheels and tells the story of thinking he was in a Quentin Tarantino film while getting his teeth sorted in “Molar City,” Mexico.

Our Reviewers’ 2025 Craft Obsessions & 2026 Curiosities, Part 2 (Ep. 96)

January 7, 2026 by Eli Brown

Jonathan talks with Blister managing editor Luke Koppa, reviewer Paul Forward, and bike editor, David Golay, about the craft categories that captivated them this past year, and what they are most curious about heading into 2026.

Gear of the Century, Part 2 (Ep.376)

January 2, 2026 by Jonathan Ellsworth

What are the most significant developments in snowsports gear of the 21st century? We’ve already covered the ‘Best Skis of the Century’ on GEAR:30, and now, we’re ranking the most important gear and / or technological developments in skiing and snowboarding.