Reviews | BLISTER Outdoor Media & Gear Reviews

Hoka One One Clifton 5

August 19, 2018 by Luke Koppa

Hoka’s Clifton has garnered a loyal following over the years due to its generous cushioning and plush ride. But the shoe has also evolved over the years, and the new Clifton 5 continues to push the shoe in new directions. Check out our review, with comparisons to the Hoka Stinson ATR 4, Altra Duo, and Altra Olympus 3.0.

Five Ten Hellcat Pro

August 18, 2018August 18, 2018 by Noah Bodman

The Five Ten Hellcat Pro is a burly, downhill-oriented clipless shoe that’s designed to offer lots of protection and comfort while maintaining pedaling efficiency. And for that use, it’s one of the best options we’ve tried.

Xan Marshland reviews the Kenda Hellkat for Blister

Kenda Hellkat Pro Tire

July 24, 2019August 17, 2018 by Xan Marshland

The gravity / DH tire category has been dominated by a few specific options for years, but Kenda aims to change that with their Hellkat Pro. So we spent a few months riding on the Hellkat Pro to see how it compares to options like the Maxxis Minion DHF, Maxxis High Roller II, and WTB Convict.

2018-2019 K2 Pinnacle 95 Ti

August 31, 2018August 16, 2018 by Luke Koppa

Light, but pretty stable. Surfy, but can hold an edge. Forgiving, but supportive. The newest iteration of the K2 Pinnacle 95 Ti feels like a bit of a contradiction, but the result is a pretty versatile ski that we think a lot of skiers may enjoy. Check out our full review.

Race Face Next R Cranks

August 15, 2018 by Noah Bodman

The Next R sits in the middle of Race Face’s high-end crank lineup, slotted between their burly DH cranks and lighter XC options. So how does the Next R differentiate itself from the many other options out there? Short answer: a lot of ways. Check out our full review.

Jonathan Ellsworth reviews the ON3P Wrenegade 96 for Blister

2019-2020 ON3P Wrenegade 96

February 7, 2020August 14, 2018 by Jonathan Ellsworth

The brand-new ON3P Wrenegade 96 is the narrowest directional ski in ON3P’s lineup, but it definitely doesn’t look like some corduroy cruiser. So how does it compare to the Wren 98 it replaced, as well as other skis in its class? Check out our measured specs, rocker pics, initial impressions, and Flash Review.

Black Diamond Vector Helmet

August 23, 2018August 14, 2018 by Kristin van der Kloot

Once upon a time, climbing helmets were pretty much all the same. Not anymore. There are ultralight helmets on one end, and durable but heavy options on the other. The Black Diamond Vector falls in between, making it a versatile option. Check out our full review, with comparisons to several helmets from Black Diamond, Petzl, and Mammut.

Altra Boston Escalante Racer

August 13, 2018August 9, 2018 by Jonathan Ellsworth

The Boston Escalante Racer is supposed to be a “faster, higher-performance” version of their original Escalante. Check out what they changed, what they didn’t, and our initial impressions.

Evolv Agro

August 9, 2018August 9, 2018 by Dave Alie

While many high-performance bouldering and sport-climbing climbing shoes have been moving in the “soft and sensitive” direction, the Evolv Agro takes a different approach. Check out our review, with comparisons to the La Sportiva Solution, Five Ten Hiangle, and Evolv Shaman.

Luke Koppa and Sam Shaheen review the Elan Ripstick 106 for Blister

2019-2020 Elan Ripstick 106

March 1, 2020August 8, 2018 by Luke Koppa

We got two reviewers on two lengths of the Elan Ripstick 106 this past season, and now it’s time for us to weigh in on this lightweight all-mountain ski. Check out our full review and Deep Dive comparisons.

David Steele reviews the Mountain Equipment Tupilak 37+ for Blister

Mountain Equipment Tupilak 37+ Pack

August 7, 2018 by David Steele

The new Mountain Equipment Tupilak 37+ is one of the best climbing packs we’ve used. Check out our review, including comparisons to the Patagonia Ascensionist and Osprey Variant 37.

Hoka One One Torrent

August 5, 2018 by Jaden Anderson

Hoka is known for their max-cushioned shoes, but their brand-new Torrent is different. So how does this more moderately-cushioned trail shoe perform, and how does it compare to Hoka’s other trail shoes like the Speedgoat 2 and Evo Mafate? Check out our review.

Noah Bodman Mountain Biking 101 Tubeless Tire sealant.

Mountain Biking 101: DIY Tubeless Tire Sealant

August 4, 2018 by Noah Bodman

Tubeless tire sealant can get expensive, especially when you’re swapping out tires often, so our bike editor gives the rundown on mixing up your own sealant at home.

Five Ten Hiangle

August 2, 2018August 2, 2018 by Dave Alie

Five Ten says that the Hiangle is “relaxed enough for all-day climbing” and “aggressive enough to tackle steep, overhanging routes.” But how comfortable and how aggressive is it really? Check out our full review with tons of comparisons to other shoes.

Mammut Ultralight Removable Airbag 3.0

September 27, 2018August 1, 2018 by Sam Shaheen

Avalanche airbags can provide significant safety benefits, but they can also be prohibitively expensive or discouragingly heavy. But the Mammut Ultralight Removable Airbag 3.0 is one of the lightest and one of the least expensive airbag packs on the market, so is the problem finally solved?

Noah Bodman's Trans BC Enduro Stage Race Recap on Blister

Trans BC Enduro Stage Race — Recap & Bike Build Review

August 3, 2018July 31, 2018 by Noah Bodman

Our bike editor recently completed the Trans BC Enduro Stage Race — 6 days, ~145 miles, ~31,000 feet of climbing, ~45,000 feet of descending. Check out his recap of the event; how and why he picked his bike and build; and how everything performed. (This writeup is awesome, BTW.)

Blister reviews the Armada Invictus 89 Ti

2019-2020 Armada Invictus 89 Ti

February 6, 2020July 30, 2018 by Jonathan Ellsworth

The Armada Invictus 89 Ti is the narrowest metal-laminate ski in Armada’s revamped Invictus lineup, and while it has two layers of titanal, it isn’t heavy, and it has lots of tip rocker. So what sort of ski is it? Check out our measured specs, rocker pics, and initial impressions.

Altra Duo

August 1, 2018July 29, 2018 by Luke Koppa

The Altra Duo is a really uncommon shoe that aims to combine the greater efficiency of a racing flat with the greater comfort of a maximally cushioned trainer. So what’s the result? Check out our review.

Noah Bodman reviews the Fox Float DPX2 for Blister Review

Fox Float DPX2 Rear Shock

July 28, 2018July 28, 2018 by Noah Bodman

If you like the sound of a lighter, more pedal-friendly shock that will improve the downhill performance of your Trail bike, the Fox Float DPX2 warrants a very serious look.

Sample Deep Dive: Black Crows Daemon

August 29, 2018July 27, 2018 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Curious about our Deep Dive comparisons? Check out this sample Deep Dive of the Black Crows Daemon, including the new Volkl Mantra, the Blizzard Bonafide, Nordica Enforcer 100, Fischer Ranger 102 FR, J Skis Masterblaster, Liberty Origin 96, and more...

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