BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Fox 36 & 36 SL
Fox’s new 34 SL was a sign of more things to come: there’s now a new 36 SL and an overhauled 36 in Fox’s fork lineup, too. Check out what’s new.
2025-26 Head E.B.I. LYT, 161 cm
There are an increasing number of directional freeride boards that aim to blend powder float with carving ability on-piste, and the E.B.I. LYT is Head’s contribution to the category. Does it manage to blend those often separate traits into a coherent design? Our Full Review has our impressions after a season with the E.B.I. LYT.
2025 World Cup Finals of Ski Racing in Sun Valley with River Radamus & Will Brandenburg (Ep.351)
Jonathan talks to US ski racer, River Radamus, about his upcoming GS race; this World Cup season; & more. Then, he talks to former World Cup ski racer, Will Brandenburg about the Herculean effort it was to build – and prep – the steepest DH and Super G race courses in the world.
Flash Review: 25/26 Dynastar M-Free 112
Update: Luke Koppa has added more thoughts on the 190 cm M-Free 112, how it compares to some other skis in its class, and why it’s quickly become a favorite of several of our reviewers.
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2025-2026 Ellis Sabr 100
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the Sabr 100 by Ellis Skis.
Flash Review: 25/26 Ellis Sabr 100
Ellis Skis, based out of Utah and Colorado, just launched their first collection this season and we’ve started spending time on their 100mm-wide Sabr. Here are our initial thoughts.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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2024-2025 La Sportiva Capo
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the La Sportiva Capo.
Reviewer Reports: Big-Mountain Ski Showdowns, Powder-Touring Setups, & Much More (Ep.339)
Luke Koppa, Paul Forward, Kristin Sinnott, Sascha Anastas, and Dylan Wood discuss a bunch of the latest gear they’ve been testing, including multiple powder-touring setups; new skis from Heritage Lab; women’s all-mountain skis; apparel for skiing and lounging; some very interesting new big-mountain models from Dynastar, Rossignol, & Head; and more.
2024-2025 Moment Wildcat
The Moment Wildcat and its predecessor, the Bibby, have a long history at Blister. Following our prior review of the 184 cm length, we’ve since spent a bunch of time on the 190 cm. Check out our updated Full Review & Deep Dive comparisons to see what makes both lengths of this ‘playful charger’ stand out in today’s market.
Deep Dive: Moment Wildcat
We compare the Moment Wildcat to the previous Wildcat, Moment Bibby, Moment Wildcat Tour, Black Crows Anima, Rossignol Sender Free 118, Line Optic 114, K2 Reckoner 124, Volkl Revolt 121, Völkl Revolt 114, 4FRNT Renegade, 4FRNT Inthayne, Atomic Maverick 115 CTI, Atomic Bent Chetler 120, Nordica Unleashed 114, Line Bacon 115, Dynastar M-Free 112, Icelantic Nomad 112, Blizzard Rustler 11, Salomon QST X, Head Oblivion 116, Line Vision 114, Head Kore 117, Head Kore 118 Ti, Prior Northwest 116, DPS Foundation Koala 118, Salomon QST Blank, Dynastar M-Free 118, J Skis Friend, Line Vision 118, Season Forma, Line Outline, K2 Reckoner 112, Icelantic Nomad 115, Nordica Enforcer 115 Free, and Elan Ripstick 116.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
To get our comprehensive Deep Dives and our initial, unfiltered reports on new gear, become a member and receive many other services, deals, and discounts.
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Win a Kitworks Gear Management System
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get a Gear Box, a Gear Tote 35L or 55L, and a $100 gift card from Kitworks!
House of Looptail on Remaking Vintage Mountain Bike and BMX Tires (Ep. 266)
House of Looptail’s Wakeman Massie joins us to chat about remaking vintage mountain bike and BMX tires; designing the first Surly singlespeed frame; why old mountain bikes deserve to be ridden; and a whole lot more.
Fox 34 SL
XC race courses are more technical than ever and race bikes are getting beefed up to match. Fox’s new 34 SL replaces the 34 Step Cast and promises a stiffer chassis, optional longer travel, and more. Check out what they’ve come up with.
Hi-Fi Audio: Capturing the Heart & Soul of Music with Heaven 11’s Itai Azerad (Ep.62)
Music — and how you listen to it — matters. In this CRAFTED conversation, Simon is joined by Heaven 11 Audio’s Itai Azerad to discuss building amplifiers that capture the heart and soul of music.
Flash Review: 24/25 Line Vision 114
Line replaced their Vision 118 with the new Vision 114 for 24/25, and we’ve been spending time on the new model this season. Check out our initial impressions.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
2025-2026 Völkl Mantra 84
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the brand-new Völkl Mantra 84.
Pursuing Excellence in the Service of Others: Jeff Galli, Campione Roman Kitchen (Ep.64)
Today we’re talking about the pursuit of excellence and how that can demonstrate a deep care for other people with Jeff Galli, the GM and co-owner of Campione, a roman kitchen in Livingston, Montana that was named to the New York Time’s 50 Best Restaurants in the U.S. list in 2023.
Project321 RG3 Hubs
We’ve been very impressed with Project321’s G3 mountain bike hubs, and now they’ve got a pared-down road and gravel version: the RG3. Check them out here.
Norco Sight VLT CX
The Norco Sight VLT CX keeps its high pivot suspension layout but manages to pack a huge 800 Wh battery while weighing a claimed 20% less than the old one. That’s an impressive trick — let’s see how they’ve pulled it off.
Pivot Firebird V5
The Pivot Firebird is now in its fifth generation, and while the new bike looks a whole lot like the V4 iteration that it replaces, it’s got overhauled geometry, more adjustability, and several new features and refinements.
2025-2026 Ellis Kanso 106
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the Kanso 106 by Ellis Skis.
Flash Review: 2026 Fox DHX2
We’ve started spending time on the new Fox DHX2. Check out how it’s going so far.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
To get our comprehensive Deep Dives and our initial, unfiltered reports on new gear, become a member and receive many other services, deals, and discounts.
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2025-2026 ZAG Mata
The nebulous but growing class of ‘fun carvers’ is an exciting one, and ZAG’s Mata is one of the latest additions. Here’s our Full Review of this 90mm-wide, asymmetrical ski that ZAG describes as “aggressive but not exclusive.”
Deep Dive: ZAG Mata
We compare the ZAG Mata to the Line Blade, Black Crows Mirus Cor, Folsom Spar Turbo, Black Crows Octo, ZAG Harfang 96, Fischer The Curv GT 85, ZAG Slap 98, Nordica Steadfast 85 DC, Elan Wingman 86 CTi, Dynastar M-Cross 88, K2 Mindbender 90C, Salomon Stance 90, Wagner Summit 91, & 4FRNT MSP 91.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
To get our comprehensive Deep Dives and our initial, unfiltered reports on new gear, become a member and receive many other services, deals, and discounts.
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Stuff We Like: March 2025
In this month’s edition of Stuff We Like, our reviewers cover everything from multifunctional apparel to several gear-organization solutions, snowboard-boot liners, ski outerwear, snowsports backpacks, and more.
2026 Fox Float X2 and DHX2
Right on the heels of giving their fork lineup a big overhaul, Fox has new versions of their Float X2 and DHX2 gravity shocks. It’s a big refresh, too, including completely different damper architecture and a bunch more. Check out what’s changed.
2025-2026 Völkl Mantra 84 W
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the women’s Völkl Mantra 84 W.