BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Our 23/24 BLISTER Winter Buyer’s Guide Recap (Ep.268)
We brought together several of our reviewers to discuss our latest Winter Buyer’s Guide; give out our unofficial “RIP,” “Good Riddance,” and new “Best Glow-Up” awards; cover what we’re most excited to get on this season, and much more.
Commencal Supreme DH V5
The Commencal Supreme V5 has been one of the most successful World Cup DH race bikes over the last two seasons, and it’s a great option for folks who want a go-fast DH bike — even if you don’t plan on sticking a number plate to it anytime soon.
Win Skis from 4FRNT
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get their choice of 4FRNT’s Raven or Hoji skis, both of which are repeat winners of our “Best Of” award!
Layering 101: Types of Outdoor Apparel & How to Layer for Different Activities & Climates
There are a zillion new baselayers, insulators, and shells out there — and the options are constantly evolving and diversifying. So in our updated “Layering 101” guide, we sort out what makes certain types better / worse than others, and outlined how we think about layering for various cold-weather outdoor activities.
Privateer Bikes on the 141 and 161 V2 (Ep.192)
Privateer has been teasing the upcoming second-generation versions of their 141 and 161 for a while now and we recently sat down with Dan Hicks, the engineer behind the project, to get all the details on the new bikes.
2023 Knolly Endorphin
The Knolly Endorphin is back after a hiatus — and Knolly says it’s a harbinger of new things to come across their entire lineup.
Women’s Mountain Bike Shorts & Pants Roundup – 2023
There are more options for mountain bike shorts and pants than ever before, and in our latest roundup of women’s ones, we’ve got eight new pairs to add to the mix after a bunch of time testing them in a ton of different conditions.
Raide LF 40L Backpack
Raide is the newest player in the ultralight snowsports category and their first product, the LF 40L backpack, is a very interesting initial offering. Check out our First Look for more on this UHMWPE (aka, Dyneema) pack and the brand behind it.
Trevor Kennison & Josh Berman on Full Circle (Ep.282)
Like Travis Rice, Candide Thovex, Courtney Dauwalter, and Alex Honnold, Trevor Kennison forces us to rethink what’s possible. Josh Berman has created a film, Full Circle, that documents Trevor’s incredible story and exploits, and the challenges — and opportunities — of life after spinal cord injury.
Five Ten Trailcross XT
Five Ten’s Trailcross line is meant to blend functionality from bike and trail running shoes into a lightweight, breathable package that works well both on and off the bike. The updated Trailcross XT now uses recycled materials extensively, in a design that’s pretty different from the original. So how does it all pan out on the trail?
Gear West
Gear West is not only one of the largest shops in the midwest, it is also one of the best.
20+ Years as a Pro Skier: Mark Abma | Blister Speaker Series Video
In this video, Mark Abma discusses his lengthy professional skiing career, how big mountain skiing has evolved, his passion for alternative housing and energy, and much more.
Win Skis from RMU
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get RMU’s Apostle 96 Carbon ski!
A Very Deep Dive on Bootfitting, Pt. 5: Debunking Bootfitting Myths & Misconceptions (Ep.267)
Kara Williard and Jake “Fasa” Nelson clear up some of the most common bootfitting myths and misconceptions out there, provide some clarity on what you should realistically expect from a ski boot and bootfitter, discuss how to go about shopping for a boot this season, and more.
Casey Brown, Vaea Verbeeck, and Hannah Bergemann on Women at Rampage (Ep.191)
We sat down with Casey Brown, Vaea Verbeeck, and Hannah Bergemann to talk about the lack of a women’s category at Red Bull Rampage; what they’ve been doing to change that; why opening up Rampage to women is important; and the trajectory of women’s freeride more broadly.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Reviewer Reports: Taos Ski Valley, Carving Skis, All-Mountain Skis, & Luke’s 3-Day-Old Cheeseburger (Ep.290)
Jonathan, Luke, Kara, & Kristin discuss a number of the carving-oriented and narrower all-mountain skis they were on this week; Luke’s food choices; and Taos’ Chair 2 (West Basin) vs Chair 12 (Kachina Peak).
2024-2025 Head Oblivion 102
Part of Head’s recent overhaul of their freestyle lineup, the Oblivion 102 may look like an oversized park ski, but that simple characterization would by no means accurately summarize its uncommon all-mountain ride. Check out our Full Review & Deep Dive comparisons for the whole story.
Deep Dive: Head Oblivion 102
We compare the Head Oblivion 102 to the Head Oblivion 94, Head Oblivion 116, Head Kore 105, Black Crows Camox, Nordica Unleashed 98, 4FRNT Switch, Majesty Dirty Bear XL, Line Chronic 101, Armada ARV 106, Dynastar M-Free 99, Moment Deathwish 104, Whitedot Altum 104, Atomic Bent 100, Season Kin, K2 Reckoner 102, Faction Mana 2, and Line Blade Optic 104.
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Flash Review: 24/25 DPS Wailer 100
DPS is reinstating and revising their Wailer series for the 24/25 season, and we’ve been spending time on the Wailer 100 – check out our initial impressions.
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 Any Armada Ski
This week, the winner of our Gear Giveaway will get their choice of any Armada ski!
Pooping in Buckets? Skiers & Snowboarders on Climate Issues, Individual Behavior, & Collective Action
As skiers, snowboarders, and general users of the outdoors, the changing climate is an issue at the forefront of many of our minds. So, should we all be pooping in buckets? Or what should we do to most significantly and quickly improve the current situation? In this panel session from Blister Summit 2024, Jonathan Ellsworth hosts a conversation with Amie Engerbretson, Dr. Len Necefer, & Jake Black to address this and a whole lot more.
Dakotah Norton on Finding Consistency, Moving to Mondraker, the State of US DH Racing, & More (Ep.214)
Dakotah Norton is one of the most decorated American DH racers in recent years, and we sat down with him to chat about his 2023 season, including his rocky start and strong finish to it; moving to Mondraker Factory Racing for 2024 and beyond; the state of US DH racing and how to build a better series of stepping stones to World Cup Downhill; and much more.
Deep Dive: 2024 Orbea Rallon
We compare the Orbea Rallon to the prior-generation Rallon, Ibis HD6, Yeti SB160, Pivot Firebird, Norco Sight, Propain Tyee, Contra MC, Norco Range, Trek Slash, Santa Cruz Megatower, Santa Cruz Nomad, YT Capra, Nicolai Nucleon 16, Cannondale Jekyll, Chromag Lowdown, REEB Steezl, Cotic RocketMAX, Yeti SB160, Specialized Enduro, and Banshee Titan.
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.
If you’re already an active member, please log in.
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2024 Orbea Rallon
Orbea updated the Rallon for 2024 with the goal of adding stability and composure to their flagship Enduro race bike. So how does the new version stack up to its notably nimble and versatile predecessor? Here are our thoughts after a few months on the updated Rallon.
Flash Review: 24/25 Fischer The Curv GT 85 Redefine
The Curv GT 85 Redefine is an “all-conditions” carving ski that’s meant to showcase how Fischer can reduce the environmental footprint of their skis. Here are our thoughts so far on its on-snow performance (and more info about its unique construction).
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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Do Eric Freson Things
A lot can be learned from the life of our friend and fellow Blister reviewer, Eric Freson, and the example he set. In today’s Open Mic, you’ll hear from some of the people who knew him best and loved him most, about what it really means to ‘Do Eric Freson Things.’
Comp Life: 4 Freeride Athletes on the FWQ, FWT, & Beyond (Ep.301)
After they competed in last weekend’s FWT Challenger stop in Crested Butte, Britta Winans, Colton Shaff, Mia Winans, and Tyler Curle sat down with us to peel back the curtain on the current freeride competition scene and discuss how the skiing and riding have evolved; differences between the FWQ and FWT events; their personal favorite moments from this season + personal favorite riders, and much more.