BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro v7 GTX
The Gore-Tex version of New Balance’s updated Hierro v7 could be a popular model in North America this spring and summer, considering the Mountain West’s unprecedented snowpack. We’ve just begun testing, but so far the shoe’s off to an auspicious start, drawing comparison to models we’ve reviewed favorably in the past. Check out our initial impressions to learn more.
Jesse Melamed on His 2022 EWS Title, “Near Death” Save, Moving to Canyon, & More (Ep.171)
Reigning EWS Overall Champ Jesse Melamed joins us on Bikes & Big Ideas to talk about his 2022 season, his approach to bike setup, his battles with Richie Rude, moving to Canyon from Rocky Mountain, and a whole lot more.
New Tech / Safety Gear in the Backcountry | Blister Summit 2023 Video
Alexander Cernichiari (Ortovox) and Paul Forward (heli-ski guide, physician, & Blister reviewer) provide a state of the union on technology’s role in the backcountry and the related safety gear, and answer questions regarding avalanche airbags, interference between avalanche beacons and other electronics, apps that aim to identify avalanche terrain, the capabilities — and limits — of smartphones, and more.
Adventures in HomeBrewing, Distilling, & Coffee Roasting + the Launch of Calibration Coffee Lab (Ep.26)
Before Alex LeBlanc started Calibration Coffee Lab in Greenville, South Carolina, he was a mechanical engineer, a home brewer, home distiller, and a home coffee roaster. So what led him to leave the world of engineering to start a coffee company, and how did he go about doing it?
2022-2023 Meier BNK
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pics, and flex pattern numbers for the Meier BNK.
Andrea Sansone and Andrew Hamilton on Tackling Colorado’s Most Coveted FKTs (Ep.173)
Andrea Sansone and Andrew Hamilton hold some of Colorado’s signature FKTs, including Nolan’s 14 and the Colorado Fourteeners, respectively. So, Matt Mitchell sat down with the couple to talk about the partnership they’ve formed by doing hard stuff in the mountains together; the endurance mindset; Wim Hof; and much more.
Mary McIntyre: How to Have X without X
In our latest Open Mic piece, Mary McIntyre writes about love, loss, and how to get to the bottom of what we really want.
Pivot Mach 4 SL V3
Pivot has dropped the new third-generation Mach 4 SL — their lightest, XC-race-oriented full-suspension bike — and while they’re talking about speed and race results first and foremost, words like “fun” pop up a bunch, too. And with a big range of builds covering both hardcore XC racing and more general-purpose lightweight Trail use, they just might be on to something there.
Icelantic Skis Founder, Ben Anderson, on the Lucky Breaks, Tough Beats, & Key Moments in Building Icelantic (Ep.261)
We talk to Ben Anderson about the lucky breaks and tough beats he experienced along the way; where the name and their logo came from; working with Never Summer; prototyping & developing skis; how Icelantic got into the music business; and more.
Flash Review: 23/24 Salomon Stance 90
The Stance 90 is the narrowest option in Salomon’s updated metal-laminate Stance collection — check out our initial thoughts.
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Adaptable Skis: 23/24 Renoun Collection | Blister Summit 2023 Video
We sat down with Cyrus Schenck, founder of Renoun Skis, to discuss how they’ve implemented and adapted their unique non-Newtonian “VibeStop” material; how VibeStop has made its way into pro basketball courts, flooring, & boat hulls; their 23/24 ski lineup, and more.
Hope F22 Flat Pedals
The UK-based CNC wizards at Hope have refreshed their longstanding F20 pedal via the new F22. While the shape of the new pedals may be a bit less distinctive, the F22 stands out in other ways. Check out our full review to see how they perform on the trail.
Nike Wildhorse 8
Less of an update and more of a complete remodel, the all-new Wildhorse 8 represents a promising return to form for Nike’s marquee long-distance trail shoe. Check out our full review to learn more.
Win MTB Gear from 7iDP
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get a pair of knee pads, a helmet, and a hat from 7iDP!
Ski Binding Design with Hoji, Lars Chickering-Ayers, & Giray Dadali (Ep.246)
Hoji (Dynafit), Lars Chickering-Ayers (CAST Touring), and Giray Dadali (Daymaker Touring) discuss the past, present, and future of ski bindings; “acceptable use”; the “Age of Confusion” surrounding different binding designs; being “handcuffed by standards”; and more.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Win a Touring Prize Package from BCA
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get an awesome prize package from Backcountry Access (BCA), including their Float E2-25 airbag pack, Tracker S rescue package, and new BC Link Mini radio!
Folsom’s Spar 78, New ‘Rotor’ Pow Ski, & Jonathan’s Custom Touring Ski Project (Ep.275)
Jonathan and Folsom Custom Ski’s Mike McCabe discuss the skinniest ski in the Folsom lineup, the Spar 78; Folsom’s new huge pow ski, the Rotor; and then they dive into a new custom touring-ski project for JE.
Flash Review: 23/24 Lange Shadow 115 LV W
We’ve been testing Lange’s stiffest women-specific boot in their all-new Shadow series, the Shadow 115 LV W. 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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2023-2024 Lange Shadow 115 LV W
For 23/24, Lange introduced their new alpine boot lineup – the Shadow series. Check out our First Look for all the details on the stiffest women-specific option, the Shadow 115 LV W.
Forbidden Supernought
It’s been no secret that Forbidden had a DH bike in the works, but now we know all the details — and you can buy one. Check out the Supernought.
Tool on Their Radical Machined High-Pivot Bike (Ep.199)
Tool has been developing a stunning-looking made-in-Quebec machined high-pivot Trail / Enduro bike with some radical geometry and design details, and we sat down with founder and designer William Boisvert to hear all about it.
2-Board Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (23/24)
Which 2 snowboards and/or splitboards would you pick for all the riding you do in a season? We got answers from several of our snowboard reviewers — check out their selections, and let us know your own!
Flash Review: 23/24 Volkl Blaze 114
Following a surprise early-season storm, we got back on Volkl’s new lightweight freeride ski, the Blaze 114. Here are some initial takeaways from Jonathan Ellsworth.
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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Blister’s Holiday Gift Guide 2023 – Under The Tree
Next up in our 2023 Gift Guide series are the items that our reviewers think will make for awesome additions beneath the tree this holiday season. If you’re looking for a gift for the skier, biker, hiker, traveler, or just about any other type of person in your life, check them out!
‘Apocalypse Snow’ with Régis Rolland (Ep.4)
We follow up last week’s conversation about one of the greatest ski & snowboard movies of all time, with the star of Apocalypse Snow, the snowboarding legend and pioneer, Régis Rolland. Régis and Jonathan discuss the making of the film; what interested him in getting on a snowboard in the first place, and Régis kindly answers some of the burning questions we raised about the film in last week’s conversation.
Flash Review: 23/24 Fischer RC4 Pro LV
We’ve been spending time in Fischer’s new 140-flex boot — check out our initial impressions, including comparisons to the Lange Shadow, Tecnica Mach1, and the RC4 Pro MV BOA.
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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1-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (23/24)
After weeks of ski-quiver discussions, we’ve finally arrived at the hardest question of all: what single ski would you use for all the skiing you do? In the last update, we get to hear from Jonathan Ellsworth & Paul Forward. Check out their selections and a bunch of our other reviewers’ personal picks.