BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Win Apparel from WNDR Alpine
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get a complete Phase Series kit from WNDR Alpine!
Athletes & Product Design (Ep.252)
When it comes to gear, how do you balance the specific needs of world-class athletes with those of average skiers and riders? In this conversation from Blister Summit 2023, McKenna Petersen (K2 athlete), Drew Peterson (Salomon athlete), Tyler Curle (Moment athlete & ski builder), and Jed Yeiser (K2 engineer) discuss exactly that, plus a whole lot more.
EXT Aria
We’ve been very impressed by a number of EXT’s coil shocks over the years, and having now spent a lot of time on the Aria — their first air-sprung MTB rear shock — we’re ready to weigh in on how it stacks up to EXT’s own Storia, as well as the modern crop of high-volume, beefy air shocks.
Women’s Bike Bib & Chamois Roundup
If you spend any time in the saddle you’ll know that a proper chamois, butt, and saddle interface is essential for sustained comfort during rides. In this roundup, we discuss a variety of bib and chamois options that one of our female reviewers has been logging a lot of saddle time in recently.
Scott Kinabalu 2
A dependable, predictable option is an invaluable addition to any shoe quiver, especially one already loaded with terrain- and distance-specific models. After testing, the Scott Kinabalu 2 is giving strong indications of being just that. Check out our full review to learn more.
Anna Newkirk and Abby Hogie on Beyond Racing, the Contra DH Bike, & More (Ep.176)
Most of us have probably had a pipedream of starting something big with a friend, though far fewer people actually make it happen. But Anna Newkirk and Abby Hogie have done just that with their self-run Beyond Racing World Cup team, and their story is a great one.
Stuff We Like: June 2023
For June’s edition of Stuff We Like we feature everything from daypacks to heavy-duty backcountry packs, shorts, lightweight mountain bike and ski apparel, bike helmets, espresso machines for on-the-go, river shoes, & more. Check it out to see all the latest stuff our reviewers have been digging.
Paradigm Winery’s Marilyn Harris on Napa Valley & the Making of a Modern Wine Mecca (Ep.30)
Today, Napa Valley is home to some of the most respected wineries and coveted wines being produced, but not too long ago, it was a sleepy farm community. So in this conversation, Jonathan talks with Marilyn Harris, owner of Paradigm Winery, about how Napa … became Napa.
Skiing “and”
In our latest Open Mic piece, Hadley Hammer offers a very poetic yet very concrete look at what skiing means to her (and what it means to you, too).
Western States Weekend Recap; Courtney Dauwalter’s Course Record Clinic; & Golden Hour Greatness (Ep.178)
The 50th running of the Western States 100 took place over the weekend, so Matt Mitchell and Matt Seidel break down the results; talk about their experiences bouncing around the course all day; shoutout some noteworthy performances; and much more.
Flash Review: 23/24 Hyperlite Headwall 55
We’ve had several reviewers testing Cody Townsend’s signature backpack — here are some of our thoughts on the ultralight, Dyneema-covered Headwall 55.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Reserve 30|SL & 30|HD AL Wheels
Reserve deserves a good chunk of the credit for making lifetime warranties the industry standard for carbon wheels, and now Reserve is offering the same on their first aluminum ones. But how do the new 30|HD AL wheels ride, and just how crucial is that warranty? We’ve put a lot of miles and abuse into a pair — time to weigh in.
Reviewing the News w/ Cody Townsend (June 2023) (Ep.266)
Cody and Jonathan discuss beaming solar energy from space; cupcake crimes; cultural appreciation vs. appropriation; the FKT (fastest known time) culture; an important Public Lands Rule proposal; mountain town advice; and what they’ve been reading & watching.
Rethinking Apparel: WNDR Alpine & Beyond Surface Technologies (Ep.251)
Odds are that just about every piece of clothing you own has been applied with some sort of surface treatment, and those (typically petroleum-based) treatments contribute to a significant portion of the apparel industry’s already massive carbon footprint. With their recent collaboration, Beyond Surface Technologies and WNDR Alpine are changing that.
Win Jorts from Ripton & Co
The two winners of our Gear Giveaway this week will get the men’s or women’s Smoke Jort or Diesel Jort from Ripton & Co!
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Flash Review: 23/24 Volkl Revolt 114
Update 1.15.24: We just spent a properly deep day on the brand-new Revolt 114 and have some new thoughts to share about its flotation, high-speed stability, maneuverability, and more.
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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2023-2024 Salomon Stance 90
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the Salomon Stance 90.
Win Any WNDR Alpine Ski or Snowboard
Enter for your chance to win any of WNDR Alpine’s algae-derived skis, snowboards, or splitboards!
Skier Ability Ratings Revisited; Monoskiing; & More with Powder7’s Jordan Jones (Ep.280)
Are you an “expert” skier or rider? Advanced skier? Intermediate? We’re revisiting these questions with Jordan Jones, co-founder and president of Powder7. See what you think, then let us know your thoughts.
2023-2024 Blizzard Rustler 11
The Rustler 11 is the widest, most soft-snow-oriented ski in the recently overhauled Rustler collection, but Blizzard has changed many aspects of its design, so we were eager to see how it would compare to past iterations — and the rest of the market. Check out our Full Review & Deep Dive comparisons.
Deep Dive: Blizzard Rustler 11
We compare the Rustler 11 to the first-gen Rustler 11, Blizzard Hustle 11, Blizzard Rustler 10, Nordica Unleashed 114, DPS Koala 111, Line Bacon 115, Rossignol Sender Free 110, Rossignol Blackops 118, RMU North Shore 114, Meier Leeper, Nordica Enforcer 110 Free, Whitedot Altum 114, Black Crows Anima, Icelantic Nomad 105, Moment Countach 110, J Skis Friend, Moment Wildcat, 4FRNT Hoji, Atomic Bent 110, HEAD Kore 111, Head Oblivion 116, Parlor McFellon Pro, Line Blade Optic 114, Volkl Revolt 114, & Salomon QST Blank.
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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2023-2024 Heritage Lab FR110
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the Heritage Lab FR110.
Flash Review: 23/24 Heritage Lab FR110
The FR110 is one of the latest additions to Heritage Lab’s unique ski lineup — here are Paul Forward’s initial on-snow 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.
If you’re already an active member, please log in.
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RAAW Bikes Founder Ruben Torenbeek (Ep.204)
RAAW has built a reputation for offering burly, no-nonsense bikes, and we sat down with founder and engineer Ruben Torenbeek to chat about his vision for the company, the bikes he wanted to build, how their lineup has evolved over the years, and much more.
2023-2024 Jones Apollo Snowboard Binding
The Apollo is the stiffest binding in the Jones lineup, and we’ve been using it as a daily driver this season. Check out our Full Review to see how it’s performed, and how it compares to other flagship bindings like the NOW O-Drive.
Midlayer & Insulation Roundup – 2024
As the temperatures continue to drop in the northern hemisphere, many of us are thinking about and adapting our layering setups. Midlayers and insulators are a vital part of this, especially when it comes to balancing cold temperatures with high-output activities. In our new Midlayer & Insulation Roundup, several of our reviewers discuss some of their recent favorites.
2023-2024 Volkl Secret 102
Skis that stand out for their high-speed capabilities and precise edge hold are rarely also ones that stand out for being maneuverable or accessible. The new Volkl Secret 102 doesn’t totally break that trend, but it does offer a really impressive balance for the right skiers. Check out our Full Review & Deep Dive comparisons.