BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Bikes vs. Skis, 4th Edition (2023): Part 1 (Ep.245)
Which bike brand and which ski company is currently holding the ‘Cool Kids Belt’? Which brand do other companies secretly wish they could trade places with? We debate these questions and more in our latest edition of Bikes vs. Skis.
23/24 K2 Ski Boots | Blister Summit 2023 Video
We talk with K2’s Tom Pietrowski about all the new boots they’ve got coming for 23/24, including tons of BOA models, their 3-piece FL3X collection, & more.
Flash Review: 23/24 RMU Apostle 106 Pro
The standard Apostle 106 has been a favorite of ours, but what happens when you add 2 layers of metal to it? Check out our initial thoughts on the Apostle 106 Pro.
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2023-2024 RMU Apostle 106 Pro
Here are our measured specs, flex pattern numbers, and rocker profile pictures for the RMU Apostle 106 Pro.
2022-2023 Renoun Atlas
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the Renoun Atlas 80.
Canyon Strive:ON CFR
Canyon launched two new long-travel full-power e-MTBs simultaneously, and the new Strive:ON is meant to be the racing-oriented compatriot to the freeride-focused Torque:ON — but the two share nearly identical geometry and both rock a mullet, so what sets the two apart? Turns out that there’s quite a bit.
Richie Schley on Inventing Freeride MTB, Bike Evolution, Fixing Rampage, & More (Ep.169)
Richie Schley had a big hand in the formation of freeride mountain biking as we know it, and he’s still got his finger on the pulse of the sport. So we sat down with Richie to hear his (often hilarious) stories from the early days, chat about where he wants to see freeride go and grow from here, and a whole lot more — including getting the rundown on his recent bachelor party.
Brooks Catamount 2
After some wide-ranging testing, the Brooks Catamount 2 has all of the makings of a dynamic mid-distance trail shoe that draws comparisons to models we’ve been quite fond of in the past. Check out our full review to learn more.
Guitars & Guitar Making with Fretboard Journal’s Jason Verlinde (Ep.24)
Today we’re discussing all things guitars and guitar making with the publisher of the Fretboard Journal, Jason Verlinde, including where guitars are being made; boutique vs. mass market brands; who is pushing innovation; guitar quivers; the greatest guitarists ever; & more.
Hillary Allen: Share More, Compare Less
In our latest Open Mic, ultra runner and gravel cyclist Hillary Allen discusses the danger of comparisons and finding connection in our struggles.
BOA & the Death of Buckles? 23/24 Ski Boot Design | Blister Summit 2023 Video
Ski Boot Design: how did we get here, and where are we headed? We brought together ski boot designers, Tom Pietrowski (K2), Christoph Lentz (Fischer), Riccardo Bonaiti (Dalbello), and Ross Herr (Dynafit) for this conversation — and pro skier / designer / obsessive tinkerer, Hoji, joins in, too.
2023 Trek Fuel EX
The Trek Fuel EX has grown in just about every respect from its fifth to sixth generations — suspension travel, wheelbase, degree of adjustability, and so on — and the end result is an extremely well-rounded Trail bike that we think could work for a ton of different riders.
2023-2024 Ferreol Explo 96
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pics, and flex pattern numbers for the Ferreol Explo 96.
Sarah Keyes on Living & Training in the Adirondacks, US Long Distance Team Dreams, & Pastry (Mis)adventures (Ep.171)
In her first season running for The North Face, Sarah Keyes just secured a spot on the US Long Distance team ahead of next month’s World Mountain Running Championships. So, Matt Mitchell sat down with her to chat about how the opportunity came about; calling the Adirondacks home; East Coast vs. West Coast trail running scenes; pastries; and much more.
2023-2024 Jones Storm Wolf
From fall-line chargers to tight-tree slashers, modern surf-inspired boards span a wide range these days. So where does the Storm Wolf, one of the latest collabs between surfboard shaper Chris Christenson and Jeremy Jones, slot into the mix? Check out our full review to find out.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
3-Board Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (23/24)
Over the past weeks, we’ve been rolling out our reviewers’ picks for their personal ski quivers, and now it’s time for our snowboard reviewers to chime in — starting with their ideal 3-snowboard quivers.
Last Season’s Historic Snowfall, El Nino / La Nina Predictions, & More with OpenSnow’s Bryan Allegretto and Evan Thayer (Ep.288)
Today we are talking about weather forecasting — and finding your people in this dark, cold, and sometimes lonely universe — with two of the weather forecasters from OpenSnow, Bryan Allegretto and Evan Thayer. We discuss last season’s historic winter; how much stock you ought to put into the whole ‘El Nino or la Nina thing’; whether the stated snowfall amounts at various ski areas are fake news; all the ingredients that go into the creation of snowfall; and more.
Line Launches Limited-Edition Bacon 122 Ski
Line recently overhauled their Bacon collection for the 23/24 season, but now there’s already another member of the Bacon family — check out the limited-edition Bacon 122.
2-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (23/24)
In the penultimate feature of our annual ski-quiver series, we ask our reviewers which 2 skis they’d pick for all the skiing they do, as well as how those picks would change if they didn’t do any backcountry touring, and what their 2-ski quiver would look like for any location in the world. In Part 3 of their selections, we hear from Paul Forward and Jonathan Ellsworth.
Biggest Ski Buying Mistakes + Ski Tuning, Ski Wax, & Ski Boots (Ep.273)
What are some of the biggest mistakes skiers make when buying gear? And what do regular, recreational skiers & snowboarders need to know about ski tuning and waxing? Jonathan discusses these questions and more with Logan and Riley Boone of Boone Mountain Sports. They also talk about how they all met (it was in Austria), and Jonathan reveals the upcoming ‘Blister 90-Flex Challenge’.
Win Outerwear from Strafe
The two winners of our Gear Giveaway this week will each get either the Women’s Scarlett Bib or Men’s Nomad Bib from Strafe!
Katy Winton on Burnout, Recovery, & Returning to Racing (Ep.197)
Katy Winton has had a challenging last couple of years, from a protracted concussion recovery to having to put together her own privateer program at the last minute to even race in 2021. And then two races into the 2022 EWS season, she was so severely burned out that she pulled out of the rest of the season to recover. Now, she’s ready to tell the whole story, so we brought her back on Bikes & Big Ideas to share it.
Flash Review: Luke’s Opening Day Gear: 23/24 Rossignol Forza, Lange Shadow, Rab Vapour-Rise, & Anon Goggles
We’re back on snow! And in this special opening-day Flash Review, Luke Koppa shares some thoughts on the Rossignol Forza 70D V-Ti, Lange Shadow 130 LV, Rab Vapour-Rise Summit Jacket, & Anon M5 goggle.
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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Amateur Hour: Paul Forward on Arrows (Ep.37)
Last year we talked with Blister reviewer, Paul Forward, about the art, ethics, and craftsmanship of traditional bows (episode #8). And today, we’re talking about arrows.
Phaenom Footwear Announces Limited Drop of New Ski Boots
phaenom footwear, the newest and most nebulous ski boot company to hit the market, has announced a limited drop of their first collection of ski boots. Here are the details.
Deep Dive: 2024 Trek Slash
We compare the Trek Slash to the Contra MC, Cannondale Jekyll, Norco Range, Forbidden Dreadnought, Canfield One.2 Super Enduro, Yeti SB160, Pivot Firebird, Santa Cruz Megatower, and Propain Tyee.
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.
(If you’re already logged in and a member in good standing and seeing this message in error, please refresh this page in your browser.)
‘The Blackcountry Journal’ with Mallory Duncan & Jonathan Ellsworth (Ep.2)
The Blackcountry Journal is a new, truly different, 10-minute-long film by Mallory Duncan that packs a lot into its short running length, bringing together the worlds of jazz and skiing, and incorporating ideas, words, and scenes that you won’t soon forget.