BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
FSA KFX i28 Wheels
FSA’s KFX i28 wheels were developed on the World Cup XC circuit, but we’ve found their appeal to extend well beyond pure XC racing. Check out our Full Review for more on why we think a lot of folks should consider the KFX i28 wheels.
Pivot Shuttle SL/AM
Has Pivot’s Shuttle SL/AM combined the best qualities of the Shuttle SL and AM to create an eMTB that’s better than both of them?
Deep Dive: Pivot Shuttle SL/AM
We compare the Pivot Shuttle SL/AM to the Pivot Shuttle SL, Rocky Mountain Instinct Powerplay SL, Canyon Spectral:ONfly, Santa Cruz Heckler SL, Mondraker Dune XR, Yeti MTe, and Propain Sresh SL
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Reviewing the News w/ Mike Ferrentino & Simon Stewart (Ep. 303)
Mike and Simon give an update on the exciting Cyclocross season so far, followed by some troubling recalls in the bike industry, a few interesting new products, and a whole lot more.
2025-2026 K2 Alchemist
The K2 Alchemist is built for speed, but it holds up surprisingly well across a range of conditions — check out our Full Review to see why we think it could be just what some hard-charging riders have been looking for.
How Does a Small Craft Brand Break Out? SennzaFinne Shares Their BluePrint (Ep. 91)
In a spirits landscape full of massive brands and mega marketing budgets, what differentiates a craft producer? SennzaFinne, the Seattle based amaro producer founded by former bartenders, has found creative ways to make their mark.
Flash Review: Evil Offering
It’s been a quiet few years for Evil, but their new Offering has gotten a major overhaul, and the on-trail results are intriguing.
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Evil Offering
It’s been a while since we saw a new bike from Evil, but their updated Offering brings some welcome changes while sticking to other parts of the familiar Evil recipe. Check it out here, including our initial on-trail impressions.
Durston X-Mid Pro 2 Shelter
Our reviewer has been testing ultralight backcountry shelters for decades, and the Durston X-Mid Pro 2 is his current all-round favorite. Here’s why.
OpenSnow’s Joel Gratz on the Outlook for This Winter; Extended Snow Forecasts; AI Updates; & More (Ep.385)
Joel Gratz, the founding meteorologist & CEO of OpenSnow, is back to talk about … snow! And snow forecasting. And what’s new in the world of weather modeling. So if you like snow and you like to know when & where the snow will fly, listen up!
MTX Brake Pads
Brake pads are a small part with a huge impact on braking performance, and MTX’s Red Label Race and Gold Label HD pads deliver convincing performance on the trail. Check out our thoughts after five months of riding both options.
Gear Gossip w/ Moment Skis’ Luke Jacobson (Ep.371)
Today we spill some tea, break some news, fire off a few rants, and we walk through Moment’s 25/26 lineup, including what Moment CEO, Luke Jacobson, believes to be the most significant changes to the line.
Best Bikes of the Century, Part 2 (Ep. 302)
Our search for the best bike of the 21st century continues. For Part 2, Simon Stewart, David Golay, Xan Marshland, and Zack Henderson have 16 more brands to argue over.
Caviar 101 with Black River Caviar (Ep.90)
Caviar. Is there any word — or food — that more quickly conjures up associations of luxury and opulence? We talk with Sarah Mayo for a deep dive into the history of global caviar production and the ways in which the modern market is shaping consumption.
Flash Review: Diaz Upper & Lower Runt
Diaz Suspension Design’s new Lower Runt fork air spring upgrade runs counter to some current trends in air spring design, and makes some intriguing performance claims in doing so. So, how does it all come together on the trail? We’ve started to find out.
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:
Flash Review: Lal Katana
The Katana is Lal’s first in-house frame, built around their Supre Drive drivetrain, and we’ve started spending time on it. So, is its on-trail performance as unconventional as its aesthetics might suggest? Here’s our early take.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Flash Review: 25/26 Kästle Paragon 93
Kästle calls the Paragon 93 a “true all-rounder,” and we’ve been testing that claim. Here are Jonathan Ellsworth and Luke Koppa’s initial thoughts on this lightweight, metal-laminate ski.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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2025-2026 Kästle Paragon 93
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the Kästle Paragon 93.
Reviewer Reports: Lal Katana, Norco Sight VLT, Yeti LTe, & More (Ep.305)
David and Simon give a rundown on some of the bikes they’re testing, including a variety of very different eMTBs, a couple of mixed-wheel Trail bikes, and more.
Amateur Hour: Camera Gear w/ Jonathan Ellsworth and Justin Bobb (Ep.93)
Recently, Jonathan has been going deep down the rabbit hole of camera gear and lighting, and the strikingly handsome Justin Bobb has been his spiritual guide.
2025-2026 J Skis Flight
J Skis has released a narrower take on their Escalator twin-tip 50/50 ski. Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the all-new J Skis Flight.
Flash Review: 25/26 J Skis Flight
We’ve been testing the new 95mm-wide J Skis Flight on lifts and the skintrack — here are some of our initial thoughts on this lightweight all-mountain ski.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Shimano GE900 GTX Shoes
Our Bike Editor has been on a decade-plus-long hunt for his ideal waterproof clipless shoe. Is the Shimano GE9 GTX the answer?
Magura Gustav Pro Brakes
Magura’s Gustav Pro brakes aim to be a “set and forget” brake option while still delivering plenty of power and consistency. They’ve delivered on some of those promises, but aren’t without their quirks — check out our Full Review after six months of ride time.
5-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (25/26)
In Part Two of our reviewers’ 5-ski quiver selections, we hear from Jonathan Ellsworth, Kara Williard, and Paul Forward. Check out which skis they’ve picked this year, and let us know what your own ideal 5-ski quiver would look like!
Blister Podcast 10th Anniversary: Highlights, Lowlights, & Fun Facts (Ep.387)
This week marks the 10th anniversary of the Blister Podcast. So to celebrate this milestone, we thought we’d share some of the highlights, lowlights, and crazy factoids about how this podcast came to be; how it led to the creation of the Blister Podcast Network; and what’s next.
Flash Review: 25/26 Völkl Peregrine 72
Völkl says the Peregrine 72 is “ultra-agile,” but also that it “can do everything on piste.” So, where does it actually excel? Here are our initial thoughts, including comparisons to the wider Peregrines and Head’s Supershape models.
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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