BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Flash Review — Manitou Mattoc Pro
We’ve been big fans of the Manitou Mezzer Pro for a while now, so is the new Mattoc Pro a mini-Mezzer or something else entirely? We’ve been logging time on the Mattoc and are ready to weigh in with our initial impressions.
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Marker’s 23/24 Touring & Freeride Bindings | Blister Summit 2023 Video
At Blister Summit 2023, we sat down with Marker’s Chris McKenna to discuss their 2023-2024 binding lineup, including the brand-new Cruise touring binding; how it compares to the Marker Alpinist; the updates they’ve made to the Duke PT collection; and more.
New Binding Tech: Tyrolia Protector Bindings with Full Heel Release (Ep.249)
Tyrolia’s Protector bindings with “Full Heel Release” is something that every skier ought to know about. Tyrolia calls it “the safest binding we have ever made,” and exactly how it works and how it’s supposed to reduce knee injuries is the topic of this conversation.
Shaman 2.0, Pioneer X, & More: 23/24 Icelantic Skis | Blister Summit 2023 Video
At Blister Summit 2023, we sat down with Icelantic’s John Douthit to discuss their 2023-2024 ski collection. We cover the resurrected & revised Shaman 2.0 collection; their new high-performance Pioneer X; athlete-driven Saba Pro & Nia Pro series; and more.
Win an MTB Crankset from Rotor
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get the Kapic Crankset from Rotor!
Öhlins RXC34 m.1 and TXC Air
Eagle-eyed observers might have caught wind of Öhlins’ foray into the world of XC race suspension when they were listed as a partner of Team BMC, and now the fork and shock(s) that they’ve developed are breaking cover.
A Very Deep Dive on Suspension with EXT’s Franco Fratton, Pt. 3 (Ep.173)
EXT founder Franco Fratton is back on Bikes & Big Ideas to continue our deep dive on suspension, this time covering spring designs and the tradeoffs between coil and air ones; active suspension & the future of MTB suspension design, and a whole lot more.
New Balance Fresh Foam X More Trail v3
The New Balance Fresh Foam X More Trail v3 is a lot of shoe by just about any standard. As one of the most cushioned ultra-distance options currently on the market, it has so far escaped several of the common pitfalls that plague many models in the hyper-maximalist trail shoe category. Check out our full review to learn more.
Snowbound
Snowbound is a family-owned shop on Sydney’s North Shore in Australia. This store offers a top-notch assortment of ski equipment and services.
Flash Review — GT Sensor ST
We got pretty excited about the new GT Sensor ST when it launched, and now we’ve started spending time on it. Check out our initial on-trail impressions.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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23/24 Atomic Skis & Boots | Blister Summit 2023 Video
We discuss Atomic’s updated “Bent” ski collection; Chris Benchetler’s new role as Creative Director at Atomic; how they’ve evaluated & decreased the environmental impact of their skis; implementing the BOA Fit System into their ski boots; the brand-new Backland XTD boots, and more.
Resisting the Algorithm
In our latest Open Mic piece, Brendan Leonard writes about modern life, real discoveries, and the essence of adventure.
2023 Giant Glory Advanced
The Giant Glory is back. The prior-generation version had grown long in the tooth and mostly faded out of the market, but now there’s a new one with a full carbon fiber frame, mixed wheels, tons of adjustability, and more. Check out our First Look for the rundown.
Leah Yingling on Lululemon’s FURTHER Initiative, Their New Women-Specific Road-to-Trail Shoe, & Her Western States 100 Expectations (Ep.175)
Leah Yingling returns to the show to discuss her new partnership with Lululemon and the brand’s FURTHER initiative, a first-of-its-kind ultramarathon for women intended to help close the sex and gender data gap in sports medicine that historically underrepresents female athletes.
2022-2023 Shaggy’s Mohawk 98
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the Shaggy’s Mohawk 98.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
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.
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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.
Deep Dive: Volkl Secret 102
We compare the Volkl Secret 102 to the Volkl Secret 96, Blizzard Black Pearl 97, K2 Mindbender 99Ti W, Nordica Santa Ana 98, 4FRNT MSP CC, Armada Reliance 102 Ti, Fischer Ranger 102, Rossignol Rallybird 104 Ti, Nordica Santa Ana 104 Free, Line Blade Optic 104, Faction Dancer 3X, & Salomon QST Stella 106.
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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Contenders: Best Team Edits of 2023, Snowboard (Ep.8)
What were the best snowboard team edits of 2023? Justin Bobb and Jonathan Ellsworth discuss some of the contenders, and why they made the cut. What do you think should be in the top 3?
2024 RockShox BoXXer
The new 38mm-stanchioned RockShox BoXXer was a long-awaited and poorly kept secret. We have now logged a whole lot of laps on one and are ready to weigh in on how it performs, and how it compares to its competition. Check out our full review for all the info.
Blizzard Announces Brand-New Anomaly Ski Collection
Blizzard just announced a brand-new line of all-mountain skis. Here are the details on the 2024-2025 Blizzard Anomaly skis.
Flash Review: 23/24 Folsom Giver
Paul Forward has been spending time on a custom version of Folsom’s Giver shape that’s designed for daily skiing at Alyeska — check out his 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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