BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Saucony Xodus Ultra
The Xodus Ultra debuts as a marked improvement on previous iterations of Saucony’s Xodus line. The shoe drops some much-needed weight without undermining its intended use as a maximal option for a wide variety of trail types and conditions. While it’s not without its flaws, we still think it shapes up as a great choice for beginner trail runners still getting their footing, or for folks looking to add a capable everyday trainer to their shoe quiver. Check out our full review for the whole story.
Flash Review: 23/24 Blizzard Rustler 11
Blizzard recently announced that they’re updating their longstanding Rustler series, and we just got our first day on the new Rustler 11. Check out our initial impressions.
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2023 Manitou Dorado
There aren’t many inverted forks left on the market, so how does one of the most famous holdouts — the Manitou Dorado — stack up against its more conventional competitors? We’ve spent a lot of time on both the Expert and Pro versions, and are ready to weigh in.
Abby Hall on Desert Chronicles, UFO Encounters, & Going All In (Ep.155)
We talked to adidas TERREX pro, Abby Hall, about how some of the major life changes she’s made since the last time she appeared on the show back in 2020 have helped fuel her recent success on the international racing scene; the role creativity plays in her life; UFO encounters; and much more.
BLISTER+: Real-World Testimonials — David Golay
A catastrophic knee injury in 2019 cost David not only most of a mountain biking season, but also a pile of money. BLISTER+ would have saved him close to $10,000 and very likely meant that he got better physical therapy to help with the recovery.
Tales of Sailing, Skiing, & “Going Greenland” with Jess Baker & Rachael Burks (Ep.244)
We talk to Jess Baker and Rachael Burks about sailing, skiing, and what happens when you combine a renewable energy sailboat with an arctic ski expedition in Greenland for the first time ever.
Flash Review: 22/23 Fischer Ranger 108
We’ve been skiing the new Fischer Ranger 108 this season after first getting a taste at the 2022 Blister Summit. Check out our 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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Shop Talk: Powder7 + ‘Crashes & Close Calls’ (Ep.231)
Jonathan talks shop life, gear, the price of single-day lift passes, and more with Alex and Matt from Powder7 in Golden, Colorado. Then Blister bike editor, David Golay, jumps on to tell his “Crashes & Close Calls” story.
Win Any HEAD Kore Ski
The winner of this week’s Gear Giveaway will get to pick any Kore ski from HEAD’s expansive lineup!
2022-2023 Volkl Mantra 102
We’ve now had a handful of reviewers on the updated Volkl Mantra 102. Check out our full review of this updated all-mountain ski and how it compares to the first iteration.
Deep Dive: Volkl Mantra 102
We compare the updated Mantra 102 to the original Volkl Mantra 102, Volkl M6 Mantra, Volkl Katana 108, Blizzard Cochise 106, Salomon Stance 102, Folsom Blister Pro 104, Blizzard Bonafide 97, Nordica Enforcer 100, J Skis Masterblaster, K2 Mindbender 99Ti, Wagner Summit 97, Fischer Ranger 102, Salomon Stance 96, Fischer Ranger 102 FR, Line Blade Optic 96, Moment Commander 98, Renoun Endurance 98, Faction Dancer 2, Atomic Maverick 100 Ti, Dynastar M-Pro 99, Nordica Enforcer 104 Free, Salomon QST 98, 4FRNT MSP 99, Head Kore 99, & Rossignol Sender 106 Ti+.
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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Flash Review: 22/23 Folsom Cash 106
We’ve been spending time on two versions of Folsom’s Cash 106 shape — check out our initial on-snow impressions.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Flash Review — Starling Murmur V3
In a world of carbon fiber multi-link bikes, the steel single-pivot Starling Murmur might seem like a bit of a throwback. But after our first few rides on the Murmur, it’s shaping up to be a lot of fun — and a compelling option for the right folks.
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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Gamux on Doing Everything Differently (Ep.152)
The Gamux Sego is about as visually striking as bikes get, and the story of its development and the brand that spawned it is every bit as interesting. And so we sat down with founder Pascal Tinner to get the whole story.
2022-2023 Salomon QST Stella 106
This season the women’s QST Stella 106 got the same update seen previously on the unisex version, and the results have been similarly impressive. Check out our full review & Deep Dive comparisons to see where it slots into the women’s all-mountain category.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Rum Rules: Montanya Distillers’ Karen Hoskin (Ep.28)
Today we’re discussing the rules of rum with Karen Hoskin, founder of Montanya Distillers, which produces some of the best rum in the country.
2023 Rocky Mountain Slayer
“Freeride” bikes are having a bit of a moment again after the term fell out of the conversation for a while, and Rocky Mountain’s longstanding take on the genre, the Slayer, just got a big update.
Olivia Amber on Endless Summers; Her Huemul Circuit FKT; & Fastpacking 101 (Ep.176)
The North Face athlete Olivia Amber spent the first few months of 2023 road tripping through South America, running, climbing (and occasionally fly fishing) along the way. We caught up with her to hear all about it before launching into a discussion about summer fastpacking best practices, gear tips, and more.
The State of Startups in the Outdoor Industry (Ep.264)
Ever dreamed of starting your own business in the outdoor industry? We discuss the state of startups in the outdoor industry with Moosejaw CEO, Eoin Comerford. And as the CEO of an outdoor retail company — as well as his work with the Moosejaw Outdoor Accelerator, where Eoin works closely with new companies and founders — Eoin is extremely well positioned to talk about the startup landscape today, and he provides numerous thoughts, tips, and bits of advice about funding, what success looks like; and more.
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.
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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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.