BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Deep Dive: Coalition Snow Rafiki
We compare the Rafiki to the Blizzard Sheeva 11, Armada ARV 116 JJ UL, Salomon QST Stella 106, Nordica Unleashed 108 W, Majesty Vadera Ti, K2 Mindbender 115C W, Salomon QST Blank, Armada ARW 106 UL, & Faction Dancer 3X.
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Flash Review: 23/24 Rossignol Sender Free 110 vs. Dynastar M-Free 108 vs. Rossignol Sender Squad
How do these three heavy, strong, yet playful skis compare? Check out Jonathan Ellsworth & Luke Koppa’s initial impressions.
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Flash Review — Yeti SB160
We’ve started spending time on Yeti’s latest take on an Enduro race bike, the SB160. Check out our Flash Review for our early impressions.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Ryan Scura on “Urban Oasis,” Trail Running in San Francisco, and the Importance of Green Spaces in Cities (Ep.163)
Together, Ryan Scura and Dylan Ladds make up Dooster, the award winning production company the two childhood friends created to tell outdoor adventure stories through film. We recently sat down with Ryan to talk about one of their latest projects, “Urban Oasis: A Love Letter to San Francisco,” a short that explores trail running in one of California’s most densely populated cities.
Flash Review: 22/23 Peak 98
We’re testing all the skis in Peak’s lineup, and we’re kicking off our reviews with the all-rounder in the collection, the Peak 98. Check out Luke Koppa & Jonathan Ellsworth’s initial impressions.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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2022-2023 Meier Leeper
Owen Leeper is known for his high-speed straightlines and massive airs, but how does his pro model perform under the feet of mere mortals? Check out our Full Review & Deep Dive comparisons to find out.
Deep Dive: Meier Leeper
We compare the Meier Leeper to the Icelantic Nomad 115, Line Blade Optic 114, Moment Wildcat, DPS Foundation Koala 118, Black Crows Anima, Dynastar M-Free 118, Rossignol Blackops 118, J Skis The Friend, Volkl Revolt 121, Salomon QST Blank, 4FRNT Renegade, 4FRNT Inthayne, Atomic Bent Chetler 120, Line Vision 118, Season Forma, Line Outline, Line Reckoner 112, Prior Northwest 116, Nordica Enforcer 115 Free, Head Kore 117, and Elan Ripstick 116.
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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JT Holmes on Joining Peak Skis; Jumping into New Industries; Speed Riding; Ski Media; & More (Ep.251)
From big-mountain skiing to ski-base jumping to stunt work, JT Holmes has consistently pushed boundaries and explored new opportunities. And now, JT is joining Peak Skis. So we talk to JT about all of the above, and more.
Rossignol Poursuite Jacket
Intended for both Nordic skiing and running, Rossignol’s Poursuite Jacket demonstrates the value of multipart apparel. Made from wind-stopping polyester treated with a DWR coating and 37.5 Technology, the versatile softshell impressed us with its breathability, comfort, and complementary water resistance. Check out our full review to learn more.
2023-2024 K2 Mindbender 108Ti
K2’s biggest and burliest metal-laminate ski, the Mindbender 108Ti, got updated this season, and we’ve had several reviewers on the latest iteration. Check out our Full Review & Deep Dive comparisons to see how it stacks up.
Deep Dive: K2 Mindbender 108Ti
We compare the latest Mindbender 108Ti to the previous Mindbender 108Ti, K2 Mindbender 99Ti, Blizzard Cochise 106, Volkl Katana 108, Folsom Primary 104, Salomon QST 106, Black Crows Corvus, Elan Ripstick 106, 4FRNT MSP 107, J Skis Hotshot, Black Crows Atris, Line Blade Optic 104, Shaggy’s Ahmeek 105, Salomon Stance 102, Dynastar M-Free 108, Faction Dancer 3, Rossignol Sender 106 Ti+, Blizzard Rustler 10, Icelantic Nomad 105, Nordica Enforcer 110, & Nordica Unleashed 108.
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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Win Any Renoun Ski
The winner of this week’s gear giveaway will get to pick any unique, VibeStop-equipped Renoun ski they want!
ZipFit “Inner Boots”; the Growth of ZipFit; Reviewing Ski Boots; & More with Jeff Colt (Ep.237)
We talk with Jeff Colt, Brand Director for ZipFit, about “inner boots”; first-day vs. 3rd-day fit; reviewing ski boots; the new Zipfit x Fischer Ski Boots collab; and more.
Cy Turner on 20 Years of Cotic Bikes (Ep.160)
Cotic Bikes turns 20 this year, and we took the opportunity to sit down with founder Cy Turner to chat about the history of the brand & changes to the industry over those two decades; why they use steel for full-suspension frames and hardtails alike; Cy’s philosophy on bike design; tease an upcoming Blister review; & a whole lot more.
Ibis Ripmo V2S
Ibis gave the Ripmo a light update late last year, and while the changes to the new V2S version aren’t all that dramatic, it’s still a good, well-rounded bike that blurs the line between longer-travel Trail bikes and full-on Enduro ones, in a way that we can imagine working well for a lot of folks. Check out our full review for our take, including how the Ripmo V2S stacks up against a dozen of its competitors.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
BOA & Ski Boot Design with Hoji, K2’s Tom Pietrowski, Fischer’s Christoph Lentz, Dalbello’s Riccardo Bonaiti, and Dynafit’s Ross Herr (Ep.262)
Hoji and ski boot designers from K2, Fischer, Dalbello, and Dynafit discuss ski boot design in general; the hype and skepticism around BOA (are boot buckles dying?); the balancing act of designing a walk mechanism; the challenges presented by the boot-binding interface, and more.
Vemdalen Ski Shop
Vemdalen Ski Shop is a dedicated, specialty ski shop right beside the ski area Vemdalsskalet. At Vemdalen Ski Shop, you are guaranteed a great shopping experience with their staff full of expertise, an authentic atmosphere, and excellent gear to suit your needs.
We Are One Convergence Wheels
We Are One has been making some of our favorite carbon wheels for quite a while now, and the latest models in their Convergence line are claimed to be stronger and more damped than their longstanding Union rims — and they use a wild-looking design to get there. We’ve been spending a lot of time on the middle-width wheel in the range, the Triad, and are ready to weigh in.
Trek on the New High-Pivot Slash (Ep.186)
The Trek Slash has been in their lineup for a long time, but the new sixth-generation bike is a big departure from the earlier iterations — first and foremost because of its new high-pivot suspension layout — and we sat down with the lead engineer on the project, Matt Yerke, to hear all about it.
Flash Review — 2024 Trek Slash
The Trek Slash has gone high-pivot and grown a mullet, and we’ve started spending time on the new one.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Women’s MTB Jersey Roundup – 2023
Lots of miles on the bike this summer has meant plenty of time for testing a bunch of women-specific jerseys, and for this year’s women’s MTB Jersey Roundup, we have nine options that span everything from tank tops to long-sleeve downhill jerseys.
A Recipe, by Brendan Leonard
In our latest Open Mic piece, Brendan Leonard shares a recipe and asks us to consider, What is ‘Real’?
Reviewing the News w/ Cody Townsend, August 2023 (Ep.276)
Cody and Jonathan discuss marketing jargon in the outdoor industry; the sale of Jackson Hole Mtn Resort; another mountaineering controversy; mountain town advice; and more.
Deep Dive: Specialized Turbo Levo
We compare the Specialized Turbo Levo to the Pivot Shuttle LT, Pivot Shuttle AM, Orbea Wild, and Rocky Mountain Instinct Powerplay.
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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Specialized Turbo Levo
Having logged more than 600 miles on the Specialized Turbo Levo (and burned through a couple of sets of brake pads and tires in the process) we’re well acquainted with the bike and ready to chime in — check out our full review of one of the most popular eMTBs on the market.
Blister Labs: Technical Apparel Testing Update (Ep.261)
Apparel testing, show pigs, & the underrated importance of ballpoint pens. Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ellsworth discuss these things with our Blister Labs colleague, Melanie Peddle.
Extended: Win a Carbon Wheelset from Forge+Bond
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get a new carbon fiber wheelset from Forge+Bond!