BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
2023 Sea Otter Classic Recap, Part 2
We’re onto the last day of Sea Otter, and have some more new stuff to show and tell about.
2023-2024 Salomon S/Pro Supra BOA 105 W
Here are our measured specs, photos, and a quick rundown of Salomon’s new medium-volume boot, the S/Pro Supra BOA 105 W.
2023 Sea Otter Classic Recap, Part 1
We’re at Sea Otter, and there’s a lot of new stuff to check out. Here’s some of the early stuff that caught our eye.
2023-2024 Peak 98
The Peak 98 is the do-everything model in Bode Miller’s new ski company’s lineup — check out our Full Review & Deep Dive comparisons to see where it slots into the market, and whether it might work for you.
Deep Dive: Peak 98
We compare the Peak 98 to the Peak 88, Peak 98SC, Peak 104, K2 Mindbender 99Ti, Blizzard Bonafide 97, Volkl M6 Mantra, Salomon Stance 96, Nordica Enforcer 100, Black Crows Justis, Rossignol Sender 104 Ti, Blizzard Rustler 9, Moment Commander 98, Fischer Ranger 102, Fischer Ranger 102 FR, Faction Dancer 2, Atomic Maverick 100 Ti, Armada Declivity 102 Ti, Dynastar M-Pro 99, Volkl Mantra 102, ZAG Harfang 96, Wagner Summit 97, Head Kore 99, J Skis Masterblaster, Salomon QST 98, & 4FRNT MSP 99.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Coalition Snow: 10 Years of Skis & Snowboards, 23/24 Lineup, & More w/ Founder & CEO, Jen Gurecki (Ep.242)
Kara Williard talks with Jen Gurecki, founder and CEO of Coalition Snow, about operating a women-owned ski and snowboard company for the past 10 years; how the vision has evolved; their brick-and-mortar storefront; inclusive trips around the world; initiatives to grow the sport and the community; their 23/24 lineup; and more.
Blizzard’s New Rustler & Sheeva Skis | Blister Summit 2023 Video
We sat down with Blizzard’s Christian Avery & Leslie Baker-Brown to go over all the new skis they’re rolling out for the 2023-2024 season. We discuss the new Rustler & Sheeva lines; how they differ from the previous iterations; Blizzard’s Women 2 Women program & how it influences their ski concepts; the purposes of their “FluxForm” & “TrueBlend” technologies, and more.
Win La Sportiva Ski Boots
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get the Vanguard or Vanguard Women’s ski touring boot from La Sportiva!
2022-2023 Shaggy’s Fun Carver 88
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the Shaggy’s Fun Carver 88.
Flash Review — Yeti SB135
The Yeti SB135 might look like a bit of a throwback, as a high-end 27.5”-wheeled Trail bike, but we’ve been spending time on it, and it’s a whole lot of fun.
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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Hoka Challenger 7
With the Challenger 7, Hoka attempts to do more with less. The latest iteration of the brand’s longstanding road-to-trail model benefits from a top-to-bottom overhaul that sees its weight decrease significantly despite adding 2 mm of stack height to a midsole that feels sprightly out of the box. Check out our full review to learn more.
Project Bike Tech on Putting Bike Shops in Schools (Ep.166)
Project Bike Tech has been establishing bike shop classes in high schools for 15 years now, and we sat down with their Executive Director, Mercedes Ross, to hear all about it.
TRP Evo12 and Evo7 Drivetrains
Breaking into the mountain bike drivetrain market is a big task, but TRP is giving it a go — and their second-generation Evo12 and Evo7 drivetrains are now offered as a complete package including a cassette and cranks.
Flash Review: 23/24 Elan Ripstick Tour 104
Here are our thoughts so far on Elan’s lightweight, touring-oriented edition of their Ripstick collection, the Ripstick Tour 104.
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: 23/24 Nordica Santa Ana Unlimited 104
For 23/24 Nordica is transferring their lightweight “Unlimited” construction to a wider women’s ski, the Santa Ana Unlimited 104. Check out our thoughts so far.
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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BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
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.
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‘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.
Women-Specific Avalanche Education Scholarships
The American Avalanche Association and Backcountry Access (BCA) are once again offering a scholarship program for female-identifying individuals who are pursuing a Professional Level Avalanche course in the 2023-2024 season. Applications are now open!
Jones Ultralight Stratos Splitboard
The Ultralight Stratos Splitboard is a high-end board designed to excel on the up and down in a variety of conditions. So… does it? And what sort of riders ought to be considering it?
2024 Trek Slash
The recently overhauled Trek Slash combines a high-pivot layout, wheel-size options, and a lot of adjustability into an impressively well-rounded package for such a big, game-on bike.