BLISTER — Outdoor Gear Reviews, Podcasts, Buyer’s Guides, Giveaways

BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles

In our latest installment of Open Mic, we are publishing the opening pages of Jeremy Jones’ book, The Art of Shralpinism, with an introduction by Jonathan Ellsworth that focuses on the artistry of the book itself.

Jeremy Jones: The Art of Shralpinism

In our latest installment of Open Mic, we are publishing the opening pages of Jeremy Jones’ book, The Art of Shralpinism, with an introduction by Jonathan Ellsworth that focuses on the artistry of the book itself.

Read More »
Luke Koppa & Dylan Wood review the Majesty Dirty Bear XL for Blister

2022-2023 Majesty Dirty Bear XL

This season Majesty opted to take a longstanding ski in their lineup and split it into two different models — check out our full review for more on the new, 105mm-wide Dirty Bear XL.

Read More »
Luke Koppa & Dylan Wood review the Majesty Dirty Bear XL for Blister

Deep Dive: Majesty Dirty Bear XL

We compare the Dirty Bear XL to the Black Crows Atris, Line Sir Francis Bacon, Salomon QST 106, K2 Reckoner 102, J Skis Hotshot, 4FRNT Devastator, Moment Deathwish 104, Elan Ripstick 104, Nordica Enforcer 104 Free, Rossignol Sender 104 Ti, Whitedot Altum 104, Shaggy’s Ahmeek 105, Line Blade Optic 104, 4FRNT MSP 107, Sego Big Horn 106, Armada ARW 106 UL, Black Crows Camox, Volkl Revolt 104, Blizzard Rustler 10, DPS Koala 103, RMU Apostle 106, & ZAG Slap 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.

If you’re already an active member, please log in.

(If you’re already logged in and a member in good standing and seeing this message in error, please refresh this page in your browser.)

Read More »
BLISTER — Outdoor Gear Reviews, Podcasts, Buyer’s Guides, Giveaways

Katie Asmuth on Beating the Injury Bug, Mom Strength, & Golden Ticket Season (Ep.158)

While running injuries are undoubtedly the suckiest part of the sport, they’re also perhaps the most inevitable, so learning how to approach them mentally can make time on the shelf an opportunity for growth. After being sidelined with a broken foot for most of 2022, we talked to Saucony Athlete Katie Asmuth about how she used her injury as a way to engage with the trail running community in different ways, and much more.

Read More »
David Golay reviews the NF Heavyweight Pants for Blister

NF Heavyweight Pants

The NF Heavyweight Pants are the Canadian brand’s take on a cold / wet weather mountain bike pant, and they go about things rather differently from a lot of other options out there — with excellent results.

Read More »
Blister reviews the 4FRNT MSP 91

22/23 4FRNT MSP 91

Here are two of our reviewers’ initial impressions of the narrowest and newest ski in 4FRNT’s metal-laminate MSP collection.

Read More »
BLISTER — Outdoor Gear Reviews, Podcasts, Buyer’s Guides, Giveaways

Janji Repeat Merino Tech Long Sleeve

The art of winter layering for running is a skill often learned through patterns of mistakes. You’re just as likely to have an uncomfortable time out on the trails if you overdress or underdress, and threading the needle between takes an intuition gleaned from experience. Janji’s Repeat Merino Tech Long Sleeve, the brand’s new cold weather performance staple, is designed to give you a bit more room for error when it comes to dressing for chilly runs. Check out our full review to learn why we think it’s a must-add piece to most runners’ wardrobes.

Read More »
Kara Williard reviews the Blizzard Sheeva 10 for BLISTER.

Flash Review: 23/24 Blizzard Sheeva 9 & Sheeva 10

Update 2.4.23: We’ve been spending some more time on the redesigned Sheeva 10, after Kristin Sinnott the Sheeva 9 & 10 this Fall in Austria — check out Kara Williard’s 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.

If you’re already an active member, please log in.

(If you’re already logged in and a member in good standing and seeing this message in error, please refresh this page in your browser.)

Read More »
Blister reviews the Fischer Ranger 102

2022-2023 Fischer Ranger 102

We’ve had six of our female and male reviewers on two different lengths of the overhauled Ranger 102 — check out our Full Review & Deep Dive comparisons to see how it stacks up to the previous Ranger 102 FR and the rest of the market.

Read More »
Blister reviews the Fischer Ranger 102

Deep Dive: Fischer Ranger 102

We compare the Ranger 102 to the Ranger 102 FR, Ranger 108, Ranger 96, K2 Mindbender 99Ti, Black Crows Justis, Blizzard Bonafide, Zag Slap 104, Blizzard Rustler 10, Rossignol Sender 104 Ti, Moment Commander 98, Line Blade Optic 104, Black Crows Atris, Elan Ripstick 106, Faction Dancer 2, Atomic Maverick 100 Ti, Dynastar M-Pro 99, Nordica Enforcer 100, Salomon QST 98, Nordica Enforcer 104 Free, Volkl Mantra 102, Salomon Stance 102, J Skis Masterblaster, & 4FRNT MSP 99.

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.

(If you’re already logged in and a member in good standing and seeing this message in error, please refresh this page in your browser.)

Read More »
What’s the best way to make coffee? Strong opinions abound, and our editor-in-chief is currently trying to figure it all out. So we are launching this CRAFTED mini series on coffee gear to try to gain some clarity on the topic. See what you think, and let us know what you recommend!

In Search of the ‘Best’ Coffee Gear, Pt 1 (Ep.19)

What’s the best way to make coffee? Strong opinions abound, and our editor-in-chief is currently trying to figure it all out. So we are launching this CRAFTED mini series on coffee gear to try to gain some clarity on the topic. See what you think, and let us know what you recommend!

Read More »

BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:

On our latest CRAFTED podcast, Matt Manser (Atomic Ski Boots), is back to dive even deeper with Jonathan into the world of Scotch and independent bottlings. They compare a Bunnahabhain independent bottling against their staple 12-year offering; discuss a single cask that cost $19,000,000; debate whether you should be adding water to your Scotch; learn about the fanciest bottle Matt currently owns; and more.

Amateur Hour: Atomic’s Matt Manser on Scotch, Part 2 (Ep.32)

Matt Manser (Atomic Ski Boots), is back to dive into the world of independent bottlings. We compare a Bunnahabhain independent bottling against their official 12-year offering; discuss a single cask that cost $19M; debate whether you should add water to your Scotch; and more.

BLISTER — Outdoor Gear Reviews, Podcasts, Buyer’s Guides, Giveaways

Reviewing the News w/ Cody Townsend (July 2023) (Ep.271)

Cody and Jonathan discuss a potential pay cut for wildland firefighters; a robotic exoskeleton that provides “unprecedented experiences for everyone with an outdoor lifestyle”; a skier’s ‘embarrassing’ checklist of life goals; whether sex before skiing enhances or detracts from performance; and much more.

David Golay reviews the Santa Cruz Stigmata for Blister

Flash Review — 2024 Santa Cruz Stigmata

We got a first ride on the new Santa Cruz Stigmata last week — check out our initial impressions (and one of our “gravel-curious” reviewer’s thoughts on this sort of riding in general).

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.

(If you’re already logged in and a member in good standing and seeing this message in error, please refresh this page in your browser.)

David Golay reviews the Santa Cruz Stigmata for Blister

2024 Santa Cruz Stigmata

Longer, lower, and slacker tend to be the standard buzzwords for an updated mountain bike, but Santa Cruz has applied them to their new Stigmata Gravel bike in a big way.

Simon Stewart reviews the Pivot Shuttle AM for Blister

Flash Review — Pivot Shuttle AM

We’ve started spending time on Pivot’s new Shuttle AM — 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.

If you’re already an active member, please log in.

(If you’re already logged in and a member in good standing and seeing this message in error, please refresh this page in your browser.)

Dylan Wood reviews the Trek Fuel EXe Aluminum for Blister

Flash Review — Trek Fuel EXe Aluminum

We’ve started spending time on Trek’s new aluminum Fuel EXe, testing its claims of a quieter motor and more “natural” feel on the trail — 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.

If you’re already an active member, please log in.

(If you’re already logged in and a member in good standing and seeing this message in error, please refresh this page in your browser.)

Simon Stewart and Dylan Wood review the Esker Bowl for Blister

Esker Rowl

Esker might be flying under the radar for some mountain bikers, but their 140mm-travel Rowl makes a very strong case for why more folks should be paying close attention to what they’re up to.

Boot Mechanics is a BLISTER Recommended Shop.

Boot Mechanics

Boot Mechanics is an impressive operation with a team of professional bootfitters, all of whom are MasterFit Certified, with two locations in Golden and Avon, Colorado.