BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Stuff We Like: February 2023
The February Edition of our “Stuff We Like” series features a variety of items, including organized travel solutions, baselayers and cozy sweats, backpacks, ski poles, drink mix and snacks, blister care, and much more. Check it out to see the latest gear our reviewers have been digging.
Flash Review: 22/23 Coalition Snow Rafiki
We’ve been spending time on Coalition Snow’s widest ski, the Rafiki. Check out our 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 Atomic Hawx Ultra 130 S and Professional GW
Atomic’s new BOA-equipped boots may be getting all the attention right now, but their fixed-cuff, standard-buckle Hawx Ultra 130 deserves to be on the radar of a whole lot of skiers out there. Check out our full review of the standard Hawx Ultra 130 + the Hawx Ultra Professional to see our reviewers’ thoughts on these boots after spending more than 100 days in them.
New Gear from Blister Summit 2023 (Ep.235)
Luke Koppa, Justin Bobb, Kara Williard, Dylan Wood, Kristin Sinnott, and Jonathan Ellsworth discuss some of the standout gear they were able to test at last week’s Blister Summit, from skis to snowboards, ski boots, bindings, and even snow blades.
Win Picture Outerwear
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get Picture Organic Clothing’s Broader 3L or Sylva 3L jacket!
Flash Review: 22/23 Deviation Works Ellipse v2.3
We spent time on the Deviation Works Ellipse v2.3 at the 2023 Blister Summit. Check out our initial impressions of this all-mountain ski.
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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Nordica Announces New 23/24 Unlimited A/T Boots
Today Nordica announced their brand-new line of alpine-touring boots, the Unlimited series. Check out the details here.
Transition Smuggler, Starling Murmur, Pivot Shuttle LT, & More (Ep.158)
David Golay sat down with the newest member of the Blister bike review team, Simon Stewart, to talk about a ton of the new bikes they’ve been testing — including some interesting takeaways about the wildly-varied class of ~140mm-travel Trail bikes.
Blister Summit 2023: New Gear Recap
With over 30 brands at Blister Summit 2023, there was a whole lot of new 23/24 gear to test. Check out the new-gear highlights from each brand here.
Flash Review: 23/24 Nordica Unleashed 108 W
We just spent time at the recent Blister Summit on one of the 23/24 additions to the Nordica Unleashed series, the Unleashed 108 W. 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
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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Rod Farvard on The North Face’s Athlete Development Program (Ep.160)
The North Face Athlete, Rod Farvard, returns to the show to talk about his sponsor’s unique Athlete Development Program, an initiative that provides 17 young athletes from a multitude of sports, including trail running, with resources to accelerate their careers and serve as activists in the outdoor space.
Flash Review: 23/24 Moment Countach 110
We’ve started spending time on Moment’s newest ski, the Countach 110. 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
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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Quick Thoughts on our Blister Summit + Summit 2024 Dates (Ep.248)
Jonathan shares a few words about our Blister Summit that just wrapped up; announces the dates for our 2024 Blister Summit, and offers a few thoughts about what the strikingly handsome Justin Bobb described as “the time of my life — literally one of the best weeks ever.”
Win ZipFit Liners and a Delaine Ski Sweater
The winner of this week’s gear giveaway will get a ski sweater from Delaine, plus any ZipFit ski boot liner!
Line Announces New 23/24 Chronic 94 & Chronic 101
The Chronic has been in Line’s collection for quite some time now, and for 23/24, they’re expanding it into two revamped models. Check out the details here.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Flash Review — REEB Steezl
We’ve started spending time on the REEB Steezl — check out our early 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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Investing in the Planet: Kate Williams, CEO, 1% for the Planet (Ep.274)
What is 1% for the Planet, who started it, and what do they do? Furthermore, when a crisis breaks out (like the current fires in Hawaii), many of us wonder how best to contribute, which organizations to donate to, and how to go about determining that? Kate Wiliams offers some very helpful answers.
Forge+Bond 30 EM Wheels
CSS Composites has been making thermoplastic carbon fiber wheels for a number of other brands for a while now, but their own brand, Forge+Bond, claims to do some things differently. Having spent a ton of time on their 30 EM wheels, we’re ready to weigh in.
GEAR THERAPY: A Ski Patroller’s Most-Pressing Gear Questions (Ep.259)
When it comes to gear, we’ve all been there: loads of questions, crippling confusion, severe analysis paralysis. You need some help! Welcome to our 2nd episode of Gear Therapy, with Spokane-based ski patroller, Kam Smith.
Win Shoes from La Sportiva
The two winners of our Gear Giveaway this week will each get a pair of Jackal II shoes from La Sportiva!
Lone Pine Gear Exchange
Lone Pine Gear Exchange is far from your average ski shop – In addition to their extensive collection of new gear, they have a large consignment program, a gear repair program, a commitment to sustainability, plus a knowledgeable staff and full-service ski and snowboard shop.
Reviewer Reports: Chromag Darco, Pivot Shuttle AM, Commencal Supreme, & More (Ep.183)
The gang is back together to give a rundown on a bunch of the bikes we’ve been testing, from short-travel steel full-suspension ones to a bunch of mid-travel eMTBs and full-on DH race bikes.
2024 RockShox Vivid
The RockShox Vivid had taken a hiatus from the market but now it’s back as RockShox’s biggest, most gravity-oriented air shock — with a bunch of interesting new features.
Michele Graglia on the Tahoe 200, Walking Away from Racing, & Next Steps (Ep.179)
At the Tahoe 200, Michele Graglia found himself in first place with an hour lead. Then he decided to stop running. So today we discuss why the former winner of the Moab 240 and Badwater 135 decided to do that; why, shortly thereafter, he announced he would be walking away from racing; and what’s next.
Deep Dives with Angel, August 2023 (Ep.273)
Angel Collinson and Jonathan discuss jealousy; imposter syndrome; her Open Mic piece on “steeping”; and more of your ‘Ask Angel’ questions.
Flash Review — Chromag Darco
Update: after making some tweaks to Chromag’s aggressive short-travel Trail bike, the Darco, it’s shaping up to be one of the more interesting bikes we’ve spent time on this year. Check out what changes we’ve made and what makes the Darco stand out.
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.)
Outside Sports
Outside Sports is a premier ski, bike, and outdoor retailer with multiple locations in the Southern Lakes region in the South Island of New Zealand, and they have all your outdoor gear needs covered no matter the season.