BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
BLISTER+: Real-World Testimonials
When you play outdoors, injuries happen. And those injuries can be expensive. So we launched our BLISTER+ Membership to address this, and here, we provide our own real-world stories of why it’s valuable and how it works.
Flash Review: 22/23 Stöckli Stormrider 102
We were able to get a day on Stöckli’s widest ski, the Stormrider 102. 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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Andrew Gardner on Open-Mindedness, Gravel Riding, Velocio, & More (Ep.150)
We’re joined by Velocio co-founder Andrew Gardner to recap a recent “gravel” ride that he and Jonathan Ellsworth went on, and to discuss gravel riding more broadly, including the limitations of the term “gravel”, the ways that bikers group themselves into specialized cliques (possibly to their detriment) and much, much more.
Hoka Mafate Speed 4
While it may not yet have the same name recognition as the Speedgoat, Hoka’s Mafate line has steadily worked its way into being considered one of the brand’s principal models over the last couple of years. Now in its 4th iteration, the Mafate Speed 4 introduces some exciting new technology and design concepts to Hoka’s trail side, correcting many of the aspects we felt fell short on the latest Speedgoat 5. Check out our full review for the whole story.
Flash Review: 22/23 Fischer Ranger 90
Here are a couple of our reviewers’ initial impressions of Fischer’s brand-new all-mountain ski, the Ranger 90.
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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Dalbello 22/23 Boots | Blister Summit Brand Lineup
We discuss Dalbello’s 2022-2023 lineup of ski boots; the age-old debate about the pros and cons of 3-piece Cabrio boots vs. 2-piece Overlap ones; Dalbello’s brand-new Veloce overlap series; the industry finally settling on boot sole norms; the rise of Alpine boots with tech toe fittings; the lightweight Quantum Free and Quantum Evo series and their unique 2-piece bonding construction; working to close the loop on boot manufacturing waste; and more.
2022-2023 Majesty Vadera Ti
After some time this season and last, we have quite a bit to say about Majesty’s women-specific, metal-laminate freeride ski, the Vadera Ti — check out our Full Review and Deep Dive comparisons for the rundown.
Deep Dive: Majesty Vadera Ti
We compare the Majesty Vadera Ti to the Armada ARW 106 UL, Blizzard Sheeva 11, Faction Dancer 3X, Fischer Ranger 102, K2 Mindbender 106C, K2 Mindbender 115C, Line Blade Optic 104, Nordica Santa Ana 104 Free, Majesty Vadera Carbon, Salomon QST Stella 106, & Wagner Summit 106.
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.)
Jeff Colt on Chasing Western States, the Beats, & Managing Expectations (Ep.152)
For On athlete, Jeff Colt, the chase for a coveted spot into Western States had been a multi-year saga fraught with close calls and near misses, that is until a near-perfectly executed run at the Black Canyon 100k in February earned him a Golden Ticket and automatic entry. We pick up Jeff’s story there and hear all about his journey leading up to Western States, a play-by-play of his 11th-place finish, and much more.
Next Blister Happy Hour Livestream: Wednesday 12.28.22
Our next Blister Happy Hour Livestream will be on Wednesday 12.28.22 at 2pm MT / 4pm ET, this time with a special guest: Matt Manser! If you’re a Blister Member, join us and ask any of your questions.
Ski / Snowboard Outerwear Mega Roundup — Men’s (2022-2023)
In this updated mega roundup, we compare and contrast more than two dozen pieces of ski and snowboard outerwear, from burly resort shells to breathable touring kits.
2023 Santa Cruz Tallboy
The Santa Cruz Tallboy hasn’t changed a ton from the prior V4 generation, but it’s still a great short-travel Trail bike and Santa Cruz has found some nice details to refine. Check out our full review to learn more, including how it compares to several other bikes in its class.
Blister Reviewers’ 2022 Highlights & 2023 Resolutions (Ep.241)
A number of our Blister reviewers reflect on some of their favorite moments of 2022, and share with us their resolutions for 2023.
2022-2023 K2 Mindbender 89Ti
Revamped for 22/23, the Mindbender 89Ti is a particularly versatile all-mountain ski that we think a whole bunch of skiers could appreciate. Check out our Full Review & Deep Dive comparisons for the whole story.
Deep Dive: K2 Mindbender 89Ti
We compare the Mindbender 89Ti to the Mindbender 99Ti, Blizzard Brahma 88, Folsom Spar 88, Nordica Enforcer 88, Atomic Maverick 95 Ti, Blizzard Rustler 9, Volkl M6 Mantra, Salomon Stance 90, DPS Pagoda 90 RP, Head Kore 87, Line Blade Optic 92, Black Crows Serpo, Armada Declivity 92 Ti, Line Blade, Fischer Ranger 90, & J Skis Fastforward.
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.)
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
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.
Snowbound
Snowbound is a family-owned shop on Sydney’s North Shore in Australia. This store offers a top-notch assortment of ski equipment and services.
Flash Review — GT Sensor ST
We got pretty excited about the new GT Sensor ST when it launched, and now we’ve started spending time on it. Check out our initial on-trail 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.)
23/24 Atomic Skis & Boots | Blister Summit 2023 Video
We discuss Atomic’s updated “Bent” ski collection; Chris Benchetler’s new role as Creative Director at Atomic; how they’ve evaluated & decreased the environmental impact of their skis; implementing the BOA Fit System into their ski boots; the brand-new Backland XTD boots, and more.
Resisting the Algorithm
In our latest Open Mic piece, Brendan Leonard writes about modern life, real discoveries, and the essence of adventure.
2023 Giant Glory Advanced
The Giant Glory is back. The prior-generation version had grown long in the tooth and mostly faded out of the market, but now there’s a new one with a full carbon fiber frame, mixed wheels, tons of adjustability, and more. Check out our First Look for the rundown.
Leah Yingling on Lululemon’s FURTHER Initiative, Their New Women-Specific Road-to-Trail Shoe, & Her Western States 100 Expectations (Ep.175)
Leah Yingling returns to the show to discuss her new partnership with Lululemon and the brand’s FURTHER initiative, a first-of-its-kind ultramarathon for women intended to help close the sex and gender data gap in sports medicine that historically underrepresents female athletes.
2022-2023 Shaggy’s Mohawk 98
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the Shaggy’s Mohawk 98.
23/24 Dalbello Cabrio & Cabrio Free Boots | Blister Summit 2023 Video
We sat down with Dalbello’s Riccardo Bonaiti to discuss their 2023-2024 ski boot lineup. We cover the brand-new Cabrio LV line of boots; how they compare to the Krypton & Chakra series they replace; the Cabrio LV Free boots that replace the Lupo series, and more.