BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
2023-2024 Rossignol Sender Free 110
We now have had a handful of our reviewers on two lengths of the new Rossignol Sender Free 110, and there’s no question, it’s already getting a lot of buzz going into the 23/24 season. Check out our Full Review & Deep Dive comparisons to find out why.
Deep Dive: Rossignol Sender Free 110
We compare the Sender Free 110 to the Rossignol Blackops 118, Rossignol Sender Squad, Rossignol Sender 106 Ti+, Dynastar M-Free 108, Moment Wildcat, Salomon QST Blank, Volkl Katana 108, K2 Mindbender 108Ti, Blizzard Cochise 106, Nordica Enforcer 110 Free, Black Crows Corvus, Nordica Unleashed 108, Black Crows Atris, Icelantic Nomad 105, Faction Dancer 3, Blizzard Rustler 11, Fischer Ranger 108, Line Blade Optic 114, K2 Reckoner 112, 4FRNT MSP 107, & J Skis Hotshot.
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.)
Beer Collabs: A Love Story (Ep.22)
Why are there so many collabs in the craft beer world? We talk to Offset Bier co-founder, Conor Brown, and New Image Brewing founder, Brandon Capps, for answers, and also about the new collabs they’ve just released; “New World” or “West Coast” pilsners; snooty bike shops; skiing pow; barley wine; & more.
Blister Brand Guide: Adidas Terrex Trail Running Shoe Lineup, 2023
Adidas continues to expand their off-road-oriented Terrex line of running shoes, with everything from high-cushion, long-distance shoes to minimal, lightweight options. Check out our Brand Guide to get the rundown on all of their 2023 shoes.
Courtney Dauwalter on Building Her Pain Cave, Nacho Connoisseurship, & Running By Feel (Ep.166)
As far as superlatives go, there’s little hand wringing about Salomon Athlete Courtney Dauwalter’s standing as one of the best ultrarunners in the world, period. We caught up with her shortly after her 15th win in a row to talk about the virtues of keeping things simple; her fabled pain cave; what does and does not belong on top of nachos; and more.
Dynafit’s Brand-New Freeride Collection | Blister Summit 2023 Brand Lineup
We sat down with Ross Herr from Dynafit to discuss their new Tigard 130 and Tigard 110 boots; how they compare to Dynafit’s Radical & Hoji Free boots; the origins and design of the Tigard 114 ski; how it slots into the rest of Dynafit’s ski lineup, and more
Reviewing the News w/ Cody Townsend (March 2023) (Ep.254)
Cody and Jonathan discuss the Gwyneth Paltrow ski trial; Yakama Nation & hydro-electric energy development; the proposal to ban fixed bolts in wilderness areas; wieners in the wild; the most Canadian news; mountain town advice; and more.
Lazer Coyote Kineticore
The Lazer Coyote is the newer, less-expensive addition to their line of Kineticore helmets (after the Jackal that we reviewed last year) and it’s an especially impressive offering for the price — at exactly half the cost of the top-tier Jackal.
Ski / Snowboard Outerwear Mega Roundup — Women’s
In this updated mega roundup, we discuss over 30 different pieces of ski / snowboard outerwear that we’ve been testing over multiple seasons, from lightweight touring shells to insulated jackets and pants for cold resort days, including several new pieces for the upcoming 23/24 season.
Flash Review: 23/24 Fischer Ranger Pro 130
Fischer recently updated their freeride-touring boot and we’ve been testing the top-level Ranger Pro 130. 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.)
Diving into Blizzard’s 23/24 Ski Lineup (Ep.239)
We talk with Blizzard’s Christian Avery about the overhauled Rustler & Sheeva skis; where their Hustle line of skis slots into the mix; and why nobody should be sleeping on the Cochise.
Pro Skiers & Snowboarders: Stories from the Field | Blister Summit 2023 Panel Session
We talk with Hoji (Eric Hjorleifson), McKenna Peterson, Forrest Shearer, and Rory Bushfield about some of the highlights, lowlights, and craziest stories from their careers as pro skiers and snowboarders. This is a hilarious and *not-to-be-missed* conversation, so kick back and enjoy!
Skiing & Social Media Ethics
In our latest Open Mic piece, Hadley Hammer raises the question, “Do social media posts need disclaimers, context, or lengthy explanations?” And what are “our moral obligations to our communities?”
Win Majesty Skis
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get one of our all-time favorite touring skis, the Majesty Superwolf!
SKIING 101: Primer on Heli-Skiing
If you’re considering a heli-skiing trip or are already fortunate enough to have one on the schedule, check out this 101 piece from Blister Reviewer & Lead Heli Guide, Paul Forward. ALSO: we’ve got 1 remaining spot open for a trip this April with Paul, Jonathan Ellsworth, and a bunch of other great Blister Members — first person to commit gets it!
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Contra Bikes on Making the MC a Reality (Ep.193)
Designing and prototyping a bike is hard work, but bringing one to production adds a whole new set of challenges, and we sat down with Evan Turpen of Contra Bikes to hear all about getting his US-made steel high-pivot Enduro bike, the MC, out into the world.
Cotic Jeht Gen2
The new Cotic Jeht may not look very different from the original, but Cotic’s engineers have by no means been taking it easy — there are lots of subtle tweaks that add up to a compelling-looking end result. Check out our First Look for the rundown on their updated do-it-all Trail bike.
Stuff We Like: October 2023
October’s edition of our Stuff We Like series includes a bunch of great gear, including our bike editor’s current favorite rain shell and high-volume hip pack, as well as some excellent pain-relieving ointment, boat-friendly apparel and packs, and more. Check it out to see all the latest stuff our reviewers have been digging.
Mountain Ops
Based in Stowe, Vermont, Mountain Ops has become well-known for its welcoming atmosphere, excellent customer service, and dedication to human-powered pursuits.
What We’re Wearing, Skiing 23/24: Luke Koppa
Most of our reviews and conversations have the goal of helping you, our audience, figure out what gear might work best for you and your particular preferences, circumstances, etc. However, it can be fun (and sometimes, maybe, even illuminating) to occasionally shrug off the cloak of objectivity and just talk about what we personally use and enjoy. In our new “What We’re Wearing” series, we’re doing just that, having several of our reviewers run us through their head-to-toe kits for this winter. First up, our managing editor and self-diagnosed apparel obsessive, Luke Koppa.
Ski Areas, Sustainability, & Getting Ready for Opening Day with Taos Ski Valley COO, John Kelly (Ep.283)
What goes into getting a ski area ready for opening day? We discuss snow making, maintaining & operating chairlifts, and ski area culture and sustainability with Taos Ski Valley’s chief operations officer, John Kelly.
Boulder Orthotics
Boulder Orthotics is a women-owned, and women-led bootfitting operation. They deliver the full range of bootfitting customization and modifications. With over 25 years of experience, a background in pedorthics, and a passion for getting it right, schedule an appointment to redefine the way your ski boots fit.
Our 23/24 BLISTER Winter Buyer’s Guide Recap (Ep.268)
We brought together several of our reviewers to discuss our latest Winter Buyer’s Guide; give out our unofficial “RIP,” “Good Riddance,” and new “Best Glow-Up” awards; cover what we’re most excited to get on this season, and much more.
Commencal Supreme DH V5
The Commencal Supreme V5 has been one of the most successful World Cup DH race bikes over the last two seasons, and it’s a great option for folks who want a go-fast DH bike — even if you don’t plan on sticking a number plate to it anytime soon.
Win Skis from 4FRNT
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get their choice of 4FRNT’s Raven or Hoji skis, both of which are repeat winners of our “Best Of” award!
Layering 101: Types of Outdoor Apparel & How to Layer for Different Activities & Climates
There are a zillion new baselayers, insulators, and shells out there — and the options are constantly evolving and diversifying. So in our updated “Layering 101” guide, we sort out what makes certain types better / worse than others, and outlined how we think about layering for various cold-weather outdoor activities.
Privateer Bikes on the 141 and 161 V2 (Ep.192)
Privateer has been teasing the upcoming second-generation versions of their 141 and 161 for a while now and we recently sat down with Dan Hicks, the engineer behind the project, to get all the details on the new bikes.