BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Abby Hall on Desert Chronicles, UFO Encounters, & Going All In (Ep.155)
We talked to adidas TERREX pro, Abby Hall, about how some of the major life changes she’s made since the last time she appeared on the show back in 2020 have helped fuel her recent success on the international racing scene; the role creativity plays in her life; UFO encounters; and much more.
BLISTER+: Real-World Testimonials — David Golay
A catastrophic knee injury in 2019 cost David not only most of a mountain biking season, but also a pile of money. BLISTER+ would have saved him close to $10,000 and very likely meant that he got better physical therapy to help with the recovery.
Tales of Sailing, Skiing, & “Going Greenland” with Jess Baker & Rachael Burks (Ep.244)
We talk to Jess Baker and Rachael Burks about sailing, skiing, and what happens when you combine a renewable energy sailboat with an arctic ski expedition in Greenland for the first time ever.
Flash Review: 22/23 Fischer Ranger 108
We’ve been skiing the new Fischer Ranger 108 this season after first getting a taste at the 2022 Blister Summit. 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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Shop Talk: Powder7 + ‘Crashes & Close Calls’ (Ep.231)
Jonathan talks shop life, gear, the price of single-day lift passes, and more with Alex and Matt from Powder7 in Golden, Colorado. Then Blister bike editor, David Golay, jumps on to tell his “Crashes & Close Calls” story.
Win Any HEAD Kore Ski
The winner of this week’s Gear Giveaway will get to pick any Kore ski from HEAD’s expansive lineup!
2022-2023 Volkl Mantra 102
We’ve now had a handful of reviewers on the updated Volkl Mantra 102. Check out our full review of this updated all-mountain ski and how it compares to the first iteration.
Deep Dive: Volkl Mantra 102
We compare the updated Mantra 102 to the original Volkl Mantra 102, Volkl M6 Mantra, Volkl Katana 108, Blizzard Cochise 106, Salomon Stance 102, Folsom Blister Pro 104, Blizzard Bonafide 97, Nordica Enforcer 100, J Skis Masterblaster, K2 Mindbender 99Ti, Wagner Summit 97, Fischer Ranger 102, Salomon Stance 96, Fischer Ranger 102 FR, Line Blade Optic 96, Moment Commander 98, Renoun Endurance 98, Faction Dancer 2, Atomic Maverick 100 Ti, Dynastar M-Pro 99, Nordica Enforcer 104 Free, Salomon QST 98, 4FRNT MSP 99, Head Kore 99, & Rossignol Sender 106 Ti+.
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: 22/23 Folsom Cash 106
We’ve been spending time on two versions of Folsom’s Cash 106 shape — 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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Flash Review — Starling Murmur V3
In a world of carbon fiber multi-link bikes, the steel single-pivot Starling Murmur might seem like a bit of a throwback. But after our first few rides on the Murmur, it’s shaping up to be a lot of fun — and a compelling option for the right folks.
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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Gamux on Doing Everything Differently (Ep.152)
The Gamux Sego is about as visually striking as bikes get, and the story of its development and the brand that spawned it is every bit as interesting. And so we sat down with founder Pascal Tinner to get the whole story.
2022-2023 Salomon QST Stella 106
This season the women’s QST Stella 106 got the same update seen previously on the unisex version, and the results have been similarly impressive. Check out our full review & Deep Dive comparisons to see where it slots into the women’s all-mountain category.
Deep Dive: Salomon QST Stella 106
We compare the QST Stella 106 to the Armada ARW 106 UL, Blizzard Sheeva 10, Blizzard Sheeva 11, Faction Dancer 3X, Fischer Ranger 102, K2 Mindbender 106C, Line Blade Optic 104, Majesty Vadera Ti, Nordica Santa Ana 104 Free, ZAG Slap 104, Head Kore 103 W, & Volkl Secret 102.
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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Nnormal Tomir
Even though Nnormal is just a few models old, any product with mountain runner Kilian Jornet’s fingerprints on it deserves to be met with high expectations. After spending some time in the Tomir, the brand’s handsomely cushioned, wider-fitting, do-it-all trail trainer, we think the shoe is well on its way to exceeding them. Check out our full review to learn more.
Dani Moreno on Stepping Up In Distance, Spearfishing, & Planning for Podiums (Ep.154)
As a newly minted thirty-year-old, Dani Moreno has already been racing trails professionally for the better part of a decade. Over the last couple of years, she’s solidified her status as one of the world’s best sub-ultra distance trail runners. We sat down with her just after the New Year to recap some memorable performances from 2022; dive into topics such as spearfishing, pain tolerance, and what to look for in a college track & field program; and much more.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Flash Review – Liv Intrigue LT Advanced Pro 0
The Liv Intrigue LT Advanced Pro 0 is an ultra high-end women-specific Enduro bike that we’ve been spending time on — Blister Members can now read 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.
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Yeti SB160
The Yeti SB150’s geometry was notably radical when it launched back in 2018. Since then, the mountain bike landscape has changed a lot, and the SB150’s successor, the SB160, no longer stands out as much on paper. On trail, though, it’s still an especially game-on Enduro race bike — and a damn good one for folks with the right approach and preferences.
2023-2024 Nordica Dobermann 5 S
Here are our measured specs, photos, and a quick rundown of Nordica’s race-inspired boot, the Dobermann 5 S, as well as details about the entire 5th generation of the Dobermann lineup.
Art & the Outdoors (Ep.267)
Why do we need centers of art in mountain towns and places of great natural beauty? It’s a question that any of us who live in or visit mountain towns ought to consider, and Jonathan discusses it with Courtney Gilbert, the curator of the Sun Valley Museum of Art.
Flash Review — Canfield One.2 Super Enduro
Enduro bikes have gotten longer-travel and burlier in recent years, but the Canfield One.2 Super Enduro still stands out, with 190 mm at both ends. So is it a long-legged Enduro bike, more of a pedalable DH rig, or something else entirely? We’ve started spending time on it to find out, and Blister Members can now read our early findings.
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.)
Win Apparel from WNDR Alpine
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get a complete Phase Series kit from WNDR Alpine!
Athletes & Product Design (Ep.252)
When it comes to gear, how do you balance the specific needs of world-class athletes with those of average skiers and riders? In this conversation from Blister Summit 2023, McKenna Petersen (K2 athlete), Drew Peterson (Salomon athlete), Tyler Curle (Moment athlete & ski builder), and Jed Yeiser (K2 engineer) discuss exactly that, plus a whole lot more.
EXT Aria
We’ve been very impressed by a number of EXT’s coil shocks over the years, and having now spent a lot of time on the Aria — their first air-sprung MTB rear shock — we’re ready to weigh in on how it stacks up to EXT’s own Storia, as well as the modern crop of high-volume, beefy air shocks.
Women’s Bike Bib & Chamois Roundup
If you spend any time in the saddle you’ll know that a proper chamois, butt, and saddle interface is essential for sustained comfort during rides. In this roundup, we discuss a variety of bib and chamois options that one of our female reviewers has been logging a lot of saddle time in recently.
Scott Kinabalu 2
A dependable, predictable option is an invaluable addition to any shoe quiver, especially one already loaded with terrain- and distance-specific models. After testing, the Scott Kinabalu 2 is giving strong indications of being just that. Check out our full review to learn more.
Anna Newkirk and Abby Hogie on Beyond Racing, the Contra DH Bike, & More (Ep.176)
Most of us have probably had a pipedream of starting something big with a friend, though far fewer people actually make it happen. But Anna Newkirk and Abby Hogie have done just that with their self-run Beyond Racing World Cup team, and their story is a great one.
Stuff We Like: June 2023
For June’s edition of Stuff We Like we feature everything from daypacks to heavy-duty backcountry packs, shorts, lightweight mountain bike and ski apparel, bike helmets, espresso machines for on-the-go, river shoes, & more. Check it out to see all the latest stuff our reviewers have been digging.