BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
2023 Marin Alpine Trail E
The Marin Alpine Trail E gets a refresh today, and while its geometry hasn’t changed much, it’s still pretty out there for a ~150 mm travel bike — and the value for money in terms of the build specs is especially impressive.
Shop Talk: Gear West on Year-Round Relevance, Community, & Specialty Service (Ep.238)
We talk with Jeff and Isabel from Gear West in Long Lake, MN to hear about how they’ve built a year-round community at their “campus”; the challenges and upsides of providing multi-sport services throughout the year; the effects of recent uphill access at Buck Hill; a couple of gear trends, and more.
Win a RockyMounts Bike Rack
This week the winner of our Gear Giveaway will get the adaptable and sleek GuideRail hitch bike rack from RockyMounts!
Flash Review: 22/23 Northland AM178
Northland makes beautiful, wood-veneer, fully cambered skis in Steamboat Springs, CO. We’ve been testing their 90mm-wide AM178 — check out our initial impressions.
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2023-2024 Fischer Ranger 108
The Fischer Ranger 108 effectively replaces the old Ranger 107 Ti, which was an exceptionally precise and stable, but demanding ski. So just how similar or different is the new Ranger 108, and is it more of a wide all-mountain ski or a narrow pow ski? Check out our Full Review & Deep Dive comparisons to find out.
Deep Dive: Fischer Ranger 108
We compare the Ranger 108 to the Fischer Ranger 107 Ti, Fischer Ranger 102, K2 Mindbender 108Ti, Blizzard Cochise 106, Volkl Katana 108, Salomon QST 106, J Skis Hotshot, Elan Ripstick 106, Nordica Enforcer 110, Nordica Unleashed 108, Black Crows Atris, Black Crows Corvus, Icelantic Nomad 105, Rossignol Sender 106 Ti+, Faction Dancer 3, Blizzard Rustler 11, Line Blade Optic 104, Dynastar M-Free 108, 4FRNT MSP 107, & Shaggy’s Ahmeek 105.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Flash Review — Specialized Turbo Levo
Check out our initial on-trail impressions of Specialized’s Turbo Levo e-bike, including how it stacks up against the Pivot Shuttle LT that we’re also testing.
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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Caleb Holonko on Building, Filming, and Going Huge (Ep.161)
Caleb Holonko’s “Lights Out” was one of the most outrageous video edits we saw last year, and he’s already followed it up with another banger with “In The Know.” So we sat down to talk about his take on building, filming, and melding new-school riding with classic North Shore style, plus a whole lot more.
Moosejaw Announces 2023 Outdoor Accelerator Program Winners
We’re excited to announce this year’s winners of the Moosejaw Outdoor Accelerator Program, a partnership between Moosejaw, ICELab, & Blister. Learn more about the four brands here.
2022-2023 Coalition Snow Rafiki
The Rafiki is Coalition Snow’s widest ski, and we have been skiing it quite a bit during recent storm cycles. Check out our Full Review and Deep Dive Comparisons to see exactly where it excels, and how it compares to some other women-specific powder skis.
Deep Dive: Coalition Snow Rafiki
We compare the Rafiki to the Blizzard Sheeva 11, Armada ARV 116 JJ UL, Salomon QST Stella 106, Nordica Unleashed 108 W, Majesty Vadera Ti, K2 Mindbender 115C W, Salomon QST Blank, Armada ARW 106 UL, & Faction Dancer 3X.
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: 23/24 Rossignol Sender Free 110 vs. Dynastar M-Free 108 vs. Rossignol Sender Squad
How do these three heavy, strong, yet playful skis compare? Check out Jonathan Ellsworth & Luke Koppa’s initial impressions.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Flash Review — Yeti SB160
We’ve started spending time on Yeti’s latest take on an Enduro race bike, the SB160. Check out our Flash Review for our early impressions.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Ryan Scura on “Urban Oasis,” Trail Running in San Francisco, and the Importance of Green Spaces in Cities (Ep.163)
Together, Ryan Scura and Dylan Ladds make up Dooster, the award winning production company the two childhood friends created to tell outdoor adventure stories through film. We recently sat down with Ryan to talk about one of their latest projects, “Urban Oasis: A Love Letter to San Francisco,” a short that explores trail running in one of California’s most densely populated cities.
Flash Review: 22/23 Peak 98
We’re testing all the skis in Peak’s lineup, and we’re kicking off our reviews with the all-rounder in the collection, the Peak 98. Check out Luke Koppa & Jonathan Ellsworth’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.
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BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Nukeproof Megawatt Carbon
SRAM launched their new Eagle Powertrain last week, and the first bike to feature it is here. Meet the Nukeproof Megawatt Carbon.
Norrøna Owner & CEO, Jørgen Jørgensen, on Norrøna’s History & Design Philosophy (Ep.265)
Norrøna aspires to make the best outdoor recreation products on the market. So we talk with Jørgen Jørgense, the 4th-generation owner & CEO of Norrøna, about the brand’s approach to product design & testing, and the origins, evolution, and future of the brand.
Win Goggles from 100%
The two winners of our Gear Giveaway this week will each get goggles from 100% Snow, with one winner receiving their flagship Norg Goggle and the other winner receiving their Snowcraft S Goggle!
Liv Intrigue LT Advanced Pro
The Liv Intrigue LT Advanced Pro 0 is a women-specific Enduro bike that’s proven to be an adaptable partner for a huge range of trails over the last several months. It’s also the most expensive mountain bike we’ve ever reviewed.
Stuff We Like: September 2023
For September’s edition of Stuff We Like, our reviewers have submitted everything from denim overalls and a wide assortment of clothing to fishing waders, glasses, hip packs, and more. Check it out to see all the latest gear our reviewers have been digging.
Archibald Cycles on Canadian Manufacturing & the Wild AC1 (Ep.189)
The Archibald Cycles AC1 — a Canadian-made, steel-frame, high-pivot bike with a gearbox — doesn’t look like much else out there, and the story of its conception and journey toward production is an interesting one.
Round House Sports Center
Round House Sports has been a staple on Main Street in Bozeman, MT for over 50 years best known for its excellent customer service & year-round gear selection.
SRAM Eagle Powertrain
SRAM is officially in the eMTB drive-system business, and it’s about time. Check out our First Look for all the details on how the SRAM Eagle Powertrain compares to the alternatives from Bosch, Shimano, Specialized, and more.
Harvest
In her latest Open Mic piece, Angel Collinson asks each of us about ‘that place,’ and what we are harvesting?
Angel Collinson on Leaving Pro Skiing, Passion, Purpose, & More | Blister Speaker Series Video
Angel Collinson came to Western Colorado University for another edition of our Blister Speaker Series. We talk about her ski career, purpose, passion, and how to think about when it might be time to alter the path you’re on. Check out this video of the conversation.
Canyon Torque:ON CF
The Torque:ON is Canyon’s burliest eMTB, with lots of suspension travel and a massive battery to match. After several months aboard this 54+ pound giant, it has proven to be an interesting take on the ever-diversifying long-travel eMTB category.
The Future of Snowsports (Ep.279)
What does the future of snowsports look like? At our last Blister Summit, we asked Nina Waters, Dr. Len Necefer, Dan Abrams, & Hanna Whirty to discuss some of the current realities, biggest challenges, and significant opportunities for the outdoor sports industry.