BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
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+.
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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
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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
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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.
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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.
The ‘R’ Word (Our Least Favorite Four-Letter Word)
“There is one four-letter word that I hear thrown around a lot, but most of us resist it big-time.” Read on, and let the revolution begin.
Continental Kryptotal Tires
Continental gave their entire gravity tire lineup a major overhaul last year, and having now spent most of the season on their all-rounder Kryptotal pair, we think they’re extremely good tires for a lot of conditions, but are just a couple of tweaks away from being perfect. Check out our full review to find out where they work best and what sets them apart, including comparisons to the Maxxis Assegai, Minion DHF and DHR II, Schwalbe Magic Mary, and more.
Flash Review: 22/23 Volkl Mantra 102
Update 1.9.23: We’ve been spending more time on the redesigned Mantra 102 and the results so far have been very promising — 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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Bill McKibben: Skier, Environmentalist, Activist, Author (Ep.243)
When trying to gain clarity on issues of climate change (where we are, where we’ve been, and where we should go from here) it is a good idea to talk to Bill McKibben.
Blizzard Launches New 23/24 Rustler & Sheeva Skis
Today Blizzard announced the latest generation of their freeride Rustler and Sheeva skis — check out our writeup for all the details.
Flash Review: 22/23 New Outerwear Update: 686, Beringia, & Trew
We’ve been testing a few very interesting new ski / snowboard kits from 686, Beringia, and Trew — check out Luke Koppa’s initial impressions and apparel nerdery.
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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Jeremy Jones on the Evolution of Snowboard Design (Ep.230)
Today we’ve got for you a masterclass on the history and evolution of snowboard design with Jeremy Jones, as well as Jeremy’s own philosophy behind product creation and refinement at Jones Snowboards.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
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.
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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.
Paradigm Winery’s Marilyn Harris on Napa Valley & the Making of a Modern Wine Mecca (Ep.30)
Today, Napa Valley is home to some of the most respected wineries and coveted wines being produced, but not too long ago, it was a sleepy farm community. So in this conversation, Jonathan talks with Marilyn Harris, owner of Paradigm Winery, about how Napa … became Napa.
Skiing “and”
In our latest Open Mic piece, Hadley Hammer offers a very poetic yet very concrete look at what skiing means to her (and what it means to you, too).
Western States Weekend Recap; Courtney Dauwalter’s Course Record Clinic; & Golden Hour Greatness (Ep.178)
The 50th running of the Western States 100 took place over the weekend, so Matt Mitchell and Matt Seidel break down the results; talk about their experiences bouncing around the course all day; shoutout some noteworthy performances; and much more.
Flash Review: 23/24 Hyperlite Headwall 55
We’ve had several reviewers testing Cody Townsend’s signature backpack — here are some of our thoughts on the ultralight, Dyneema-covered Headwall 55.
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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