BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Sweet Turns: Tele May Save Us All
Blister reader, podcast listener, and ‘Crash Course’ video watcher, Scott Conarroe, has been paying close attention to our talk about telemark skiing around here, and it led him to send this piece that he hoped we’d share with you. It’s a compelling (and fun) defense of telemark, and it’s definitely worth your time. Enjoy.
Barney “Scout” Mann on the Pacific Crest Trail, “Journeys North,” & the Future of Thru-Hiking (Ep.153)
We’re joined by one of thru-hiking’s elder statesmen, Barney “Scout” Mann, to talk about his deep connections to America’s long-distance trails; Journeys North, the memoir he wrote about his own 2007 thru-hike of PCT; life as a “trail angel”; and much more.
Flash Review: 22/23 Nordica Unleashed 108
New for 22/23, the Nordica Unleashed 108 is the brand’s take on a wider, playful all-mountain ski — check out our initial impressions.
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Reviewing the News w/ Cody Townsend (December 2022) (Ep.242)
We discuss Cody’s not-so-excellent recent adventures; nuclear fusion; nationalizing ski areas?; iPhones, Apple watches, & 911 calls; Relationship Advice; The White Lotus; and more.
2024-2025 Faction Studio 2
The ski formerly known as the Candide 2, then the Mana 2, Faction’s Studio 2 manages to blend typically counteractive traits into a very cohesive, adaptable, and plain fun ski. Check out our Full Review & Deep Dive comparisons for the whole story.
Deep Dive: Faction Mana 2
We compare the Mana 2 to the Faction Mana 3, Faction Dancer 2, Black Crows Camox, Nordica Unleashed 98, Salomon QST 98, Line Blade Optic 104, Fischer Ranger 102, Volkl Revolt 104, DPS Foundation Koala 103, Moment Deathwish 104, K2 Reckoner 102, Whitedot Altum 104, Majesty Dirty Bear XL, Dynastar M-Free 99, K2 Mindbender 99Ti, Norse Enduro, Atomic Bent 100, J Skis Masterblaster, and. 4FRNT Switch.
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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Shop Talk: Outdoor Gear Exchange, Burlington, VT + Crashes & Close Calls (Ep.229)
We talk ski gear, customer trends, & sustainability initiatives (from the POV of a shop owner) with Mike Donohue of OGE, and we have a great listener-submitted story for “Crashes & Close Calls.”
Win Any Season Ski or Board
The winner of our gear giveaway this week can choose any ski or board they’d like from Season!
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
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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.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Reviewer Reports: Commencal T.E.M.P.O., Tons of Suspension, & More (Ep.175)
We’re hard at work testing a ton of new gear and recently sat down to chat about a bunch of the highlights, including the Commencal T.E.M.P.O., Orbea Wild, a ton of suspension from Öhlins, EXT, and Manitou, and a bunch more.
Outdoor Vitals Skyline Trail Shorts
The Outdoor Vitals Skyline Trail Shorts stray from conventional running shorts design in ways that allow them to be activity agnostic, just as comfortable worn for a short shakeout run as they are on a multi-day fastpacking trip. Check out our full review to learn more.
Green Beans, Pendulum Swings, & First Crack w/ Royal Coffee CEO, Max Nicholas-Fulmer (Ep.29)
Last week, Jonathan headed to The Crown in Oakland, California, which is the Coffee Lab and Tasting Room of Royal Coffee. He was there to sample experimental coffee drinks, meet with Royal Coffee CEO, Max Nicholas-Fulmer — who’s favorite ski is the Moment Blister Pro — and to discuss the world of specialty “green” (not-yet-roasted) coffee.
Moving, The Machine, & ‘More’
In her latest Open Mic piece, Angel explores the experience of moving, the art of owning stuff, and tips for ‘la resistance.’
Öhlins TTX1 and TTX2 Air
We’ve had two different reviewers spending time on three different versions of Öhlins’ latest air-sprung rear shocks, the TTX1 Air and TTX2 Air, and are ready to weigh in on how they perform on trail, how they differ from each other, and who they’re going to work best for. Check out our full review for all the info.
Paddy O’Leary on Winning the 112th Dipsea; Trail Running Film Recs; & the Broken Arrow Skyrace (Ep.177)
The North Face athlete Paddy O’Leary recently won the 112th running of the storied Dipsea, the oldest trail race in the US. So, we sat down to talk to him about its eccentric history; comically brutal course; the various films that have been inspired by it; and a whole lot more.
Flash Review: 23/24 RMU Professor 121
RMU recently revived their OG pow ski, the Professor — check out our initial thoughts on how the Professor 121 compares to the current market.
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 Brand Guide: Scott Running Shoe Lineup, 2023
Scott has quietly been making a wide range of performance footwear for both roads and trails since 2006, when they contracted a research and development lab in Portland, Oregon to help them design a lineup of shoes to meet the diverse demands of their athletes. Now over 15 years old, Scott’s trail and road running lines continue to offer innovative options for all sorts of runners. Check out our Brand Guide to learn more.
Deep Dives w/ Angel (Hot Mess Edition), June 2023 (Ep.265)
Angel Collinson has some big news to share: she’s back on land, and she’s considering a return to skiing. Then Angel and Jonathan dive deep into the topic of forgiveness; reflect on Mary McIntyre’s excellent Open Mic piece; and also discuss hot sauce, twerking, and John Collinson’s important question for his sister.
Win a Blister Membership
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get a free year-long Blister Membership!
2023 Revel Ranger
Blurring the line between World Cup Cross-Country race rigs and short-travel Trail bikes, the Ranger brings a mix of efficiency and capability to the table that we think could work for a lot of riders.
Kästle Ski Boots: Origins, Design, & 23/24 Lineup (Ep.250)
For decades, Kästle has been making high-end skis for everything from racing to Nordic and skimo. But what sparked their recent launch into the ski boot category? It’s far from a simple process, so we talked to Alessandro Speranzoni, Kästle’s global ski boot product engineer, and Alex Pritzlaff, their U.S. product manager, to get all the details on the backstory and latest collection of Kästle ski boots.