BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
What Does it Mean to be an ‘Outdoors’ Person?
There are 50 million “outdoors people” in the U.S., and Sander provides his thoughts on some of the interests — and responsibilities — that link pretty much all of them.
Naked T/r
Naked Sports Innovations’ design approach is driven by the concept of “simplexity” — using simple design aspects to improve the utility of complex products. With the Naked T/r, a laceless trail running shoe intended for racing, the brand offers a rethinking of high-performance footwear through subtraction instead of addition. Check out our First Look for our early impressions.
Olivia Amber on Ego Trips, Halloween Costumes, & How Not to Die In the Mountains (Ep.144)
We caught up with The North Face mountain-ultra runner, Olivia Amber, a year after her first appearance on Off The Couch to recap her summer adventures; talk through the importance of managing ego in the mountains; recount all-time Halloween costumes; and much more.
Moment Factory Store
The Moment Factory Store is much more than just a ski factory. They offer a curated selection of hardgoods, in addition to a robust array of ski and bootfitting services, and an impressive demo program. Find out more about this unique shop in our summary.
Markus Eder on Training, Pressure, Mental Prep, & the Golden Age of Skiing (Ep.233)
We talk to one of the best big-mountain skiers of all time, Markus Eder, about training; skateboarding as prep for ski season; the golden age of skiing; competing; filming the Ultimate Run; lessons from Hoji and Sam Anthamatten; the Volkl ‘Built Together’ program; & more.
Win RMU Skis
This week the winner of our weekly Gear Giveaway will get a pair of RMU’s new powder ski, the Professor 121!
Q&A with Hoji: Gear, Training, Mental Prep, the Blister Summit, & More (Ep.220)
Hoji is back to answer questions from our Blister Members about gear; his tinkering process; coming to the Blister Summit; how he trains for an upcoming season; mental preparation, and … we get some bonus questions from Markus Eder, too.
Canfield Jedi 29
The Canfield Jedi is back, and the new 29er version of the longstanding flagship DH race bike offers a nicely refined take on the high-pivot suspension that made the earlier iterations popular.
Modernizing the Shoe Fitting Experience: A Review of Fleet Feet’s Outfitting Process
Getting fitted for running shoes is often practiced as more of an art than a science, a system that can rely too heavily on guesswork in the absence of information. Fleet Feet’s Outfitting Process, a method that uses 3D scanning technology to map the contours of the foot, provides a degree of precision that traditional fitting techniques lack. Check out our review to hear more about our experience.
LoveYourBrain on Care, Community, & Recovery from TBIs (Ep. 141)
We sat down with Adam Pearce of LoveYourBrain to chat about everything LYB is doing to provide resources and support for folks recovering from traumatic brain injuries, how the conversation around TBIs is changing, and much more.
Flash Review — 2023 RockShox Pike
The new 2023 RockShox ZEB has been super impressive, but how about its little sibling? Check out our Flash Review for our early impressions of the new Pike.
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Trail / Enduro MTB Fork Comparisons
There are more options for Enduro forks on the market than ever before, and we’ve updated our roundup with nine of the top contenders from Fox, RockShox, Manitou, Öhlins, and Marzocchi — including RockShox’s new 2023 Lyrik and ZEB. So how do all these forks stack up, and who should be opting for the extra-burly Fox 38, RockShox ZEB, or Öhlins RXF38?
Barr Hill Distiller, Ryan Christiansen, on Honey, Bees, Gin, & More (Ep.11)
We talk with Barr Hill president and distiller, Ryan Christiansen, about bees and pollinators; the process of producing exceptional gin; what makes their Barr Hill vodka unique; the impact of their ‘Bees Knees Week’ initiative; their foray into the world of whiskey; and more
On the Benefits of Not Having Friends
Sometimes, you might not have anyone to go with you. And sometimes, that can be a good thing.
Bootfitting 101: Selection, Fine Tuning, & Customization
In this edition of our Bootfitting 101 series, we discuss some of the factors to consider and approaches to take when figuring out which ski boot is best for you, and then cover some of the common methods bootfitters will use to take that boot’s fit from “good” to “great.”
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Stuff We Like: April 2023
The April edition of Stuff We Like includes a variety of items that our reviewers have found useful lately, from pocket knives to ski poles, racks that carry kayaks via your bike, ski-touring apparel, gels, and more. Check it out to see the latest items our reviewers have been digging.
Sea Otter 2023 Recap (Ep.167)
Blister editors David Golay and Simon Stewart were on site at the Sea Otter Classic and sat down to chat about a bunch of the most exciting new gear and broader industry trends that they saw at the show.
Fox Proframe RS
Fox released the Proframe RS as an evolution of their long-standing Proframe helmet, adding a swath of new features and safety technologies. After a long winter season in the Proframe RS, we think it’s a great option for folks looking for a lightweight, highly-ventilated full-face helmet.
Blister Brand Guide: Topo Athletic Running Shoe Lineup, 2023
Topo Athletic continues to expand their line of low-drop, wide-toebox running shoes — check out our Brand Guide for the full rundown on their 2023 lineup and which model might make the most sense for how and where you run.
Blister Labs: the Evolution of Outdoor Gear Testing | Blister Summit 2023 Video
How are we advancing the state of ski testing? At Blister Summit 2023, we brought together Jeni Blacklock, Sean Humbert, Leo Beuken, and Travis Hainsworth to discuss what we’ve been working on and why it matters, and we announce our latest initiative that we’ll be rolling out soon: Blister Community Reviews.
Flash Review: 23/24 Line Chronic 101
The Chronic name has been in Line’s collection for years, but now there’s a new, wider version. Check out our initial thoughts on the new Chronic 101.
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.)
Speedland Founders Dave Dombrow and Kevin Fallon On Their Latest Hyper-Performance Trail Shoe, the GS:TAM (Ep.169)
We sat down with Speedland co-founders Dave Dombrow and Kevin Fallon to talk about their latest shoe commission, the GS:TAM; growing a boutique hyper-performance trail running brand; future projects; and much more.
Story Time with Hoji, Rory Bushfield, McKenna Peterson, & Forrest Shearer (Ep.257)
In this hilarious conversation, Jonathan asks Hoji, Rory, McKenna, and Forrest about their favorite lines, closest calls, and craziest stories from their years of professional skiing & snowboarding.
Pivot Shuttle LT
The long-range eMTB market is heating up, with companies turning up the capability, and battery size bragging rights featuring prominently. But while the Pivot Shuttle LT’s battery isn’t the biggest out there, it might actually be a better bike for it.
Skis, Boots, Bindings, & More: Salomon 23/24 Ski Gear | Blister Summit 2023 Video
We sat down with Salomon’s Joe Johnson to cover all the new products they’re rolling out for the 2023-2024 season — and there is a LOT. We discuss the brand-new touring-oriented QST Echo 106 ski; the role that Cody Townsend & their other athletes play when developing new products; Salomon’s revamped metal-laminate Stance skis; the new S/PRO Supra BOA boot collection, and more.
2023 Sea Otter Classic Recap, Part 2
We’re onto the last day of Sea Otter, and have some more new stuff to show and tell about.
2023-2024 Salomon S/Pro Supra BOA 105 W
Here are our measured specs, photos, and a quick rundown of Salomon’s new medium-volume boot, the S/Pro Supra BOA 105 W.