BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
OneUp Components Clip Pedals
OneUp’s flat pedals have been extremely popular for quite some time now, so does their first clipless offering — the creatively named Clip Pedal — deserve similar acclaim? Here’s our take.
Public Lands Update, More Peak Skis News, & New Gear We’re Reviewing (Ep.354)
Luke and Jonathan discuss the latest with respect to public lands and the revisions to the reconciliation bill; share more news about Peak Skis; and preview some new gear they’re going to be talking about and testing in the very near future.
Reviewing the News w/ Mike Ferrentino, June 2025 (Ep. 281)
Mike and Simon discuss the GOP’s withdrawal of the proposal to sell millions of acres of public lands, the merger of Industry Nine and We Are One Composites, lots of bike racing news, some Tour de France predictions, and more.
High Above Supernatural Vest Pack
High Above is primarily known for their US-made hip packs, so does their first vest pack, the Supernatural, hit the mark for folks who want more carry capacity? Our Full Review has our thoughts after a few months of heavy use.
Fermentation, the Key to Most of the Things You Love w/ Nile Zacherle, Eli Brown, & Jonathan Ellsworth (Ep.76)
Many of us love (and love talking about) coffee, wine, or beer, but few of us go around professing our love of fermentation. But after this conversation with Nile Zacherle, Eli Brown, and Jonathan Ellsworth, you’ll see why you should.
Flash Review: Salsa Blackthorn 145 C
Update 7.2.25: We have another reviewer spending time on the new Salsa Blackthorn 145 C, so check out our updated Flash Review for some more early impressions.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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‘Ski Party’ w/ Amie Engerbretson & Jonathan Ellsworth (Ep.43)
Today we are talking about a film that just celebrated its 60th anniversary: ’Ski Party’ came out on June 30, 1965; it stars a couple major actors and singers; and when we recently learned of its existence, we immediately knew who we needed to recruit to discuss: Amie Engerbretson.
Training for Outdoor Sports & the Current State of PT w/ Dr. Stephen Burkert (Ep.363)
Today, we are talking about training and outdoor-sports performance with Dr. Steve Burkert of Snow Beast Performance. We discuss best practices for training, the most common summer injuries, and some alarming trends in the physical therapy world that we all need to understand.
Outlier Void and Pendulum Pedals
Outlier’s Void and Pendulum pedals don’t look like anything else out there, so is their performance similarly quirky, just plain good, or somewhere in between? We’ve had multiple reviewers spend a lot of time on both versions and are ready to weigh in.
Stuff We Like: June 2025
In this edition of ‘Stuff We Like,’ our reviewers discuss a bunch of products that have stood out recently — from MTB tires that are dang near perfect for current conditions to a paper-airplane kit loved by kids and adults alike, classic summer apparel, and more.
Our Thoughts on Peak Skis & What Needs to Happen Next (Ep.353)
Jonathan lays out his thoughts about the Peak Skis debacle, Luke Koppa offers his perspective too, and we discuss what we think needs to happen going forward.
Win Apparel From Fjällräven
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get the men’s or women’s Hoja Wool Tee, Hoja Hybrid Shorts, and Rider’s Wind Jacket from Fjällräven!
Flash Review: EXT Vecta
EXT has historically made very high-end suspension, and while their new Vecta coil shock isn’t cheap, it’s a lot more affordable than EXT’s other offerings. But how does it perform? We’ve got some initial thoughts.
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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Update: Revised Public Land Sale Still a Terrible Idea
The Senate is still trying to sell more than a million acres of our public lands, and their revised proposal is still insultingly disingenuous — both to those who enjoy the outdoors and those seeking affordable housing. Here’s the latest, and why voicing your opinion is so urgent and important.
Portland Design Works’ Erik Olson on Making Products for the Everyday Cyclist (Ep.280)
In today’s conversation, Simon talks with Erik Olson, founder of Portland Design Works, about designing simple, elegant products for everyday riding; bike commuting with his dog; sustainability; speaking Chinese, and more.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Deep Dive: Kona Hei Hei 10
We compare the Kona Hei Hei 10 to the Yeti SB120, Revel Ranger, Cannondale Scalpel, Yeti ASR, Commencal T.E.M.P.O, Niner JET 9 RDO, Cannondale Habit, Pivot Trailcat SL, SCOR 2030, Specialized Epic Evo, and Trek Top Fuel.
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.)
Rebecca Rusch on Battling Back, Switching Gears, Mtn Biking vs Gravel Biking, & More (Ep.367)
What happens when you go from being so tenacious that you earn the name, ‘the Queen of Pain’ to struggling just to get off the couch? Today, Rebecca Rusch shares the story of her journey, and it’s a journey that every single one of us will relate to, and all of us need to hear.
Big News & Updates: Our New Mtn Bike Buyer’s Guide; Our Winter Buyer’s Guide; & the State of Buyer’s Guides in 2025 (Ep.357)
We’re releasing our first-ever Blister Mountain Bike Guide, and we’re doing it in a way that we don’t think has ever been done in the bike (or ski) world. We’re also talking about the state of buyer’s guides in 2025, and you’ll get the latest updates on our 25/26 Winter Buyer’s Guide.
Win Titan Straps
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get a bunch of Titan’s multifunctional straps — 2 of each length of Utility Straps, 2 of each length of Industrial Straps, and 4 of each length of Mini Straps for a total of 28 Titan Straps!
Get It Now! Our 2025-2026 Blister Winter Buyer’s Guide
Our 25/26 Winter Buyer’s Guide: it’s bigger than ever, as honest and accurate as it’s always been, and it’s now available to order. Here’s how to get your copy.
Stashed’s Elliot Tanner on Making Innovative Bike Storage Systems (Ep.284)
In today’s conversation, Simon talks with Elliot Tanner, founder of Stashed, about his fascinating journey from being involved in designing and making parts for Marker’s iconic Kingpin touring binding to engineering and manufacturing the innovative Spacerail Bike Storage System, and more.
Flash Review: Rimpact Chain Damper
The thinking behind the Rimpact Chain Damper is more novel than it may first appear, and its effects on bike suspension stand out, too. Here’s what we’ve learned so far during our initial 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.
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.)
Rimpact Chain Damper
Rimpact’s Chain Damper looks a whole lot like their take on an Ochain. And, yes, they’ve got some real similarities, but the thinking behind their designs — and the designs themselves — are much more different than you might expect. Here’s what you need to know, including our early on-trail impressions.
‘Johnny Tsunami’ w/ Mike Rogge, Justin Bobb, & Jonathan Ellsworth (Ep.46)
Is it possible that a Disney kids movie from 1999 is the single best movie ever made about the age-old clash between skiers & snowboarders? It is, and ‘Johnny Tsunami’ is also a contender for our highest award, the ‘Single Best Film in its Class.’
Ibis Ripley AF and Ripmo AF
Ibis just introduced new aluminum versions of their Ripley and Ripmo, with the same modern, size-specific geometry as their carbon fiber counterparts, in-frame storage, and competitively priced build kits. Check out all the details here.
Santa Cruz Vala AL
The new Vala AL brings the first aluminum frame to the Santa Cruz eMTB lineup. Many of the details are the same as the carbon Vala, but there are some differences, beyond just a lower price. Check out our First Look to see what they’ve come up with.
Ups, Downs, & Unspoken Aspects of Pro Skier Life w/ Noah Gaffney, Anne Wangler, Mallory Duncan, & Jake Hopfinger (Ep.366)
At Blister Summit 2025, we sat down with professional skiers Mallory Duncan, Anne Wangler, Noah Gaffney, and Jake Hopfinger. What followed was a very candid conversation about how they present themselves during hard times, the personal financial aspects of being a pro, career longevity, and much more.