BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Vitus Mythique
Vitus has just launched US-based distribution for their consumer direct bike sales, and along with it they’ve got a new version of the Mythique Trail bike — and it’s an outstanding value for money. Check out our First Look for all the info.
Jason Hardrath on Deer Collisions, Convoluted Bliss, & Keeping the Dream Alive (Ep.149)
Since his first appearance on our show back in March, Jason Hardrath has spent much of his summer touring his film, “Journey to 100,” in cities across the country. But life on the road hasn’t stopped him from continuing to set some pretty mind-blowing FKTs while he’s at it, so we had him on to hear all about them, and more.
Our new Blister + Spot Membership, with Spot founder Matt Randall (Ep.238)
Our Blister + Spot Membership is going to help a lot of people. So we talk with Spot founder, Matt Randall, about how it works; why it’s important for anyone who doesn’t have insurance; why it’s important for anyone who has insurance but high deductibles; and more.
Apply for the Moosejaw Outdoor Accelerator
We’re always looking for the best products out there, and the Moosejaw Outdoor Accelerator, in collaboration with Western CO University’s ICELab and Blister, is looking to help early-stage companies realize their vision. If you or someone you know is looking to bring that big idea to market, check this out.
Revel Rail 29
The Revel Rail 29 is a well-rounded bike that blurs the line between longer-travel Trail bikes and full-on Enduro sleds — and one that multiple reviewers really got along with. Check out our full review to see how the Rail 29 performs on the trail.
Blister’s Holiday Gift Guide 2022 — Under the Tree
Next up in our 2022 Gift Guide series are the items that our reviewers think will make an awesome addition beneath the tree this holiday season — check out their picks, which include something for just about anyone.
Flash Review — 2023 Trek Fuel EX
We’ve started spending time on the radically-updated (and wildly adjustable) Trek Fuel EX — check out our Flash Review for our early impressions.
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Flash Review: 22/23 Head Kore RS 130
Here are our initial impressions of Head’s completely updated 22/23 touring boot, the Kore RS 130.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Major Announcement: new BLISTER+ Membership Has You Covered
Every skier, snowboarder, mtn biker, cyclist, runner, etc., needs this. Check it out now.
Karhu Ikoni Trail 1.0
The Karhu Ikoni Trail 1.0 comes from a heritage brand with over a century of experience crafting performance footwear for long distance running. As a trail take on an already established model, its myriad features seem smartly positioned to meet the demands of varied off-road terrain. Check out our full review for a better idea of what to expect from Karhu’s latest trail shoe.
Win 4FRNT Skis
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week can pick any non-4-Lock ski they want from 4FRNT’s diverse lineup!
Matt Manser on Atomic’s 22/23 Ski Boot Lineup & More (Ep.225)
Matt Manser is back to discuss the current lineup of Atomic ski boots and what’s new for this season; running through airports in ski boots; Tom Cruise; the Atomic Redster CS vs. the Hawx Ultra Professional; and more.
Manitou Jack Dropper Post
Manitou’s latest iteration of their Jack dropper post takes one of the best options out there — the Bike Yoke Revive — and keeps the core of what makes it great, but tries to refine a few of the details. So have they succeeded?
Flash Review: 22/23 Head Supershape e-Titan
Here are our thoughts so far on the widest ski in Head’s Supershape lineup.
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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A Very Deep Dive on Suspension with EXT’s Franco Fratton, Pt. 2 (Ep. 146)
EXT founder Franco Fratton is back on Bikes & Big Ideas to continue our deep dive on suspension design and technology, and he’s got a ton to teach all of us about damper design, performance, and some of the common misconceptions about them in the mountain bike world.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro v7 GTX
The Gore-Tex version of New Balance’s updated Hierro v7 could be a popular model in North America this spring and summer, considering the Mountain West’s unprecedented snowpack. We’ve just begun testing, but so far the shoe’s off to an auspicious start, drawing comparison to models we’ve reviewed favorably in the past. Check out our initial impressions to learn more.
Jesse Melamed on His 2022 EWS Title, “Near Death” Save, Moving to Canyon, & More (Ep.171)
Reigning EWS Overall Champ Jesse Melamed joins us on Bikes & Big Ideas to talk about his 2022 season, his approach to bike setup, his battles with Richie Rude, moving to Canyon from Rocky Mountain, and a whole lot more.
New Tech / Safety Gear in the Backcountry | Blister Summit 2023 Video
Alexander Cernichiari (Ortovox) and Paul Forward (heli-ski guide, physician, & Blister reviewer) provide a state of the union on technology’s role in the backcountry and the related safety gear, and answer questions regarding avalanche airbags, interference between avalanche beacons and other electronics, apps that aim to identify avalanche terrain, the capabilities — and limits — of smartphones, and more.
Adventures in HomeBrewing, Distilling, & Coffee Roasting + the Launch of Calibration Coffee Lab (Ep.26)
Before Alex LeBlanc started Calibration Coffee Lab in Greenville, South Carolina, he was a mechanical engineer, a home brewer, home distiller, and a home coffee roaster. So what led him to leave the world of engineering to start a coffee company, and how did he go about doing it?
2022-2023 Meier BNK
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pics, and flex pattern numbers for the Meier BNK.
Andrea Sansone and Andrew Hamilton on Tackling Colorado’s Most Coveted FKTs (Ep.173)
Andrea Sansone and Andrew Hamilton hold some of Colorado’s signature FKTs, including Nolan’s 14 and the Colorado Fourteeners, respectively. So, Matt Mitchell sat down with the couple to talk about the partnership they’ve formed by doing hard stuff in the mountains together; the endurance mindset; Wim Hof; and much more.
Mary McIntyre: How to Have X without X
In our latest Open Mic piece, Mary McIntyre writes about love, loss, and how to get to the bottom of what we really want.
Pivot Mach 4 SL V3
Pivot has dropped the new third-generation Mach 4 SL — their lightest, XC-race-oriented full-suspension bike — and while they’re talking about speed and race results first and foremost, words like “fun” pop up a bunch, too. And with a big range of builds covering both hardcore XC racing and more general-purpose lightweight Trail use, they just might be on to something there.
Icelantic Skis Founder, Ben Anderson, on the Lucky Breaks, Tough Beats, & Key Moments in Building Icelantic (Ep.261)
We talk to Ben Anderson about the lucky breaks and tough beats he experienced along the way; where the name and their logo came from; working with Never Summer; prototyping & developing skis; how Icelantic got into the music business; and more.
Flash Review: 23/24 Salomon Stance 90
The Stance 90 is the narrowest option in Salomon’s updated metal-laminate Stance collection — check out our 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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Adaptable Skis: 23/24 Renoun Collection | Blister Summit 2023 Video
We sat down with Cyrus Schenck, founder of Renoun Skis, to discuss how they’ve implemented and adapted their unique non-Newtonian “VibeStop” material; how VibeStop has made its way into pro basketball courts, flooring, & boat hulls; their 23/24 ski lineup, and more.
Hope F22 Flat Pedals
The UK-based CNC wizards at Hope have refreshed their longstanding F20 pedal via the new F22. While the shape of the new pedals may be a bit less distinctive, the F22 stands out in other ways. Check out our full review to see how they perform on the trail.