BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Jeff Colt on Chasing Western States, the Beats, & Managing Expectations (Ep.152)
For On athlete, Jeff Colt, the chase for a coveted spot into Western States had been a multi-year saga fraught with close calls and near misses, that is until a near-perfectly executed run at the Black Canyon 100k in February earned him a Golden Ticket and automatic entry. We pick up Jeff’s story there and hear all about his journey leading up to Western States, a play-by-play of his 11th-place finish, and much more.
Next Blister Happy Hour Livestream: Wednesday 12.28.22
Our next Blister Happy Hour Livestream will be on Wednesday 12.28.22 at 2pm MT / 4pm ET, this time with a special guest: Matt Manser! If you’re a Blister Member, join us and ask any of your questions.
Ski / Snowboard Outerwear Mega Roundup — Men’s (2022-2023)
In this updated mega roundup, we compare and contrast more than two dozen pieces of ski and snowboard outerwear, from burly resort shells to breathable touring kits.
2023 Santa Cruz Tallboy
The Santa Cruz Tallboy hasn’t changed a ton from the prior V4 generation, but it’s still a great short-travel Trail bike and Santa Cruz has found some nice details to refine. Check out our full review to learn more, including how it compares to several other bikes in its class.
Blister Reviewers’ 2022 Highlights & 2023 Resolutions (Ep.241)
A number of our Blister reviewers reflect on some of their favorite moments of 2022, and share with us their resolutions for 2023.
2022-2023 K2 Mindbender 89Ti
Revamped for 22/23, the Mindbender 89Ti is a particularly versatile all-mountain ski that we think a whole bunch of skiers could appreciate. Check out our Full Review & Deep Dive comparisons for the whole story.
Deep Dive: K2 Mindbender 89Ti
We compare the Mindbender 89Ti to the Mindbender 99Ti, Blizzard Brahma 88, Folsom Spar 88, Nordica Enforcer 88, Atomic Maverick 95 Ti, Blizzard Rustler 9, Volkl M6 Mantra, Salomon Stance 90, DPS Pagoda 90 RP, Head Kore 87, Line Blade Optic 92, Black Crows Serpo, Armada Declivity 92 Ti, Line Blade, Fischer Ranger 90, & J Skis Fastforward.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Marker 22/23 Bindings | Blister Summit Brand Lineup
We sat down with Marker’s Derek McClellan and Chris McKenna to discuss Marker’s 2022-2023 lineup of ski bindings; how their products have evolved over 75 years; why frame bindings still have a place in the market; the ideal end users for a Marker Alpinist vs. Duke PT vs. frame binding; the latest features and updates of Marker’s alpine bindings; and more.
Reviewer Reports + Crashes & Close Calls (Ep.228)
Jonathan, Kara, Luke, and Dylan discuss some of the notable gear they’ve been reviewing this season, and we also launch a new GEAR:30 segment called Crashes & Close Calls.
Win the Dynastar M-Free 99
The winner of our gear giveaway this week will get the playful and damp M-Free 99 ski from Dynastar!
Flash Review: 22/23 Fischer Ranger 115 GW DYN
Here are our initial impressions of the stiffest women-specific boot in Fischer’s 50/50 boot series, the Ranger 115.
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.)
Ed Masters on The 2022 Season, Team Dynamics, Rule Changes, & More (Ep.149)
The one and only Ed Masters is back on Bikes & Big Ideas to chat about his strong 2022 season, the upcoming rule changes for 2023, and a whole lot more — including what might be the wildest mid-race-run mishap story of all time.
Öhlins RXF34 m.2
We’ve been big fans of Öhlins’ RXF 36 and RXF 38, but what about their little sibling — the RXF 34 m.2? We’ve had two reviewers spending time on the short-travel Trail fork and the results are interesting — check out our full review for more, including direct comparisons to the Fox 34 and RockShox Pike.
Scarpa Ribelle Run
The Ribelle Run represents an important step forward for Scarpa’s line of trail shoes. With its smartly designed upper and dialed-in outsole configuration, the Ribelle Run is more than just competitive against fixtures in the technical mountain running shoe category. Check out our full review to learn what we think makes it such a good option for alpine excursions, both on and off trail.
Amateur Hour: Atomic’s Matt Manser on Scotch, Part 1 (Ep.17)
When Atomic Ski Boots Product Manager, Matt Manser, isn’t nerding out about ski boots … he’s nerding out about Scotch. And in this conversation, Matt and Jonathan discuss butt casks and blood tubs; why cask size matters; barrel-aged ski boots; tea spoons; single malts vs. blends; and more.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
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.
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.)
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.
Scott Ultra Carbon RC
The Ultra Carbon RC feels like the end product of a meticulously conceived concept. Scott pours an indulgent amount of resources into the shoe, but it’s headlined by an innovative carbon plate designed to prevent the stability issues that have sunk plated trail models in the past. Check out our full review to learn more.