BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
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.
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.)
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.”
Canyon Woodward on “Rural Runners,” Life on the Campaign Trail, and the Value of Showing Up (Ep.143)
The key to both trail running and politics is mostly about just showing up, something Canyon Woodward knows well. As a seasoned political strategist, passionate climate activist, trail runner, and published author, he’s been asked to do that quite a bit. So, we sat down with Canyon to hear about how his new film, Rural Runners, captures what it takes to show up for yourself and your country, rain or shine; the importance of grassroots organizing; and a whole lot more.
Stuff We Like: October 2022
The October edition of our “Stuff We Like” series offers an assortment of items, from packable chairs to cozy yet breathable midlayers, casual pants, headlamps, bike bibs, and more. Check it out to see the latest gear our reviewers have been digging.
J Skis founder, Jason Levinthal (Ep.232)
Jonathan met up with Jay Lev last week at the new J Skis Intergalactic HQ in Burlington, VT. They discuss J’s new space; predictions for the upcoming season; industry trends, and one big thing that the entire ski industry needs to work on.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Fischer’s 23/24 Ski Boots | Blister Summit 2023 Video
We sat down with Fischer’s Christoph Lentz to discuss all the new ski boots they’re releasing for the 2023-2024 season. We cover their all-new line of RC4 boots, including their use of the BOA Fit System & stock ZipFit liners; how they used 3D foot scans to come up with their new boot lasts, and more.
2023-2024 Nordica Unleashed 114
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the new Nordica Unleashed 114.
2023 Transition Smuggler
The Transition Smuggler is back in their lineup after a lengthy hiatus, and it’s one of the most well-rounded, aggressive, short(ish)-travel Trail bikes we’ve ridden. Check out our full review for the whole story, including how it compares to several other bikes in its class.
Payson McElveen on “Crossing Tasmania” & Finding Joy Beyond Racing (Ep.168)
Payson McElveen is best known for his exploits as a racer, but his upcoming short film “Crossing Tasmania” documents a very different side of his on-bike persona, an absolutely bonkers physical effort, and the ways that old habits die hard. We sat down with Payson to get the whole story, which he tells in beautiful detail.
COROS Vertix 2
The updated Vertix 2 is the most feature-laden (and expensive) watch in COROS’ lineup. As the brand’s flagship model, it’s intended to support an exhaustive list of activities for an exhausting amount of time with one of the longest estimated battery lives we’ve tested. But at what point does taking the idea of “do-it-all” begin to subtract from a watch’s functionality? Check out our full review to learn more.
Flash Review: 22/23 Shaggy’s Mohawk 98
One of the new models Shaggy’s released this past season, the Mohawk 98 mixes traits from a wide range of all-mountain skis — check out our initial impressions.
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.)
Athletes & Product Design | Blister Summit 2023 Video
When it comes to gear, how do you balance the specific needs of world-class athletes with those of average skiers and riders? McKenna Petersen (K2 athlete), Drew Peterson (Salomon athlete), Tyler Curle (Moment athlete & ski builder), and Jed Yeiser (K2 engineer) discuss that balancing act; the weirdest prototypes they’ve tried; what “evolutionary” and “revolutionary” changes we should expect in the future; which discontinued products they’d like to bring back, and more.
2022-2023 Peak 104SC
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the Peak 104SC.
Sam Elias: Life, Death, & Flow
For our latest Open Mic, Sam Elias discusses finding purpose and ease in the swirling circumstances of home making, community building, hard climbing, tragedy, loss, grief, gun culture, and mass-shooting events.
Jason Hardrath on Preparing for the Pico de Orizaba Infinity Loop (Ep.170)
The King of FKT’s, Jason Hardrath, returns to our Off The Couch Podcast to discuss the buildup to his attempted “infinity loop” on Mexico’s Pico de Orizaba, the tallest volcano in North America.
Flash Review — EXT Aria
EXT has made a name for itself in the bike world with a range of very impressive coil shocks, but they’ve now got an air-sprung offering, the Aria, and we’ve been riding it. Check out our initial on-trail impressions.
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.)
Reviewing the News w/ Len Necefer (April 2023) (Ep.258)
While Cody is off trying to get on top of a peak somewhere, we brought in Dr. Len Necefer to discuss the Gwyneth Paltrow ski trial, The Most Sonoran News, Luis Benitez & the creation of a new federal office of outdoor recreation, mountain town advice, & more.