BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
A Very Deep Dive on Suspension with EXT’s Franco Fratton, Pt. 1 (Ep.140)
EXT founder Franco Fratton has more experience working on suspension than just about anyone, and we brought him back on Bikes & Big Ideas to kick off a series of episodes where we’ll be going very deep on suspension design and tech.
Deep Dive: Salomon Ski Boots Brand Lineup, 22/23
Our Deep Dive series on ski boot lines is back for the 22/23 season, starting with Salomon’s expansive collection, including their brand-new S/Pro Alpha and MTN Summit series. We discuss all notable specs, features, most similar boots from other brands, and more. Become a Deep Dive subscriber or Blister Member to check it out.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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2022 Intense Tracer 279
The Intense Tracer 279 is a capable and intuitive Enduro bike best suited for going fast and pushing your limits downhill, but its mixed-wheel configuration also helps make it stand out in a few key ways. Check out our full review to see how it compares to the latest batch of Enduro bikes on the market.
The Alchemist, Pt. 3: Sustainability, Beer, & the Bigger Picture (Ep.10)
This week Jonathan was back at The Alchemist to sit down with its founders, Jen & John Kimmich, to dive into their philosophy on sustainability — in all of its forms — and to hear how they created a company that is leading the way on a number of these fronts. It’s an impressive story driven by shared principles, and we hope this conversation serves as an inspiration to other companies across many sectors.
Climbing Skins: A Guide & Comparisons
Climbing skins often receive less attention than skis, boots, & bindings, but the skins you stick to your skis can make or break your days in the backcountry. So in this guide, we go through the qualities to look for in a pair of skins, then directly compare 13 different skins from 5 different brands.
Ted Hesser on “Chains of Habit” & Destigmatizing the Conversation Around Mental Health (Ep.142)
We spoke to adventure photographer and videographer, Ted Hesser, about his latest project, Chains of Habit, a short film focused on his lifelong battle with depression and the ways trail running has helped fend off its symptoms. We also talk about ways to destigmatize conversations around mental health; steps to take if you’re struggling; and much more.
Flash Review — Canyon Spectral 125
There are a lot of good ~120mm-travel Trail bikes out there, but the Canyon Spectral 125 offers a very different take on the category than most — and we’re having a lot of fun on it. Check out our Flash Review for our early 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.
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Trail Running 101: How to Choose a Headlamp
For many runners, headlamps are no mere accessory; they’re as indispensable to trail running at night as properly fitting trail shoes are to running during the day. Yet much like footwear, finding a lamp that best suits your needs can be a process cloaked in difficult jargon, numbers, and minutia. So in part eight of our Trail Running 101 series, we help explain some of the main things to look for when choosing a headlamp that will best suit your needs.
Blister Speaker Series: Jeremy Jones (Ep.231)
Jeremy Jones came to Western Colorado University for another installment of our Blister Speaker Series to discuss filming, snowboarding, founding POW, the ‘outdoor state,’ POW’s ongoing and evolving efforts to address climate change, and more.
Our 22/23 BLISTER Winter Buyer’s Guide Recap (Ep.218)
A bunch of our reviewers discuss why our 22/23 Winter Buyer’s Guide is still unique and still the best resource for your winter gear; what’s new & different this year; some of our personal favorite gear of the season; some industry trends and speculation; and why pumpkin-flavored pastries make Drew Kelly sweat.
Win Norse Skis
This week the winner of our Gear Giveaway will get to pick from Norse’s 100mm-wide Enduro or 110mm-wide Freeride!
Flash Review — 2022 Manitou Dorado
The Manitou Dorado is one of the few inverted forks left in the MTB market, and we’ve been spending time on multiple versions of the new one.
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.)
Petzl Bindi
The best pieces of gear are often those you forget about, products that integrate so seamlessly into your experience that they become, quite literally, afterthoughts. With the Bindi, an ultralight, ultra-compact headlamp that doesn’t compromise on features despite its size, Petzl offers a capable lighting option for daily use that does exactly that. Functional, intelligent, and smartly designed, the Bindi will benefit just about every type of runner.
2022-2023 Head Kore 120
Here are our initial impressions, images, and specs for the new Head Kore 120 GW.
Matthew Fairbrother’s Outrageous EWS Tour (Ep.139)
Racing a full EWS season is hard. Bikepacking between all the races makes it a lot harder. But that didn’t stop Matthew Fairbrother from doing just that, and on this week’s episode of Bikes & Big Ideas we sat down with him to get the whole crazy, hilarious, remarkable story.
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.