BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Blue Collar Fine Art: Rob Dickinson of Precise Painting (Ep.9)
In addition to being one of our favorite people and favorite skiers, Rob Dickinson is the owner of Precise Painting, an interior and exterior paint and finishing company that does extremely fine work, and employs 25+ people in the Gunnison Valley of Colorado. We talk to Rob about the craft of painting and finishing homes; what anyone thinking about building, purchasing, or maintaining a home in mountain towns ought to know about exteriors; how to think about aesthetics vs. price v.s durability; and more.
Ride Concepts Tallac BOA
The Ride Concepts Tallac BOA is a high-end bike shoe for flat-pedal riders, with several useful features for improved on- and off-bike performance. Here’s our full review.
On Death, Life, and Love
This piece is in honor of the heart, spirit, and legacy of Hilaree Nelson, and is a token of love to all those left behind after our loved ones leave us.
David Kilgore talks Pro Trail Teams, On Running, & Leaning Into the Grind (Ep.141)
We sat down with David Kilgore, On Running’s Sports Innovation Manager, budding race director, and professional ultrarunner, to learn about how each of his different roles offer him a unique perspective on a trail running industry that continues to rapidly professionalize. Along the way, we also chat about On’s trail running team; athlete sponsorships; and much more.
Mountain Sense & Backcountry Education w/ Mark Smiley (Ep.230)
If you spend time in the mountains, then it’s crucial to always be learning — there are new skills to acquire, and old skills to brush up on. Today, we’re talking about mountain safety, backcountry education, and pedagogy with IFMGA guide, Mark Smiley, the creator of Mountain Sense.
OChain Anti-Pedal Kickback Device
OChains — the floating crank spiders meant to mitigate pedal kickback — are everywhere in the World Cup Downhill pits, but do they really work, and are they going to be a benefit for mere mortals? Check out our full review to find out, and take a deep dive into the often-misunderstood topic of pedal kickback.
A Very Deep Dive on Bootfitting, Pt. 3: Stance Balancing with Pulse Boot Labs (Ep.217)
Canting, cuff alignment, stance balancing — these are common phrases in the world of bootfitting, but what do the processes actually look like, and what methods can be applied to create the best result in your ski boots? Listen to this conversation with Kai from Pulse Boot Labs to see what a systematic and analytical approach looks like.
Rossignol Mandate
Rossignol’s Mandate Trail bike is an exceptional value for money in terms of parts spec, but how does it all add up on the trail?
Win the Line Blade Optic 114
This week one lucky winner will get a pair of Line’s new playful-yet-stable powder ski, the Blade Optic 114!
Pulse Boot Lab
With all the bootfitting techniques Pulse has developed, their goal of getting you to love your ski boots is no exaggeration. It’s why they have the reputation of some of the most skilled bootfitters in the industry. Find out more about their innovations in our summary below.
Altra Olympus 5
Altra demonstrated a level of self-control in the updates they made to the Olympus 5, smoothing out its predecessor’s imperfections but otherwise keeping the shoe mostly the same. Check out our full review to learn how the latest version of the Olympus stays true to the model’s identity as one of the best ultra-cushioned, maximalist trail shoes on the market.
Brake Shootout, New RockShox Pike, Revel Rail 29, & More (Ep.138)
We’ve got updates on a ton of the bikes and gear we’re testing, including the new Santa Cruz Tallboy and the new RockShox Pike that came on it; the Revel Rail 29; our upcoming brake shootout; & much more.
Amateur Hour: Paul Forward on Traditional Bows (Ep.8)
We talk to Blister reviewer, Paul Forward, about the art, ethics, and craftsmanship of traditional bows; when and how Paul became fascinated by them; and why we ought to appreciate their rich history and ethos, too.
MTB Knee Pad Roundup — 2022
Knee pads are probably the most commonly worn bit of mountain bike protection (after helmets) and we’ve been testing 16 different at a wide range of styles, weights, and levels of protection. Check out our roundup to find the best ones for you.
Reviewing the News & Mountain Sex w/ Cody Townsend (September 2022) (Ep.229)
We discuss the life & legacy of Hilaree Nelson; Yvon Chouinard giving away Patagonia; Kipchoge & GOATs; burro racing; mountain sex; what we’re reading & watching; the return of The Fifty Project; and more.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
2023 Sea Otter Classic Recap, Part 1
We’re at Sea Otter, and there’s a lot of new stuff to check out. Here’s some of the early stuff that caught our eye.
2023-2024 Peak 98
The Peak 98 is the do-everything model in Bode Miller’s new ski company’s lineup — check out our Full Review & Deep Dive comparisons to see where it slots into the market, and whether it might work for you.
Deep Dive: Peak 98
We compare the Peak 98 to the Peak 88, Peak 98SC, Peak 104, K2 Mindbender 99Ti, Blizzard Bonafide 97, Volkl M6 Mantra, Salomon Stance 96, Nordica Enforcer 100, Black Crows Justis, Rossignol Sender 104 Ti, Blizzard Rustler 9, Moment Commander 98, Fischer Ranger 102, Fischer Ranger 102 FR, Faction Dancer 2, Atomic Maverick 100 Ti, Armada Declivity 102 Ti, Dynastar M-Pro 99, Volkl Mantra 102, ZAG Harfang 96, Wagner Summit 97, Head Kore 99, J Skis Masterblaster, Salomon QST 98, & 4FRNT MSP 99.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Coalition Snow: 10 Years of Skis & Snowboards, 23/24 Lineup, & More w/ Founder & CEO, Jen Gurecki (Ep.242)
Kara Williard talks with Jen Gurecki, founder and CEO of Coalition Snow, about operating a women-owned ski and snowboard company for the past 10 years; how the vision has evolved; their brick-and-mortar storefront; inclusive trips around the world; initiatives to grow the sport and the community; their 23/24 lineup; and more.
Blizzard’s New Rustler & Sheeva Skis | Blister Summit 2023 Video
We sat down with Blizzard’s Christian Avery & Leslie Baker-Brown to go over all the new skis they’re rolling out for the 2023-2024 season. We discuss the new Rustler & Sheeva lines; how they differ from the previous iterations; Blizzard’s Women 2 Women program & how it influences their ski concepts; the purposes of their “FluxForm” & “TrueBlend” technologies, and more.
Win La Sportiva Ski Boots
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get the Vanguard or Vanguard Women’s ski touring boot from La Sportiva!
2022-2023 Shaggy’s Fun Carver 88
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the Shaggy’s Fun Carver 88.
Flash Review — Yeti SB135
The Yeti SB135 might look like a bit of a throwback, as a high-end 27.5”-wheeled Trail bike, but we’ve been spending time on it, and it’s a whole lot of fun.
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.)
Hoka Challenger 7
With the Challenger 7, Hoka attempts to do more with less. The latest iteration of the brand’s longstanding road-to-trail model benefits from a top-to-bottom overhaul that sees its weight decrease significantly despite adding 2 mm of stack height to a midsole that feels sprightly out of the box. Check out our full review to learn more.
Project Bike Tech on Putting Bike Shops in Schools (Ep.166)
Project Bike Tech has been establishing bike shop classes in high schools for 15 years now, and we sat down with their Executive Director, Mercedes Ross, to hear all about it.
TRP Evo12 and Evo7 Drivetrains
Breaking into the mountain bike drivetrain market is a big task, but TRP is giving it a go — and their second-generation Evo12 and Evo7 drivetrains are now offered as a complete package including a cassette and cranks.
Flash Review: 23/24 Elan Ripstick Tour 104
Here are our thoughts so far on Elan’s lightweight, touring-oriented edition of their Ripstick collection, the Ripstick Tour 104.
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.)