Previously on GEAR:30 we laid out our Mt. Rushmore of Ski Suspension. Now, we’re moving to the opposite end of the spectrum. We define some terms, talk about some of the characteristics that can help make a ski more poppy; and work our way through a bunch of skis. Check it out, and let us know what skis you think are most deserving.

The Mt. Rushmore of “Poppy” Skis (Ep.153)

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Previously on GEAR:30 we laid out our Mt. Rushmore of Ski Suspension. Now, we’re moving to the opposite end of the spectrum. We define some terms, talk about some of the characteristics that can help make a ski more poppy; and work our way through a bunch of skis. Check it out, and let us know what skis you think are most deserving.

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Win Any Sunglasses from SPY

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This week TWO people will get to pick any sunglasses they want from SPY's updated lineup!

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Few (if any) riders have the power, balance, & creativity of Brad Simms. So you might assume it’s been a pretty quick and easy path to prominence for someone this unique. But it hasn’t been an easy road, and in this episode of our Bikes & Big Ideas podcast, Brad spells it all out; talks about how close he came to calling it quits; his new partnership with Canyon bikes; his interest in all types of riding; and more.

The Rise — and Rise — of Brad Simms (Ep.73)

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Few (if any) riders have the power, balance, & creativity of Brad Simms. So you might assume it’s been a pretty quick and easy path to prominence for someone this unique. But it hasn’t been an easy road, and in this conversation, Brad spells it all out; talks about how close he came to calling it quits; his new partnership with Canyon bikes; his interest in all types of riding; and more.

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Blister Outdoor Gear review Crested Butte

WNDR Alpine Launches New Pow Ski: The Reason 120

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Today WNDR Alpine released their third ski, the Reason 120, and we sat down with WNDR’s Matt Sterbenz to get the backstory on the new ski; why it was actually the first ski he wanted to make; how it compares to their Vital 100 & Intention 110; and more.

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Kevin Geisen Reviews the New Balance Fresh Foam More Trail for Blister.

New Balance Fresh Foam More Trail v1

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New Balance made their name in the trail running world with their super minimal shoes, but their Fresh Foam More Trail is basically the opposite — a plush, maximal shoe designed for long distances. And after our first ~85 miles in it, we think it's an excellent execution of that design.

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This week on the Blister Podcast we discuss grizzlies, whales, microbes, humankind, & the future of the world with the wildlife biologist & author, Doug Chadwick. All of these are topics in Doug’s excellent new book, Four Fifths a Grizzly: A New Perspective on Nature that Just Might Save Us All.

Doug Chadwick on Our Need for a New Understanding of Nature (Ep.173)

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This week we discuss grizzlies, whales, microbes, humankind, & the future of the world with the wildlife biologist & author, Doug Chadwick. All of these are topics in Doug’s excellent new book, Four Fifths a Grizzly: A New Perspective on Nature that Just Might Save Us All.

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Noah Bodman reviews the Shimano ME7 Shoes for Blister

Shimano ME7 Clipless Shoes

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Shimano’s ME7 is a clipless trail shoe that’s meant to be up for a bit of anything, so how well does it live up to Shimano's claims about its versatility? Check out our review to find out.

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On Blister's GEAR30 Podcast series on Helmet Technology and R&D, we talk with the Head of Product at POC, Oscar Huss, about headforms — the things they stick into helmets to mimic your head before smashing up helmets in testing; the numerous variables that need to be considered when setting up a way to test “safety”; the different considerations that go into designing kids helmets; and more.

Current State of Helmet Tech, pt. 4: POC (Ep.152)

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We talk with the Head of Product at POC, Oscar Huss, about headforms — the things they stick into helmets to mimic your head before smashing up helmets in testing; the numerous variables that need to be considered when setting up a way to test “safety”; the different considerations that go into designing kids helmets; and more.

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Blister Outdoor Gear review Crested Butte

Win Shoes from Hoka

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This week the winner will get Hoka's brand-new Zinal running shoes!

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Luke Koppa reviews the Apostle 3.0 106 for Blister

2021-2022 RMU Apostle 3.0 106

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The revised Apostle 3.0 106 is an exceptionally maneuverable and playful ski, but also one that certain skiers could really love for skiing fast and dynamically all over the mountain. Check out our Full Review & Deep Dive comparisons.

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Which ski brand is most similar to Transition? Guerrilla Gravity? Specialized? Which bike company is most like K2? ON3P? Moment? We answer all of these questions and more in Part 2 of Bikes vs. Skis. Check it out, and tell us your answers to these questions in the comments section.

Bikes vs. Skis, 3rd Edition (2021): Part 2 (Ep.72)

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Which ski brand is most similar to Transition? Guerrilla Gravity? Specialized? Which bike company is most like K2? ON3P? Moment? We answer all of these questions and more in Part 2 of Bikes vs. Skis. Check it out — and let us know your answers.

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Women’s Rain Jacket Roundup — 2021

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A reliable, packable rain jacket is always nice to have — especially when you never really know what the weather is going to throw at you. We've been testing five women's rain jackets (plus one for kids) and in this roundup, we discuss what sets each one apart.

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Blister Men's Mountain Bike Short Roundup — 2021

Men’s Mountain Bike Shorts Roundup — 2021

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These days "mountain bike shorts" can be a lot of things, from highly-technical pieces with fancy fabrics and bike-specific fits to more casual options that look good on or off the bike. We’ve been testing 10 options across the whole spectrum, and you can check out our latest roundup here.

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Luke Koppa reviews the DPS Pagoda 106 C2 for Blister

Flash Review: 21/22 DPS Pagoda 106 C2

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We got some days on the latest version of DPS's 106 C2 shape, this time with their new Pagoda construction. Check out our initial thoughts.

Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions

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Many of us in the outdoor community either don’t have insurance, or have deductibles that we can barely afford to pay when the inevitable accident happens to us. But Spot is disrupting the insurance industry with a hard-to-believe alternative that is actually affordable. We’ve had multiple conversations this week with the co-founder and CEO of Spot, Matt Randall, to discuss exactly how Spot works; why the insurance industry is such a mess; and why we think you and pretty much everyone you know ought to be covered by Spot. We discuss all that and more on the Blister Podcast

Your Insurance Probably Sucks. Spot Can Change That. (Ep.172)

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If you’re reading this, then you need to listen to this episode. Because many of us in the outdoor community either don’t have insurance, or have deductibles that we can barely afford to pay when the inevitable accident happens. But Spot is disrupting the insurance industry with a hard-to-believe alternative that is actually affordable. We sat down with the co-founder and CEO of Spot, Matt Randall, to discuss exactly how Spot works; why the insurance industry is such a mess; and why we think you and pretty much everyone you know ought to be covered by Spot.

Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions

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Stuff We Like: June 2021

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We're back with this month's edition of "Stuff We Like." The June version includes everything from bandanas to MTB pedals to kayak paddles and much more.

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We talk with the president & CEO of Pret Helmets about the “dart test” portion of the safety certification process; the prospects of implementing customizable helmet liners; why Pret places such an emphasis on ventilation; and more.

Current State of Helmet Tech, pt. 3: Pret (Ep.151)

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We talk with the president & CEO of Pret Helmets about the “dart test” portion of the safety certification process; the prospects of implementing customizable helmet liners; why Pret places such an emphasis on ventilation; and more.

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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Win a Pack & Jacket from Ultimate Direction

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This week the winner will get an ultralight backpack and shell from Ultimate Direction!

Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions

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Luke Koppa & Jonathan Ellsworth review the Volkl M6 Mantra for Blister

2021-2022 Volkl M6 Mantra

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The Volkl Mantra has been a reference ski in the all-mountain category for over a decade, and Volkl updated it for 21/22. Check out our full review & Deep Dive comparisons to see what's new, what isn't, and how this new ski compares to the current market.

Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions

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Luke Koppa & Jonathan Ellsworth review the Volkl M6 Mantra for Blister

Deep Dive: Volkl M6 Mantra

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We compare the M6 Mantra to the M5 Mantra, Volkl Mantra 102, Blizzard Bonafide 97, Atomic Maverick 95 Ti, Nordica Enforcer 94, Armada Declivity 92 Ti, Salomon QST 98, Salomon Stance 96, Salomon QST 99, Moment Commander 98, 4FRNT MSP 99, Fischer Ranger 102 FR, Fischer Ranger 94 FR, Dynastar M-Pro 99, K2 Mindbender 99Ti, J Skis Masterblaster, Blizzard Rustler 9, & DPS Pagoda Piste 94 C2.

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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