BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Blister Labs: Technical Apparel Ratings & Standards – Origins & Relevance (Ep.215)
Those waterproof & breathability ratings on the tags of that rain jacket or those ski pants you’re about to buy: where did they come from? What’s the history? How relevant are those standards? We discuss all of this & more with Dr. Lauren Cooper.
Best Skis for Beginners: A Guide
If you are new to skiing — or just haven’t gone in a while — here is our guide to what you ought to look for in a ski, whether you are looking to rent or buy.
Win Baselayer Kits from Minus33
This week TWO lucky winners will each get kitted out head-to-toe with Minus33’s super comfy merino wool baselayers!
Pinner Machine Shop on Self-Taught Machining, Making Parts in a Kitchen, & More (Ep.136)
Not many bike parts companies started off machining parts in a home kitchen while the founder’s partner was at work, but Pinner Machine Shop isn’t most companies.
The Alchemist co-founder & brewer, John Kimmich, Pt 2 (Ep.7)
With Heady Topper, John Kimmich created one of the most sought-after craft beers in the world, and effectively created the profile of the modern IPA. In Part 2 of our conversation, we dive into the evolution of Heady Topper; why making great beer is not enough for John & Jen; & more.
2023 RockShox Super Deluxe and Super Deluxe Coil
RockShox gave their longstanding Super Deluxe and Super Deluxe Coil shocks a big overhaul earlier this year, and having now tried both on multiple bikes, we’re ready to weigh in with our full review.
Glossary – Snowsports
Death Cookies? Coral Reef? Chalk? Directional vs. Playful Style? Can a ski be maneuverable but not nimble? There are a whole lot of ways to talk about snow and the different ways to slide down it. Check out our updated Glossary learn more about the sometimes foreign-sounding language of snowsports and ski reviews.
Andrew Alexander King: On Climbing in the Alps
This time on Open Mic, Andrew Alexander King shares his thoughts on both the physical and philosophical aspects of climbing high peaks.
Jennifer Strong McConachie on “Go Far,” Dostoevsky, and the Four Corners of Endurance (Ep.138)
Beyond a genre of sport, endurance is also a fundamental part of living, so we sat down with author and athlete, Jennifer Strong McConachie, to talk about her new book, “Go Far: How Endurance Sports Help You Win At Life,” a collection of stories that encapsulate the life philosophy she’s formed from running long, climbing high, and swimming deep.
Flash Review — 2023 Santa Cruz Tallboy
Santa Cruz calls the Tallboy a “downhiller’s XC bike” and our early impressions are that it’s a good one.
Mainstreaming Outdoor Media; Seth Morrison; Media Literacy; & More with Mountain Gazette’s, Mike Rogge (Ep.227)
Mountain Gazette owner & editor, Mike Rogge, is back to discuss the outdoor industry & mainstream media; detail the fallout from the previous issue of the Mountain Gazette; and highlight several of the pieces in the next issue, including a career retrospective on Seth Morrison.
Petzl Iko Core
Trail running can be a turbulent sport, and traditional headlamps that rely on elastic bands often fail to provide a secure enough fit to stay in place over the course of an outing. With the Iko Core, a reimagined headlamp that uses rubberized plastic to form a semi-rigid frame designed to rest comfortably on top of the head, Petzl offers a versatile, ergonomic, and powerful lighting option specifically for runners.
A Very Deep Dive on Bootfitting, Pt 2: Your Questions Answered by Master Bootfitters, Sam and Kara (Ep.214)
Kara and Sam dive even further into some of the mysteries and complexities of bootfitting while responding to several really interesting and important questions from the audience. We bet that you’ve had some of these questions yourself, so here are some in-depth answers to consider before spending time in your ski boots this winter.
Reserve 30|HD Wheels
We’ve been spending a lot of time on the new Reserve 30|HD wheels, and they’ve proven to be a nice update to the longstanding and super-popular Reserve 30.
Win Deuter Packs & Vests
This week TWO lucky winners will each get one of Deuter’s trail running / hiking Ascent vests or packs!
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Flash Review: 23/24 Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD 130 BOA GW
Update 4.14.23: Jonathan adds some of his thoughts on how the Hawx Ultra XTD 130 BOA has performed in Alaska, including with the addition of Atomic’s “Gnar Bar” and Mimic Professional Liners.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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2023-2024 Salomon QST 92
This season we got on the latest version of the QST 92 to see how much of its wider siblings’ traits it carried over into a narrower package, and what the end result would be. Check out our Full Review & Deep Dive comparisons to see what we found.
Deep Dive: Salomon QST 92
We compare the QST 92 to the Salomon QST 98, Salomon Stance 90, Blizzard Rustler 9, DPS Pagoda 90 RP, Line Blade Optic 92, Line Blade Optic 96, Folsom Cash 93, Black Crows Serpo, Folsom Spar 88, Shaggy’s Ahmeek 95, J Skis Fastforward, K2 Mindbender 89Ti, Line Blade, 4FRNT MSP 91, Nordica Enforcer 94, Blizzard Brahma 88, Head Kore 93, Atomic Maverick 95 Ti, Armada Declivity 92 Ti, Volkl M6 Mantra, & Fischer Ranger 90.
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.)
The Craft Skiery: 23/24 Meier Skis | Blister Summit 2023 Video
We sat down with Meier’s Michelle Kidd & Parker Davis to discuss the brand’s origins and some of their latest and most popular ski models. We cover their sustainability efforts, including using bio-based resins, beetle-kill pine, and repurposing waste materials; creating skis that meet the demands of athletes like Owen Leeper while still catering to more average skiers, and more.
Yeti SB160, Pivot Shuttle LT, SRAM Transmission & More (Ep.165)
David Golay and Simon Stewart sat down to chat about a bunch of the new bikes and gear they’ve been testing, including the Yeti SB160, Pivot Shuttle LT vs. Specialized Turbo Levo, the new SRAM Transmission, and a whole bunch more — plus some teasers of upcoming new bike releases.
Flash Review: 23/24 Rossignol Forza 70D V-Ti
Rossignol is launching a whole new line of piste-oriented skis, and we’ve been spending time on the top-end model. Check out our initial thoughts on the Forza 70D V-Ti.
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.)
Fizik Terra Artica GTX Shoe
A lot of the waterproof mountain bike shoes on the market are also very heavily insulated and warm, but if you’re after a wet-weather clipless shoe for cool-but-not-frigid temperatures, the Fizik Terra Artica GTX might just be the ticket.
Blister Summit 2024: What, When, & How to Join
We’re very excited to be bringing back the Blister Summit bigger and better for its fourth year — register now to reserve your spot at one of the best events of the winter!
Tea: Origins, Trends, & State of the Union (Ep.23)
Jonathan talks to Jing Tea founder, Ed Eisler, about the origins, production, and culture of tea; “Duckshit” tea; what goes into making an exceptional cup of tea; the pros and cons of coffee vs tea; and more.
Pomoca Skins: Proper Care & Latest Models | Blister Summit 2023 Video
We sat down with Pomoca’s Gaël Baudet to discuss several of the brand’s latest skins; how their Free & Climb collections differ; how to properly care for your own climbing skins during — and after — your ski season, and more.
Pete Willauer: The One with the Knife
In our latest Open Mic, Pete Willauer talks about his Uncle John, mentorship, and responsibility to the people we love.
Blister Brand Guide: Craft Running Shoe Lineup, 2023
Craft is perhaps better known for making moisture-wicking technical layers than shoes, but since breaking into the footwear space a few years ago, they’ve already turned out an impressive lineup of innovative shoes for roads, trails, and everything in between. Check out our 2023 Brand Guide to see what’s new from Craft this year and which of their models might make the most sense for you.