BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Eric Olsen on Bikepacking the EWS (Ep.126)
Eric Olsen just returned from bike touring between the first three rounds of the EWS, so we sat down with him to hear where he got the idea in the first place; how it all went, including encountering golf-ball-sized hail and a flock of schoolchildren mid-race; the notion of bikes as transportation & European bike touring culture more broadly; and much, much more.
La Sportiva Karacal
La Sportiva is synonymous with hardwearing shoes for running in difficult, mountainous terrain. However, the brand has lately focused on making more accessible models for runners who prioritize comfort over technical performance. With the Karacal, we think they’ve mostly succeeded in meeting that demand.
2023 Santa Cruz Megatower
The V2 Santa Cruz Megatower is a very different bike from its predecessor, and we think it’s a whole lot better for it. But what all has Santa Cruz changed, and how does that add up on trail? Check out our full review to find out.
Blister Brand Guide: Nike Trail Running Shoe Lineup, 2022
Nike continues to expand their trail-running options, and in our Brand Guide we cover every shoe in their 2022 Trail lineup to help you figure out how each shoe differs and which might make the most sense for you.
Paddy O’Leary on Racing Horses, Fell Running, Lacrosse, & Community Building (Ep.128)
Paddy O’Leary’s path from the farm he grew up on in Wexford, Ireland to becoming an elite runner for The North Face is by no means a linear one. So we sat down with Paddy to talk about how he ended up racing on the trails (with and without a horse); growing the sport of lacrosse in Ireland; community building; fell running; and a whole lot more.
2022-2023 Line Blade Optic 96
Line’s brand-new Blade Optic 96 is an extremely versatile all-mountain ski that isn’t easily pigeonholed into a particular category, which is exactly why so many people should have it on their lists. Check out our Full Review & Deep Dive comparisons for the whole story.
Deep Dive: Line Blade Optic 96
We compare the Blade Optic 96 to the Line Blade Optic 104, Line Blade Optic 92, J Skis Masterblaster, Line Blade, Blizzard Rustler 9, Season Kin, Rossignol Blackops 98, Fischer Ranger 94 FR, K2 Mindbender 99Ti, Volkl M6 Mantra, Wagner Summit 97, Blizzard Bonafide 97, Salomon Stance 96, Atomic Maverick 95 Ti, Salomon QST 98, Black Crows Camox, Moment Commander 98, Renoun Endurance 98, Faction Dancer 2, Dynastar M-Free 99, Nordica Unleashed 98, Dynastar M-Pro 99, 4FRNT MSP 99, & Black Crows Serpo.
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Blister Summit ’23: New Info, Dates, & Details (Ep.217)
On our Blister Podcast, Jonathan and Blister Summit Director, Kristin Sinnott, discuss the new format for our next Blister Summit; how to get the best pricing; what we learned from past Blister Summits; and who ought to come. (Answer: YOU.)
Men’s and Women’s Mountain Bike Shorts Roundup — 2022
We’ve been testing a ton of baggy MTB shorts for men and women, and our latest roundup features a dozen options from super lightweight and minimalist to burly, fully-featured ones.
Win Tickets to our 2023 Blister Summit
We’re extremely psyched to bring back the Summit even bigger and better for next year, and now’s your chance to join for free!
Blister Summit 2023: What, When, & How to Join
We’re very excited to be bringing back the Blister Summit bigger and better for its third year — register today to reserve your spot!
Blister Labs: Motorcycles, Laser Art, & Mtn Bikes with Greg Vanderbeek (Ep.204)
Greg Vanderbeek talks about starting a custom motorcycle business; the mountain bike projects we’re working on at Blister Labs; and more.
2022-2023 Head Kore RS 130 GW
Here are our measured specs, photos, and a quick rundown on the 22/23 Head Kore RS 130 GW.
Trinity MTB on Their Wild High-Pivot Prototypes (Ep.125)
Trinity MTB has been putting out some of the wildest prototype bikes in recent memory, so we sat down with Chase Warner and Mic Williams to get the rundown on their latest V2 bike, with its incredible adaptability and 3D printed construction; what’s next for V3; when you’ll be able to buy one; & a whole lot more.
Under Armour Charged Bandit Trail 2
Most people don’t associate Under Armour with trail running — but the brand’s new do-everything shoe, the Charged Bandit Trail 2, just might change that. The latest model from UA was designed with accessibility for novice runners in mind, and to that effect, we think the Charged Bandit Trail 2 could be a pretty competent option for a lot of people — not just those venturing off-road for the first time.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Blister Summit 2023: New Gear Recap
With over 30 brands at Blister Summit 2023, there was a whole lot of new 23/24 gear to test. Check out the new-gear highlights from each brand here.
Flash Review: 23/24 Nordica Unleashed 108 W
We just spent time at the recent Blister Summit on one of the 23/24 additions to the Nordica Unleashed series, the Unleashed 108 W. Check out our initial on-snow 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.)
Rod Farvard on The North Face’s Athlete Development Program (Ep.160)
The North Face Athlete, Rod Farvard, returns to the show to talk about his sponsor’s unique Athlete Development Program, an initiative that provides 17 young athletes from a multitude of sports, including trail running, with resources to accelerate their careers and serve as activists in the outdoor space.
Flash Review: 23/24 Moment Countach 110
We’ve started spending time on Moment’s newest ski, the Countach 110. Check out our initial on-snow 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.)
Quick Thoughts on our Blister Summit + Summit 2024 Dates (Ep.248)
Jonathan shares a few words about our Blister Summit that just wrapped up; announces the dates for our 2024 Blister Summit, and offers a few thoughts about what the strikingly handsome Justin Bobb described as “the time of my life — literally one of the best weeks ever.”
Win ZipFit Liners and a Delaine Ski Sweater
The winner of this week’s gear giveaway will get a ski sweater from Delaine, plus any ZipFit ski boot liner!
Line Announces New 23/24 Chronic 94 & Chronic 101
The Chronic has been in Line’s collection for quite some time now, and for 23/24, they’re expanding it into two revamped models. Check out the details here.
Flash Review — 2023 Transition Smuggler
We’ve got a handful of rides on the new Transition Smuggler — 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.)
New Balance FuelCell Summit Unknown v3
New Balance continues to make inroads into the trail space in 2023 and the recently updated FuelCell Summit Unknown v3 marks an auspicious start to their year. As one of the most versatile and affordable options in the brand’s catalog, the shoe benefits from a bevy of features that prepare it for just about every type of run and trail condition. Check out our full review for the whole story.
Ministry Cycles on Suspension Design, Machining Frames, & Launching a Bike Company (Ep.157)
Chris Currie has taken a long, winding road to founding Ministry Cycles, and the bike he’s launching with, the Psalm 150, is every bit as interesting. So we sat down with Chris to get the whole story.
2023-2024 Salomon QST Echo 106
Salomon just announced a new QST ski, and the QST Echo 106 might look familiar to keen-eyed viewers of Cody Townsend’s Fifty Project. Check out our First Look of the QST Echo 106 for more info on this new touring ski.
Jeff Pelletier on Adventure Filmmaking, Storytelling Through Trail Running, & ‘Racing Georgia’ (Ep.159)
We recently sat down with adventure filmmaker, Jeff Pelletier, to talk about what makes ultra-distance trail running the perfect subject for visual storytelling; the challenges that filming POV-style videos add to running ultramarathons; his new series, ‘Racing Georgia’; and much more.