BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles

Deep Dive: J Skis Masterblaster
We compare the latest Masterblaster to the previous J Skis Masterblaster, J Skis Fastforward, Volkl Mantra 102, Blizzard Bonafide 97, Black Crows Camox, 4FRNT MSP 99, K2 Mindbender 99Ti, Faction Dancer 2, Salomon QST 98, Volkl M6 Mantra, Nordica Enforcer 100, Dynastar M-Free 99, Atomic Maverick 100 Ti, Dynastar M-Pro 99, Wagner Summit 97, Fischer Ranger 102 FR, Moment Commander 98, Renoun Endurance 98, Fischer Ranger 102, Line Blade Optic 96, Salomon Stance 102, & Salomon Stance 96.
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Roxanne Vogel on Lightning Ascents, Flavor Science, and GU Energy Labs (Ep.125)
Ultramarathons are sometimes called eating competitions with a bit of running thrown in, and with so many different nutrition products and approaches at our disposal these days, it can be hard to know how to fuel properly. So, we talked to GU Energy Labs’ Nutrition and Performance Research Manager, Roxanne Vogel, about the ins & outs of eating on the run; how GU’s line of products fit into that equation; and much more.

Flash Review — 2023 Santa Cruz Hightower
We’ve been spending time on the new 2023 Santa Cruz Hightower. 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
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Stuff We Like: June 2022
In the June edition of our “Stuff We Like” series, we’ve got everything from sun hoodies to ski racks, fishing gear, handlebars, water-treatment options, and much more. Check it out to see the latest gear our reviewers have been digging.

Trail Running 101: How to Run in the Rain
No matter how much running experience you have, at some point you’re going to look out a rain-spattered window and wonder, “am I really going to run in this?” Wet weather can put a huge damper on our motivation, but with the right gear (and some adjusted expectations), getting out for a rainy run can be downright enjoyable. In part five of our Trail Running 101 series, we offer a few tips and tricks to keep in mind when showers are in the forecast.

2021-2022 Head Kore 97 W
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pics, and flex pattern numbers for the Head Kore 97 W.

2021-2022 Atomic Maverick 88 Ti
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pics, and flex pattern numbers for the Atomic Maverick 88 Ti.

Rossignol’s Recyclable “Essential” Ski, with David Bouvier (Ep.201)
A recyclable ski? We sat down with David Bouvier to talk about Rossignol’s new “Essential” ski; discuss the origin of the project; the challenges posed by making the circular economy of a ski a priority; who this Essential ski is for; and how this project will influence other Rossignol products.

Altra Lone Peak 6
The original Altra Lone Peak debuted over 8 years ago, and after quickly gaining prominence among trail runners and thru-hikers alike, the shoe helped to further legitimize Altra’s unique approach to footwear design. Now in its 6th iteration, the latest Lone Peak received some considerable updates — check out our review to see where the latest Lone Peak slots into the running market.

Win SPY Sunglasses
The TWO winners of our Gear Giveaway this week will each get to pick any pair of SPY’s new Happy Boost sunglasses!

2023 La Sportiva Skorpius CR II & Vanguard Boots | Blister Summit Brand Lineup
We talk with Sean Van Horn about two of La Sportiva’s new ski boots: the lightweight Skorpius CR II, and the freeride-oriented Vanguard. We cover all the interesting design elements that La Sportiva packed into each boot; where each boot slots into the wide-ranging “touring” category; and how touring gear has evolved to reflect shifting consumer trends.

Blister Brand Guide: Adidas Terrex Trail Running Shoe Lineup, 2022
Adidas continues to expand their off-road-oriented Terrex line of running shoes, with everything from high-cushion, long-distance shoes to minimal, lightweight options. Check out our Brand Guide to get the rundown on all of their 2022 shoes.

The New Blister Mountain Bike Buyer’s Guide
Last year we released the Blister Mountain Bike Buyer’s guide — a different type of guide, one that doesn’t just compare this new bike to that new bike, but that would help you better understand and think about mountain bikes in general. This year, we’ve updated the guide to not only keep it up-to-date in the evolving bike industry, but have also added several new sections, including an in-depth one on how to get the most out of your suspension.

2021-2022 Liberty Origin 101
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pics, and flex pattern numbers for the Liberty Origin 101.

Hope on Their New Tech 4 Brakes & Sweating the Details (Ep.122)
Hope’s new Tech 4 brakes got a big bump up in power, but there’s a whole lot more that goes into designing a brake than just turning that dial to 11. So we sat down with Hope engineer Sam Gibbs to talk about all of that; the tradeoffs that go into brake design; the new Tech 4 lineup in detail; and a whole lot more.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:

In Search of the ‘Best’ Coffee Gear, Pt 1 (Ep.19)
What’s the best way to make coffee? Strong opinions abound, and our editor-in-chief is currently trying to figure it all out. So we are launching this CRAFTED mini series on coffee gear to try to gain some clarity on the topic. See what you think, and let us know what you recommend!

Trail Running 101: How to Recover from a Trail Run
How well you recover from a run is one of the largest factors dictating your potential for progress. Yet knowing exactly how to handle post-workout recovery can be confusing, with different approaches at times offering conflicting information. So in part ten of our Trail Running 101 series, we provide some basic and easy to follow tips for how to get started.

Braydon Bringhurst on Climbing the Whole Enchilada (Ep.155)
A few months ago, Braydon Bringhurst pulled off the incredible accomplishment of climbing the Whole Enchilada trail in Moab, Utah in a single day — and *rode* every inch of it. So we sat down with Braydon to get the whole story.

Flash Review: New Outerwear Update: Women’s Flylow & Trew
We’ve been testing some updated and interesting kits from Trew and Flylow this season — check out Kara Williard’s 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.
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Flash Review: 22/23 Faction Mana 3
Here are our thoughts so far on the 112mm-wide Faction Mana 3, which replaces the Faction Candide 3.0.
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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MTB Brake Shootout
What’s the most important component on a mountain bike? A strong argument could be made for brakes, and there are now a greater number of good, powerful brakes than ever before. But how do they actually stack up against each other? We’ve spent the past year-plus directly comparing eight of the top options from Shimano, SRAM, TRP, Hayes, Hope, Magura, & Cascade Components — in this in-depth roundup, we explain how they all compare, what each does best, and which ones might be ideal for you.

The Most Me
In our latest Open Mic, Hadley Hammer talks about “sameness,” freedom, and the ski industry.

Transition Relay
Transition’s second e-bike, the Relay, is here — and among other things, it isn’t *always* an e-bike. Check out our First Look for the rundown.

John Kelly on Barkley Marathons Lore, Being Uncomfortable Being Comfortable, & Rebuilding Speed (Ep.157)
We recently sat down with La Sportiva Athlete John Kelly to talk about being only the 15th person to ever finish the infamous Barkley Marathons; the mindset required to run for several days straight; how he rebuilt his speed to run a sub-2:30 marathon; and much more.

Ski Manufacturing, Sustainability, & Atomic’s New Impact Statement (Ep.245)
Today we’re talking about the ski industry, ski manufacturing, and sustainability in general, and Atomic’s own historical and quite recent initiatives, including their new, annual Impact Statement.

2022-2023 Lib Tech Orca Split
The Lib Tech Orca Split is a versatile, volume-shifted splitboard that has proven its capability across steep Alaskan lines, spring hardpack, and just about everything in between. Check out the full review for more info, including how it compares to other boards from Jones, Venture, & Rossignol.

Flash Review: 22/23 Meier Leeper
As Owen Leeper’s pro model, we were curious to see where the Meier Leeper would fall into the ~115mm-wide category. Here are 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.
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