BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
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.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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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 Brand Guide: La Sportiva Trail Running Shoe Lineup, 2022
La Sportiva has made a name for itself in many categories, including the trail running world. Their trail running shoes range from minimal race shoes to burly options designed for rough terrain, and you can check out our 2022 Brand Guide to see what sets each La Sportiva shoe apart from the others.
2022 Niner JET 9 RDO
The Niner JET 9 RDO has proven to be a well-sorted short-travel Trail bike that balances a lot of traits well, and could work for a lot of different riders. Check out our full review for all the info.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Season Kin Ski
The Season Kin is a 98mm-wide ski that’s part tight-radius carver and part freestyle jibber — check out our Full Review & Deep Dive comparisons to learn more about this nontraditional model.
Geoff McFetridge on Telemark vs. Alpine Skiing; Graphics; & Broadening Outdoor Media (Ep.249)
Our friend (and wildly accomplished artist & designer), Geoff McFetridge, came to CB to pay us a visit, and after two great days of skiing, Geoff and Jonathan sat down in Blister HQ to talk telemark vs alpine skiing; ski graphics (and Geoff’s favorite graphic on a ski in Blister HQ); broadening outdoor media; Blister swag; and more.
Stuff We Like: February 2023
The February Edition of our “Stuff We Like” series features a variety of items, including organized travel solutions, baselayers and cozy sweats, backpacks, ski poles, drink mix and snacks, blister care, and much more. Check it out to see the latest gear our reviewers have been digging.
Flash Review: 22/23 Coalition Snow Rafiki
We’ve been spending time on Coalition Snow’s widest ski, the Rafiki. 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.
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2022-2023 Atomic Hawx Ultra 130 S and Professional GW
Atomic’s new BOA-equipped boots may be getting all the attention right now, but their fixed-cuff, standard-buckle Hawx Ultra 130 deserves to be on the radar of a whole lot of skiers out there. Check out our full review of the standard Hawx Ultra 130 + the Hawx Ultra Professional to see our reviewers’ thoughts on these boots after spending more than 100 days in them.
New Gear from Blister Summit 2023 (Ep.235)
Luke Koppa, Justin Bobb, Kara Williard, Dylan Wood, Kristin Sinnott, and Jonathan Ellsworth discuss some of the standout gear they were able to test at last week’s Blister Summit, from skis to snowboards, ski boots, bindings, and even snow blades.
Win Picture Outerwear
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get Picture Organic Clothing’s Broader 3L or Sylva 3L jacket!
Flash Review: 22/23 Deviation Works Ellipse v2.3
We spent time on the Deviation Works Ellipse v2.3 at the 2023 Blister Summit. Check out our initial impressions of this all-mountain ski.
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.
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Nordica Announces New 23/24 Unlimited A/T Boots
Today Nordica announced their brand-new line of alpine-touring boots, the Unlimited series. Check out the details here.
Transition Smuggler, Starling Murmur, Pivot Shuttle LT, & More (Ep.158)
David Golay sat down with the newest member of the Blister bike review team, Simon Stewart, to talk about a ton of the new bikes they’ve been testing — including some interesting takeaways about the wildly-varied class of ~140mm-travel Trail bikes.
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.)