BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
2022-2023 Rossignol Pure Elite 120 GW
Here are our measured specs, photos, and a quick rundown on Rossignol’s new women’s alpine boot, the Pure Elite 120 GW.
New Image Brewing on Constant Experimentation, Inspiration, & Evolution (Ep.1)
For our first episode of CRAFTED, we’re talking with Brandon Capps, the founder and owner of New Image Brewing. Brandon is exceptionally good at — and passionate about — discussing the intricacies of brewing, growing a business, and doing things differently, so we cover all of that; what other breweries inspire him; coming up with 600+ beer recipes over the years; New Image’s constant production of new one-off beers vs. year-round options; and what truly makes a “Craft” company.
Men’s MTB Jersey Roundup — 2022
We’ve been testing a ton of mountain bike jerseys across a huge range of styles and intended use cases, and in our men’s roundup, we’ve got 13 options to compare.
Trail Running 101: How to Run Uphill
Hills can pose a challenge to runners new to the trails. Steep and sometimes rocky inclines have a way of disrupting the rhythmic stride found on the roads, often leading to frustration, less efficient running, and the following fatigue. Confronting a climb doesn’t always have to feel like a tremendous obstacle though, and in part seven of our Trail Running 101 series, we cover a few techniques for how to navigate them with ease.
Introducing: CRAFTED
CRAFTED is the newest addition to the Blister Podcast network — subscribe today to make sure you don’t miss out on our first episode, coming this week.
Alex Nichols on Coaching College Cross Country, Pikes Peak Streaking, & Beekeeping (Ep.132)
After being named the head coach of Colorado College’s cross country program last year, trail and ultrarunner, Alex Nichols, has made a habit of inviting some of his athletes out to support his own racing endeavors, including his 8th-place finish at the Western States 100 back in June. So, we talked to Alex about the intersection between coaching full-time at his alma mater and running trails professionally, and a whole lot more.
Introducing: Open Mic
We’re launching a new written series on BLISTER called, Open Mic, where athletes, artists, and others will be tasked with an unusual assignment. Jonathan Ellsworth explains.
2022-2023 Head Kore 87
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pics, and flex pattern numbers for the new Head Kore 87.
Mountain Towns & Local Food Systems, Pt. 1: Setting the Stage (Ep.221)
Jonathan and Kara respond to a listener’s question about what local food is and how you can support it; how to grow food in cold places; chicken tractors and therapy chickens; and how a robust local food system keeps our mountain towns healthier.
Blister Brand Guide: On Running Shoe Lineup, 2022
On’s shoes are instantly recognizable due to their unique, bulbous midsoles / outsoles. But how do each of their road and trail shoes differ, and which one should you get? Check out our Brand Guide to find out.
An Update on Blister Labs’ Mountain Bike Wheel Testing
Our Blister Labs team is well underway with mountain bike wheelset testing that is going to provide far more detailed information and real-world quantitative data than anything that has previously been available to consumers. Here’s an update on what we’re up to and how it’s going.
Our (Massive) Ski Binding Shootout + Wildlife Encounters (Ep.208)
Luke, Kara, and Jonathan talk about our upcoming test, where we’ll be mounting up 20+ pairs of the same ski with 20+ different alpine bindings in the attempt to find out what really separates the most popular alpine (and 50/50) bindings from one another.
Win MTB Gear from 7iDP
This week TWO lucky winners will each get to pick any pair of 7iDP knee pads they want, and they’ll get a pair of gloves + a T-Shirt!
Sage Flow Motion
The Sage Flow Motion is a beautifully constructed titanium Trail hardtail, but unlike the XC-oriented options of yesteryear, it’s got modern, aggressive geometry and 29’’ wheels, and the result is a whole lot of fun.
Inov-8 Parkclaw G 280
Road-to-trail shoes are becoming an increasingly popular option for runners who might not have immediate access to trails from their front door. Asking a shoe to feel smooth on pavement and grip on dirt is a tall order, but after testing Inov-8’s Parkclaw G 280, we think it’s up to the task. Check out our full review for the whole story.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Trail Running 101: How to Run While Traveling
While one of running’s virtues is how well it travels, requiring little in the way of gear and possible in just about every type of setting, knowing exactly what to bring and how to safely explore a new place on foot can be daunting. So, in part eleven of our Trail Running 101 series, we put together some best practices for running while on the road (or trail).
Flash Review: 23/24 Line Bacon 108
The new Line Bacon 108 is proving to be quite different than the Line Sir Francis Bacon it replaces. Check out our thoughts so far.
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.)
Max Romey on “No Lost Shoes,” Nnormal, and Striving for Sustainability in the Footwear Industry (Ep.164)
We talked to artist, filmmaker, trail runner, and proud Alaskan, Max Romey, about some of the environmental challenges facing the footwear industry outlined in his latest film for Nnormal, “No Lost Shoes.” Along the way, we also explore the imperfections of painting in water color; Nnormal’s forward-thinking sustainability model; grassroots climate activism; and more.
How to Not Burn Out: 5 Lessons from a Stoked Kook
In her latest Open Mic piece, Angel Collinson shares what she’s learned about how not to destroy – but rather deepen – our passion for the things we love.
Flash Review — SRAM X0 Eagle Transmission & Code Ultimate Stealth Brakes
We’ve been testing the new SRAM Eagle Transmission and Stealth Brakes for a while now — check out our early 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.)
SRAM Eagle Transmission
There have been spy photos of what appeared to be a new direct-mount derailleur, plus updated Eagle cranks, cassettes, and controllers from SRAM floating around the internet for a while now — and today it all breaks cover, along with some new brakes and much more. Check out our First Look for all the info on the new Eagle Transmission.
2023-2024 Black Crows Nocta
Black Crows recently announced a major update to their widest ski, the Nocta, and reviewer Paul Forward has been spending a lot of time on it, both while heli-ski guiding and lapping the resort. Check out our Full Review to see how the latest Nocta performs in everything from deep pow to breakable crust.
Pit Viper Co-Founders on String Theory; their Origin Story; Hotdogs; New Products; & More (Ep.252)
Chuck Mumford and Chris Garcin started Pit Viper to inject more fun into skiing. But behind all the party vibes, they’ve also been sneaking in a good bit of functionality and performance into their products, too. Here’s their story. (Mostly, Chuck needed a place to shower.)
2023 Marin Alpine Trail E
The Marin Alpine Trail E gets a refresh today, and while its geometry hasn’t changed much, it’s still pretty out there for a ~150 mm travel bike — and the value for money in terms of the build specs is especially impressive.
Shop Talk: Gear West on Year-Round Relevance, Community, & Specialty Service (Ep.238)
We talk with Jeff and Isabel from Gear West in Long Lake, MN to hear about how they’ve built a year-round community at their “campus”; the challenges and upsides of providing multi-sport services throughout the year; the effects of recent uphill access at Buck Hill; a couple of gear trends, and more.
Win a RockyMounts Bike Rack
This week the winner of our Gear Giveaway will get the adaptable and sleek GuideRail hitch bike rack from RockyMounts!
Flash Review: 22/23 Northland AM178
Northland makes beautiful, wood-veneer, fully cambered skis in Steamboat Springs, CO. We’ve been testing their 90mm-wide AM178 — 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.)