BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Win Merino Wool Apparel from Ibex
The TWO lucky winners this week will each get a sweet prize pack from Ibex, including four of their high-end merino wool layers.
Five Ten Trailcross Clip-In
Five Ten’s new Trailcross Clip-In is the first, well, clip model in their Trailcross line, and Five Ten talks as much about its hiking performance as the on-bike portion of the program. So what does that mean for its performance as an actual bike shoe, and who is it going to work best for?
2022-2023 Head Raptor WCR 140S
Here are the specs, images, and our initial impressions and questions about the Head Raptor WCR 140S.
2023 Norco Fluid FS
Norco’s affordable all-rounder Trail bike, the Fluid FS, just got a big update, and while the new bike is marketed to beginner and intermediate riders, it’s got great-looking geometry and a nice build spec that seems like it could attract plenty of price-conscious experts, too.
Crestline Bikes on Adaptability, Collaboration, & Founding a Bike Brand (Ep.128)
We sat down with Troydon and Jimmy from Crestline Bikes to talk about their upcoming high-pivot VPP DH bike & VPP e-bike; getting advice from Greg Minnaar and Neko Mulally; starting a bike company during the pandemic; and a whole lot more.
Stuff We Like: July 2022
In the July edition of our “Stuff We Like” series, we’ve got everything from tents to bike racks, backpacks to sandals, and several summer accessories. Check it out to see the latest gear our reviewers have been digging.
Vorsprung Smashpot Coil Spring Fork Conversion Kit
There aren’t many coil-sprung forks left on the market, but Vorsprung’s Smashpot conversion kit opens up a lot of options for riders who miss that option. And having now spent a lot of time testing the Smashpot, it makes a compelling case for why certain riders might want to ditch their air springs. But who is it going to work best for, and what are the downsides? Check out our full review for the rundown.
Tailwind Nutrition Co-founder Jeff Vierling on Gut Bombs, Kitchen Chemistry, & Creating His Own Endurance Fuel (Ep.130)
Tailwind Nutrion’s products are some of the most popular fueling options for trail runners and mountain bikers alike, so we had their Co-founder, Jeff Vierling, on the show to hear all about how losing his breakfast after a mountain bike race inspired him to design his own endurance drink mix.
2022-2023 Norse Enduro
The Enduro is Norse’s do-everything all-mountain ski, for both resort and backcountry use, and it goes about accomplishing that in a pretty different way than many of its competitors. Check out our Full Review & Deep Dive comparisons for more.
Deep Dive: Norse Enduro
We compare the Norse Enduro to the Atomic Bent 100, Line Sick Day 104, Fischer Ranger 102, WNDR Alpine Vital 100, 4FRNT Raven, J Skis Masterblaster, Line Blade Optic 96, K2 Mindbender 99Ti, Wagner Summit 97, Blizzard Bonafide 97, Liberty Origin 101, DPS Pagoda 100 RP, Salomon Stance 96, Moment Commander 98, Salomon QST 98, Atomic Maverick 100 Ti, Renoun Endurance 98, Faction Dancer 2, Dynastar M-Pro 99, Faction Agent 3, Dynastar M-Free 99, Black Crows Camox, Volkl M6 Mantra, Nordica Unleashed 98, & 4FRNT MSP 99.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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How to Produce More Olympic Skiers & Snowboarders, Grow Participation, & Support Rural Mtn Town Communities (Ep.219)
How do we grow participation in snowsports, support rural mountain communities, and produce more Olympic skiers and snowboarders? We sat down with Will Brandenburg of the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation to discuss all of the above.
Blister Brand Guide: Inov-8 Running Shoe Lineup, 2022
Spanning more than a dozen models that range from road trainers to mud-specific racers, Inov-8’s 2022 lineup has a bit of everything, but it can be a bit confusing to sort through it all. Check out our Brand Guide to see what sets each shoe apart from the others, and figure out which ones might make sense for you.
Sunglasses Roundup 2022 — Part 2: Lifestyle
In Part 2 of our sunglasses roundup, we cover several of the pairs our reviewers have been using just about every day for everything from running errands to the occasional bike ride.
2022-2023 Faction Dancer 3X
The Dancer 3X is a wider, metal-laminate women’s all-mountain ski, and it offers something a bit different from most of the other options in that category. Check out our Full Review for more.
Win a Head-to-Toe MTB Kit from Giro
This week one lucky winner will get a head-to-toe mountain bike kit (men’s or women’s) from Giro’s latest lineup!
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
2022-2023 Meier Leeper
Owen Leeper is known for his high-speed straightlines and massive airs, but how does his pro model perform under the feet of mere mortals? Check out our Full Review & Deep Dive comparisons to find out.
Deep Dive: Meier Leeper
We compare the Meier Leeper to the Icelantic Nomad 115, Line Blade Optic 114, Moment Wildcat, DPS Foundation Koala 118, Black Crows Anima, Dynastar M-Free 118, Rossignol Blackops 118, J Skis The Friend, Volkl Revolt 121, Salomon QST Blank, 4FRNT Renegade, 4FRNT Inthayne, Atomic Bent Chetler 120, Line Vision 118, Season Forma, Line Outline, Line Reckoner 112, Prior Northwest 116, Nordica Enforcer 115 Free, Head Kore 117, and Elan Ripstick 116.
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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JT Holmes on Joining Peak Skis; Jumping into New Industries; Speed Riding; Ski Media; & More (Ep.251)
From big-mountain skiing to ski-base jumping to stunt work, JT Holmes has consistently pushed boundaries and explored new opportunities. And now, JT is joining Peak Skis. So we talk to JT about all of the above, and more.
Rossignol Poursuite Jacket
Intended for both Nordic skiing and running, Rossignol’s Poursuite Jacket demonstrates the value of multipart apparel. Made from wind-stopping polyester treated with a DWR coating and 37.5 Technology, the versatile softshell impressed us with its breathability, comfort, and complementary water resistance. Check out our full review to learn more.
2023-2024 K2 Mindbender 108Ti
K2’s biggest and burliest metal-laminate ski, the Mindbender 108Ti, got updated this season, and we’ve had several reviewers on the latest iteration. Check out our Full Review & Deep Dive comparisons to see how it stacks up.
Deep Dive: K2 Mindbender 108Ti
We compare the latest Mindbender 108Ti to the previous Mindbender 108Ti, K2 Mindbender 99Ti, Blizzard Cochise 106, Volkl Katana 108, Folsom Primary 104, Salomon QST 106, Black Crows Corvus, Elan Ripstick 106, 4FRNT MSP 107, J Skis Hotshot, Black Crows Atris, Line Blade Optic 104, Shaggy’s Ahmeek 105, Salomon Stance 102, Dynastar M-Free 108, Faction Dancer 3, Rossignol Sender 106 Ti+, Blizzard Rustler 10, Icelantic Nomad 105, Nordica Enforcer 110, & Nordica Unleashed 108.
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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Win Any Renoun Ski
The winner of this week’s gear giveaway will get to pick any unique, VibeStop-equipped Renoun ski they want!
ZipFit “Inner Boots”; the Growth of ZipFit; Reviewing Ski Boots; & More with Jeff Colt (Ep.237)
We talk with Jeff Colt, Brand Director for ZipFit, about “inner boots”; first-day vs. 3rd-day fit; reviewing ski boots; the new Zipfit x Fischer Ski Boots collab; and more.
Cy Turner on 20 Years of Cotic Bikes (Ep.160)
Cotic Bikes turns 20 this year, and we took the opportunity to sit down with founder Cy Turner to chat about the history of the brand & changes to the industry over those two decades; why they use steel for full-suspension frames and hardtails alike; Cy’s philosophy on bike design; tease an upcoming Blister review; & a whole lot more.
Ibis Ripmo V2S
Ibis gave the Ripmo a light update late last year, and while the changes to the new V2S version aren’t all that dramatic, it’s still a good, well-rounded bike that blurs the line between longer-travel Trail bikes and full-on Enduro ones, in a way that we can imagine working well for a lot of folks. Check out our full review for our take, including how the Ripmo V2S stacks up against a dozen of its competitors.
2023-2024 Armada ARV 116 JJ UL
The Armada ARV 116 JJ UL is a lightweight, freestyle-friendly pow ski that we’ve been skiing in everything from Japanese pow to resort chop. Check out the Full Review and Deep Dive Comparisons to see what makes it stand out.
Deep Dive: Armada ARV 116 JJ UL
We compare the ARV 116 JJ UL to the Armada ARW 106 UL, Armada ARG II UL, Atomic Bent Chetler 120, Line Outline, Line Vision 118, Moment Wildcat, Majesty Vadera Ti, Salomon QST 106, K2 Mindbender 115C, K2 Reckoner 112, Blizzard Sheeva 11, & Head Kore 117.
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.)