BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
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.
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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.
2022-2023 Rossignol Sender 104 Ti
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pics, and flex pattern numbers for the new Rossignol Sender 104 Ti.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Flash Review: 23/24 Rossignol Sender Free 110
We’ve had several reviewers spending time on two different lengths of the new Sender Free 110 — check out their 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.)
Win Any Blizzard Rustler or Sheeva Ski
The winner of this week’s gear giveaway can pick any new Rustler or Sheeva ski from Blizzard!
2022-2023 WOVN Kingfisher 120
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pics, and flex pattern numbers for the WOVN Kingfisher 120.
Flash Review: 22/23 Dynastar M-Pro 108
This season Dynastar updated one of their longest-standing and most “legendary” skis — here are our initial thoughts on the new M-Pro 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.
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Neko Mulally’s World Cup DH Bike Development (Ep.156)
When we last caught up with Neko Mulally he had just launched his Frameworks self-designed World Cup DH race bike project, and now a year later, he’s learned a whole lot — and changed a lot of the frame design details along the way. So we sat back down to get the whole story.
2023 Santa Cruz Nomad
The newly mulleted Santa Cruz Nomad is pretty different from the bike that it replaced, but it’s still the more playful, less-demanding Enduro bike in Santa Cruz’s lineup — and it’s excellent.
Jeremy Jones: The Art of Shralpinism
In our latest installment of Open Mic, we are publishing the opening pages of Jeremy Jones’ book, The Art of Shralpinism, with an introduction by Jonathan Ellsworth that focuses on the artistry of the book itself.
2022-2023 Majesty Dirty Bear XL
This season Majesty opted to take a longstanding ski in their lineup and split it into two different models — check out our full review for more on the new, 105mm-wide Dirty Bear XL.
Deep Dive: Majesty Dirty Bear XL
We compare the Dirty Bear XL to the Black Crows Atris, Line Sir Francis Bacon, Salomon QST 106, K2 Reckoner 102, J Skis Hotshot, 4FRNT Devastator, Moment Deathwish 104, Elan Ripstick 104, Nordica Enforcer 104 Free, Rossignol Sender 104 Ti, Whitedot Altum 104, Shaggy’s Ahmeek 105, Line Blade Optic 104, 4FRNT MSP 107, Sego Big Horn 106, Armada ARW 106 UL, Black Crows Camox, Volkl Revolt 104, Blizzard Rustler 10, DPS Koala 103, RMU Apostle 106, & ZAG Slap 104.
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.)
In Search of the ‘Best’ Coffee Gear (& Ski Boots), Pt. 2 (Ep.20)
Sam Higby, co-owner of First Ascent Coffee Roasters, joins Jonathan to talk pour overs, grinders, brewing at altitude, programmability, and more. Listen up, then let us know what your pick is for the best coffee-making setup out there.
Katie Asmuth on Beating the Injury Bug, Mom Strength, & Golden Ticket Season (Ep.158)
While running injuries are undoubtedly the suckiest part of the sport, they’re also perhaps the most inevitable, so learning how to approach them mentally can make time on the shelf an opportunity for growth. After being sidelined with a broken foot for most of 2022, we talked to Saucony Athlete Katie Asmuth about how she used her injury as a way to engage with the trail running community in different ways, and much more.
NF Heavyweight Pants
The NF Heavyweight Pants are the Canadian brand’s take on a cold / wet weather mountain bike pant, and they go about things rather differently from a lot of other options out there — with excellent results.