Someone recently listened to *every single* episode of our Blister Podcast — plus a bunch of episodes from our other podcasts — then posted his thoughts on them as well as our Buyer’s Guide and Blister Membership. It’s a pretty fun and interesting read, so check it out.
Win a Midlayer from Cortazu
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get an active-insulation midlayer!
2021-2022 Rossignol BLACKOPS Sender
The new Rossignol BLACKOPS Sender fills an interesting role. It essentially serves as a replacement for the exceptionally popular Soul 7, it’s also positioned as the easier alternative to the new BLACKOPS Sender Ti, and now we’re chiming in on how it compares to both of those skis, and who we think will like it the most. Check out our full review & Deep Dive comparisons.
Deep Dive: Rossignol BLACKOPS Sender
We compare the BLACKOPS Sender to the BLACKOPS Sender Ti, Rossignol Soul 7, Line Sick Day 104, Liberty Origin 106, Head Kore 105, Salomon QST 106, Fischer Ranger 102 FR, Nordica Enforcer 104 Free, Nordica Enforcer 100, Fischer Ranger 99 Ti, Blizzard Rustler 10, Volkl Mantra 102, 4FRNT MSP 99, Kastle FX106 HP, & Icelantic Nomad 105.
2021 Fox Float X2 Shock
The Float X2 is Fox's most downhill-oriented air shock, and they made a lot of changes to it for 2021. Do those changes actually make a difference? We'd say yes, and also think they make it one of the standout air-shocks on the market today — whether you're racing DH or just want better downhill performance out of your Trail bike.
La Sportiva Jackal
La Sportiva has become known for making rugged, stable shoes for running in mountainous terrain. But with their new Jackal, they're targeting runners who want all-day comfort for longer outings, and we think they've done a good job of accomplishing that goal.
Olympian Simi Hamilton on XC Skiing & Running (Ep.64)
We talk to 3-time Olympian, Simi Hamilton, about XC skiing and running; competition & competitive drive; his recent win of the Audi Power of 4; and Jonathan Ellsworth tries to instigate a battle between Simi and a previous Off The Couch guest.
2021 Fox Transfer Dropper Post
The Fox Transfer dropper post has been one of the more reliable options on the market in the past, and they made some notable updates for 2021 that we think make the newest iteration even more appealing. Check out our full review.
Moment Skis 20/21 Lineup (Ep.111)
Moment Skis CEO, Luke Jacobson, is back on the show to talk with Jonathan Ellsworth about the 20/21 lineup. Come to learn what’s new, stay for all their arguments and tangents.
Win a Pack, Shoes, & Apparel from Mystery Ranch, Oboz, Duckworth, & Jelt
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get a pair of shoes or boots, a backpack, a merino-wool T-shirt, a merino sweater, & a belt!
2020-2021 ATK Raider 12 / Majesty R12
ATK had already made an excellent, lightweight touring binding in their previous Raider 2.0, but we think their new R12 binding is even better. Check out our review of this lightweight, freeride-oriented AT binding.
Eliot Jackson on Night Owls, Bike Culture, & the Grow Cycling Foundation (Ep.36)
Eliot Jackson and Katie Holden have just launched the Grow Cycling Foundation, so we caught up with Eliot to talk about Grow Cycling; their plan to get a Velosolutions Pumptrack built in downtown Los Angeles; how to create a more welcoming bike culture; his terrific podcast, Reggy Radio; night owls; and more.
Scarpa Spin Ultra
Nowadays just about every major brand makes a few shoes targeted at running longer distances, but their approaches vary a good deal. The Scarpa Spin Ultra sets itself apart from some of its competition thanks to a comfy midsole and upper, but there's more to it than just that. Check out our full review.
2020 Running Shoe Trends & Current Events (Ep.63)
This week we take a look at the trends in running shoes for 2020. Jonathan Ellsworth is joined by Maddie Hart and Gordon Gianniny to talk about knit uppers on trail shoes (??), massive heels, marketing copy, and we even design our own ‘Blister Pro’ shoe. Then we wrap up by talking about a few current events and get Maddie and Gordon’s upcoming plans.
Blister Brand Guide: Yeti Mountain Bike Lineup, 2021
Yeti's lineup sees some notable changes for 2021, including the return of a Yeti hardtail, a new XC bike, and of course, plenty of full-suspension Trail bikes. Check out our Brand Guide to learn more about the line and which bike might make sense for you.
Adventures of a Hemophiliac: Chris Bombardier on Climbing Mount Everest (Ep.140)
Chris Bombardier is the first person with hemophilia to complete all Seven Summits, and tomorrow, a film comes out called Bombardier Blood that tells Chris’ story and homes in on his attempt to summit Mt. Everest. So we talked to Chris about baseball (and sharks); hemophilia and the experience of those who have the condition; climbing Everest; the important work of Save One Life; and more.
Win MTB Gear from Race Face
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get a handlebar, grips, a hip pack, & a hat from Race Face!
2021-2022 Volkl Blaze 106
We’re always skeptical when brands claim that their lightweight skis offers “no compromises on the down,” but after spending time on it this past season, the new Volkl Blaze 106 clearly stood out as a lightweight ski that’s still lots of fun on the descent. Check out our full review & Deep Dive comparisons.
Voormi: How a ‘Textile Technology’ Company Does Outdoor Apparel (Ep.110)
Voormi is not interested in being just another outdoor apparel company. They develop their own textiles inhouse; they manufacture in the United States; and they’ve got some big plans. So we sat down in Blister HQ with Timm Smith, their head of materials development, to learn more about the Voormi story and where the brand is heading.
Deep Dive: Volkl Blaze 106
We compare the Blaze 106 to the Line Sick Day 104, Volkl BMT 109, Faction Agent 3.0, Folsom Cash 106 Carbon, Moment Wildcat Tour 108, Moment Deathwish Tour, WNDR Alpine Intention 110, 4FRNT Raven, Atomic Backland 107, Blizzard Zero G 105, Black Diamond Helio 105, & Line Vision 108.