BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Spark R&D founder, Will Ritter, on the Current State of Splitboarding (Ep.196)
We talk with Spark R&D founder, Will Ritter, about the current happenings at Spark; compare the splitboarding and backcountry skiing communities and gear trends; go over design highlights from their current lineup; and more.
Win a Sleep System from Thermarest
This week the winner of our Gear Giveaway will get a sleeping pad, sleeping bag, and pillow from Thermarest!
2022-2023 Faction Mana 3
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pics, and flex pattern numbers for the new Faction Mana 3.
2022-2023 Black Crows Camox Birdie
Last year we reviewed the men’s Camox and found it to be an extremely lively all-mountain ski, and now we’re weighing in on the women’s version, the Camox Birdie.
2023 Line Blade Optic Skis | Blister Summit Brand Lineup
We talk with Line’s marketing manager, Connor Clayton, about Line’s new collection of metal-laminate freeride skis, the Blade Optics. We discuss the origin of the series, how it combines elements of the Line Blade and Line Vision skis, Line’s “Gas Pedal Metal” construction, and the four Blade Optic models.
Trail Running 101: What is Trail Running?
Trail running — it’s only one word away from road running. Is it really that different? Yes and no. While trail running is simply running, just not on pavement, its depth of nuances, styles, and considerations demand a bit more explanation. So in our first installment in our new Trail Running 101 series, we cover some of the basics.
Kavenz on Engineering a Better Enduro Bike (Ep.117)
Kavenz had been working on a high-pivot Enduro bike long before it was cool, and the VHP16 and new VHP18 that came out of the project have a lot of unique design features. So this week on Bikes & Big Ideas, we sat down with Kavenz founder Giacomo Großehagenbrock to talk about the founding of Kavenz; the design philosophy behind their bikes; starting and growing a business; and much more.
Flash Review — 2022 Rocky Mountain Element
“Longer” and “slacker” might be the go-to buzzwords for modern bike releases, but the Rocky Mountain Element made a way bigger jump than most — while still staying true to its XC roots, too — and the results are very interesting. Check out our Flash Review for our early impressions.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Galfer Brake Pads and Rotors
Brake pads are an underappreciated factor in mountain bike brake performance, and Galfer’s offerings make a strong case for why a lot of riders should pay closer attention. And rotor sizing is a big piece of the puzzle, so we cover that in detail, too.
Reviewing the News w/ Cody Townsend (April 2022)
We talk with Cody about what he’s been up to and get an update on the Fifty Project, then we run through some of the latest news, including faked plane crashes; Vail Resorts’ minimum wage increase; fuel for backcountry skiing; golf; and what we’re reading & watching.
2022-2023 Nordica Enforcer Unlimited 104
The Nordica Enforcer Unlimited 104 shares a lot in common with the original Enforcer 104 Free, it just ditches a whole lot of weight — and the upsides and downsides that come with it. Check out our Full Review & Deep Dive comparisons to learn more about this new touring ski.
Deep Dive: Nordica Enforcer Unlimited 104
We compare the Enforcer Unlimited 104 to the Volkl Blaze 106, Faction Agent 3.0, Line Vision 108, Atomic Backland 107, 4FRNT Raven, Movement Alp Tracks 106, Blizzard Zero G 105, WNDR Alpine Vital 100, Folsom Cash 106 Carbon, Moment Wildcat Tour 108, DPS Pagoda Tour 100 RP, Ronin 108, and Weston Summit.
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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Brian Metzler on a Writer’s Life & the Art of Running Free (Ep.119)
Brian Metzler has been writing about running, in one form or another, for the better part of the last 25 years. His latest book, Trail Running Illustrated: The Art of Running Free (which he co-authored with Doug Mayer) is a genre-bending book with an interesting backstory, so we talked to Brian about how it all came together; his writing (and running) career; and much more.
2023-2024 Ferreol Pionnier 104
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pics, and flex pattern numbers for the Ferreol Pionnier 104.
La Sportiva Akasha II
The best decision La Sportiva made when updating the Akasha, their long-distance trail shoe, was not to change much about it. The Akasha II is strikingly similar to its predecessor, and will work really well for certain runners for the same reasons as before.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Deep Dive: Salomon QST Stella 106
We compare the QST Stella 106 to the Armada ARW 106 UL, Blizzard Sheeva 10, Blizzard Sheeva 11, Faction Dancer 3X, Fischer Ranger 102, K2 Mindbender 106C, Line Blade Optic 104, Majesty Vadera Ti, Nordica Santa Ana 104 Free, ZAG Slap 104, Head Kore 103 W, & Volkl Secret 102.
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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Nnormal Tomir
Even though Nnormal is just a few models old, any product with mountain runner Kilian Jornet’s fingerprints on it deserves to be met with high expectations. After spending some time in the Tomir, the brand’s handsomely cushioned, wider-fitting, do-it-all trail trainer, we think the shoe is well on its way to exceeding them. Check out our full review to learn more.
Dani Moreno on Stepping Up In Distance, Spearfishing, & Planning for Podiums (Ep.154)
As a newly minted thirty-year-old, Dani Moreno has already been racing trails professionally for the better part of a decade. Over the last couple of years, she’s solidified her status as one of the world’s best sub-ultra distance trail runners. We sat down with her just after the New Year to recap some memorable performances from 2022; dive into topics such as spearfishing, pain tolerance, and what to look for in a college track & field program; and much more.
The ‘R’ Word (Our Least Favorite Four-Letter Word)
“There is one four-letter word that I hear thrown around a lot, but most of us resist it big-time.” Read on, and let the revolution begin.
Continental Kryptotal Tires
Continental gave their entire gravity tire lineup a major overhaul last year, and having now spent most of the season on their all-rounder Kryptotal pair, we think they’re extremely good tires for a lot of conditions, but are just a couple of tweaks away from being perfect. Check out our full review to find out where they work best and what sets them apart, including comparisons to the Maxxis Assegai, Minion DHF and DHR II, Schwalbe Magic Mary, and more.
Flash Review: 22/23 Volkl Mantra 102
Update 1.9.23: We’ve been spending more time on the redesigned Mantra 102 and the results so far have been very promising — check out Luke Koppa & Jonathan Ellsworth’s 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.)
Bill McKibben: Skier, Environmentalist, Activist, Author (Ep.243)
When trying to gain clarity on issues of climate change (where we are, where we’ve been, and where we should go from here) it is a good idea to talk to Bill McKibben.
Blizzard Launches New 23/24 Rustler & Sheeva Skis
Today Blizzard announced the latest generation of their freeride Rustler and Sheeva skis — check out our writeup for all the details.
Flash Review: 22/23 New Outerwear Update: 686, Beringia, & Trew
We’ve been testing a few very interesting new ski / snowboard kits from 686, Beringia, and Trew — check out Luke Koppa’s initial impressions and apparel nerdery.
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.)
Jeremy Jones on the Evolution of Snowboard Design (Ep.230)
Today we’ve got for you a masterclass on the history and evolution of snowboard design with Jeremy Jones, as well as Jeremy’s own philosophy behind product creation and refinement at Jones Snowboards.
Win Any J Ski
The winner of this week’s gear giveaway will get to choose any J Ski they want!
Volkl 22/23 Skis | Blister Summit Brand Lineup Video
We sat down with Volkl’s Ivar Dahl and Chris McKenna to discuss all the latest updates to the brand’s 2022-2023 ski lineup; Volkl’s 100-year anniversary; some of their latest ski technologies, including Tailored Titanal Frame, 3D Radius, & Tailored Carbon Tip; the new Kendo 88 & Mantra 102; Volkl’s approach to adapting ski construction depending on each length; and more.