BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles

Flash Review: 22/23 Atomic Redster CS 130
Jonathan Ellsworth has been spending a whole lot of time skiing Atomic’s “race-inspired” Redster CS 130 — check out his thoughts.
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Backcountry Safety & Backcountry Safety Equipment | BLISTER Summit ’22 Panel Discussion
We cover a number of important backcountry-safety topics with Backcountry Access (BCA) co-founder, Bruce Edgerly; Salomon skier & filmmaker, Drew Petersen; lead guide, snow safety director, & former ski patroller, Megan Paden; & lead avalanche forecaster, Zach Guy.

Flash Review: 22/23 Faction Dancer 2X
Here are our initial on-snow impressions of the women’s version of Faction’s 96mm-wide, metal-laminate all-mountain ski.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Broken Arrow Skyrace, Prize Purses, & the Current Race Landscape (Ep.114)
We talk to Brendan Madigan, race director of the Broken Arrow Skyrace, about the current state of races; prize purses; the economics of putting on a race; and why Brendan sees independent races as such a critical part of the race landscape.

2022-2023 RMU North Shore YLE 110
The RMU YLE 110 blurs the lines between fat powder skis and more versatile all-mountain skis, and it’s proven to be a blast in the right conditions and terrain. Check out our Full Review & Deep Dive comparisons to see if it’d be right for you.

Deep Dive: RMU North Shore YLE 110
We compare the YLE 110 to the RMU Apostle 106, Atomic Bent 110, WNDR Alpine Intention 110, Head Kore 111, 4FRNT Hoji, Salomon QST Blank, K2 Reckoner 112, Moment Deathwish, Dynastar M-Free 108, Prior Northwest 110, Kye Shapes Metamorph, Nordica Enforcer 110 Free, Icelantic Nomad 105, Blizzard Rustler 11, & J Skis Slacker.
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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Flash Review — 2022 YT Capra
We’ve got a few rides on the new YT Capra Uncaged 6, with RockShox’s Flight Attendant electronic suspension. And while that system has been the biggest storyline about the bike so far, it’s shaping up to be an impressive offering in other respects, too. 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
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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Mountain Gazette editor, Mike Rogge (Ep.206)
Jonathan talks with Mountain Gazette editor, Mike Rogge, about the current state of outdoor media; the revival and future of Mountain Gazette; which non-outdoor publications inspire him; and more.

Five Ten Trailcross GTX
Five Ten calls the Trailcross GTX “the ultimate wet weather riding shoe” and it is, by far, the best option our Bike Editor has tried to date. But it’s not quite perfect — so check out our full review for the full rundown.

BLISTER Labs: Projects & Personnel | BLISTER Summit ’22 Panel Session
We discuss our new BLISTER Labs initiative with some of the key players involved (Jeni Blacklock, Sean Humbert, Greg Vanderbeek, and Lauren Cooper); our current and upcoming BLISTER Labs projects; and how the blend of quantitative and qualitative testing will help us learn more about product performance and help consumers make more informed buying decisions.

Gear West on Current Trends + New Ski & Snowboard Gear (Ep.190)
We’re talking new gear and gear trends with Lucas Evans and Jeff Perry of Gear West, our Blister Recommended Shop in Long Lake, Minnesota.

Win Moment Blades & Pit Viper Shades
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get a pair of Moment Blades + two pairs of Pit Viper sunglasses!

2022-2023 Line Blade Optic 104
We got three reviewers on two different lengths of Line’s new playful, metal-laminate freeride ski — check out our Full Review & Deep Dive comparisons.

Deep Dive: Line Blade Optic 104
We compare the Blade Optic 104 to the Line Blade Optic 96, Line Blade Optic 114, Line Sick Day 104, Line Sir Francis Bacon, J Skis Hotshot, Nordica Enforcer 104 Free, Salomon QST 106, Wagner Summit 107, K2 Mindbender 108Ti, Shaggy’s Ahmeek 105, DPS Koala 103, Dynastar M-Free 108, Blizzard Rustler 10, Sego Big Horn 106, Moment Deathwish 104, Black Crows Atris, Volkl Katana 108, Moment Commander 108, Blizzard Cochise 106, 4FRNT MSP 107, & Fischer Ranger 102 FR.
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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Lea Davison on Career Triumphs, Olympic Heartbreak, & What Comes Next (Ep.111)
Two-time Olympian and two-time World Championships medalist Lea Davison joins us to look back on her career, discuss the state of XC racing, and talk about what’s next for her after retiring from international racing — because she’s definitely not done with bikes.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:

Art, Gear, & Beer: Blister Artist Series w/ John Fellows & Brandon Capps (Ep.15)
Artist, John Fellows, and New Image Brewing founder Brandon Capps, discuss our Blister Artist Series collab: the inspiration & production of the artwork; starting with the artwork to create the beer; how Jonathan came up with the name of the beer; the difference between an IPA & Double IPA; wabi sabi & kintsugi; and more.

Flash Review: 22/23 Faction La Machine Mega
Paul Forward has been spending time on Faction’s new 109mm-wide touring ski, La Machine Mega — here are his 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.
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Vitus Mythique
Vitus has just launched US-based distribution for their consumer direct bike sales, and along with it they’ve got a new version of the Mythique Trail bike — and it’s an outstanding value for money. Check out our First Look for all the info.

Jason Hardrath on Deer Collisions, Convoluted Bliss, & Keeping the Dream Alive (Ep.149)
Since his first appearance on our show back in March, Jason Hardrath has spent much of his summer touring his film, “Journey to 100,” in cities across the country. But life on the road hasn’t stopped him from continuing to set some pretty mind-blowing FKTs while he’s at it, so we had him on to hear all about them, and more.

Our new Blister + Spot Membership, with Spot founder Matt Randall (Ep.238)
Our Blister + Spot Membership is going to help a lot of people. So we talk with Spot founder, Matt Randall, about how it works; why it’s important for anyone who doesn’t have insurance; why it’s important for anyone who has insurance but high deductibles; and more.

Apply for the Moosejaw Outdoor Accelerator
We’re always looking for the best products out there, and the Moosejaw Outdoor Accelerator, in collaboration with Western CO University’s ICELab and Blister, is looking to help early-stage companies realize their vision. If you or someone you know is looking to bring that big idea to market, check this out.

Revel Rail 29
The Revel Rail 29 is a well-rounded bike that blurs the line between longer-travel Trail bikes and full-on Enduro sleds — and one that multiple reviewers really got along with. Check out our full review to see how the Rail 29 performs on the trail.

Blister’s Holiday Gift Guide 2022 — Under the Tree
Next up in our 2022 Gift Guide series are the items that our reviewers think will make an awesome addition beneath the tree this holiday season — check out their picks, which include something for just about anyone.

Flash Review — 2023 Trek Fuel EX
We’ve started spending time on the radically-updated (and wildly adjustable) Trek Fuel EX — 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
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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Flash Review: 22/23 Head Kore RS 130
Here are our initial impressions of Head’s completely updated 22/23 touring boot, the Kore RS 130.
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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Major Announcement: new BLISTER+ Membership Has You Covered
Every skier, snowboarder, mtn biker, cyclist, runner, etc., needs this. Check it out now.

Karhu Ikoni Trail 1.0
The Karhu Ikoni Trail 1.0 comes from a heritage brand with over a century of experience crafting performance footwear for long distance running. As a trail take on an already established model, its myriad features seem smartly positioned to meet the demands of varied off-road terrain. Check out our full review for a better idea of what to expect from Karhu’s latest trail shoe.