Sunglasses: you use them, and if you spend a lot of time outside, you probably use them all the time. We’ve rounded up a variety of our current go-to sunglasses, from affordable, casual options to versatile, yet stylish frames to performance-oriented shades.
Men’s Mountain Bike Shorts Roundup — 2020
We've been using several different "all-purpose" MTB shorts for the past two seasons, and in this roundup our reviewers break down what makes each one stand out and where each excels.
Flash Review: 20/21 K2 Reckoner 122
Update 7.7.20: we've added some thoughts on how the Reckoner 122 handles resort "pow" and choppier conditions.
Skid Row Running Club founder, Judge Craig Mitchell (Ep. 57)
The Skid Row Running Club is “an unusual running club that uses the power of running to improve the lives of those who are at risk of homelessness and addiction” in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles, CA. We talk to its founder, Judge Craig Mitchell, about why he started the club; his background as a runner and teacher; the duty of police officers to protect and serve; the need for minimum sentencing reform; and much more.
Blister Brand Guide: Commencal Mountain Bike Lineup, 2021
Commencal basically overhauled their entire MTB lineup for 2021. Check out our Brand Guide to see what's new, and which of their new bikes might work for you.
Olympian Dotsie Bausch on Cycling, Switch4Good, & the Dairy Industry (Ep. 135)
Dotsie Bausch is a 7-time USA Cycling National Champion, an Olympic medalist, a featured athlete in the film, The Game Changers, and the executive director of Switch4Good. We talked to Dotsie about her very unusual path to an Olympic podium; her work at Swith4Good; and what we ought to understand about dairy products and the dairy industry.
Baby / Child Carriers Roundup
For the active parents out there, we've just updated our child-carriers roundup, including the popular and recently overhauled Osprey Poco Plus backpack.
Win Shoes, Shorts, & a Top from New Balance
This week TWO people will each get a pair of shoes from New Balance, and get to pick from any of their shorts and tees / tanks!
Flash Review: 20/21 Salomon QST 118
Update 7.3.20: Jonathan Ellsworth weighs in on the Salomon QST 118.
2020 Revel Rail
We've now had two reviewers riding Revel's 165mm-travel bike, the Rail, and they've both come away very impressed by its versatility. Check out our full review to see why, and how it compares to some other options in its class.
Our Favorite Kid’s Gear, Part 1 (Ep.105)
Kristin Sinnott and Justin Bobb join Jonathan Ellsworth to talk about some of the kid’s gear they’ve found to be the most game changing. And even if you don’t have kids, you should still listen to learn about a piece of gear that we’ve currently named, “The JBobber.” And there’s another piece of equipment that currently has a unanimous approval rating among our Blister parents, and might be the single greatest piece of kid’s gear of all time? Check it out.
The History & Future of the BC Bike Race with Dean Payne & Simon Stewart (Ep. 29)
We talk with Dean Payne, the president and co-founder of the BC Bike Race, about the origins and evolution of one of the most epic bike races and events in the world. And Simon Stewart (aka, Mr. Tank Driver) is sitting in as co-host to discuss with Dean all things BC Bike Race, the world’s largest hockey stick, drinking with Russell Crowe, and what goes into putting together an event like this.
WTB Verdict & Judge
The Judge & Verdict are two of WTB's newest, aggressive tire options and we've put around 500 miles on them. Check out our review to see what makes them stand out in this crowded category, and how they compare to similar options like the Maxxis Minion DHF & DHRII.
Abby & Cordis Hall on Couple Goals, FKTs, & their Pfiffner Traverse ‘Date Run’ (Ep. 56)
Abby and Cordis Hall are both very good runners who both run for Adidas TERREX and who both recently set FKTs for the Cottonwood Marble Loop in Death Valley. And Abby and Cordis are soon going to both be going after another FKT, this time, on the rather gnarly Pfiffner Traverse. So we discuss all of that, plus the benefits and challenges that arise when your partner is also a competitive runner. And we also talk about a current rule that is in place specifically for women’s FKTs that deserves to be re-considered.
2021 Transition Spur
Transition just announced a new addition to their lineup: the 120mm-travel, 29”-wheeled Spur. Check out our First Look for more on the new "All-Country" bike and how its design compares to the current crop of shorter-travel 29ers.
What You Need to Know – and Do – about the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) (Ep. 134)
You are probably familiar with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), but what do you know about the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)? NEPA is a critical piece of legislation, and each of us needs to understand what it does and why it matters so much — especially since some major changes to NEPA are being proposed that could have extremely serious environmental and human rights consequences. So to help us understand the high stakes of the changes being proposed, we spoke to Hilary Eisen, the policy director for the Winter Wildlands Alliance.
La Sportiva Helios III
When it was first introduced, the Helios was an outlier in the La Sportiva trail running lineup — an ultralight, minimal, flexible shoe for mellower terrain. They recently brought back the Helios and we think the new Helios III is the most refined version yet. Check out our review.
Backcountry Access Announces Software Update for Tracker2 Avalanche Transceivers
BCA just announced a free software update for their popular Tracker2 transceiver. Learn more about how to take advantage of it here.
2021-2022 4FRNT Raven
For the 20/21 season, 4FRNT is offering a new, special edition of their excellent Raven ski. Check out our First Look & Flash Review for more on this collab with Eric Hjorleifson & Pomoca, and how the newest Raven compares to the rest of the market.
Win Hiking Shoes from Tecnica
This week TWO people will each get a pair of Tecnica's customizable Plasma S shoes!