BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Bode Miller Launches New Ski Brand, Peak Ski Company
Bode Miller has launched a new direct-to-consumer ski brand, Peak Ski Company. Check out our writeup for all the details on the brand and its first six ski models.
Aenomaly Switchgrade Seat Angle Adjuster
Most mountain bikers just set their seat angle to a comfortable position to pedal on flat ground and forget about it. But Aenomaly thinks there’s a better way, so they made the Switchgrade to let you change your seat angle on the fly. And having spent a few months on one, they’re definitely on to something. Check out our full review for more.
2022-2023 Atomic Redster CS 130
Atomic’s Redster CS series combines race-boot features with extensive fit-customization features more typical of all-mountain boots, with the goal of bringing race-level performance to a more versatile overall package. Check out our First Look & Flash Review for more info.
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!
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Flash Review: 22/23 Majesty Dirty Bear XL
Update 12.16.22: We’ve been spending more time on Majesty’s new all-mountain freestyle ski, and it’s proven to be a very intriguing addition to the category.
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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Reynolds Blacklabel 329 Trail Pro Wheels
The Reynolds Blacklabel 329 Trail Pro wheels are very light and notably wide for an all-around Trail bike option, and we think that makes them an especially compelling option for the right riders. Check out our full review to see how they stack up and who they’ll work best for.
Blister’s Holiday Gift Guide 2022 — In The Garage
Next up in our 2022 Gift Guide series are those bigger items that you might need to hide in the garage — you can now check out Part Two of our reviewers’ recommendations, with additions from Jonathan Ellsworth and Kristin Sinnott.
BLISTER+: Real-World Testimonials — Dylan Wood
Dylan Wood shares his injury story, and how BLISTER+ helped him get the care he needed — at no cost to him.
BLISTER+: Real-World Testimonials — Jonathan Ellsworth
A random crash on a very mellow section of a mtn bike ride left me in rough shape, and a friend took me to the emergency room. Even though I was paying nearly $600 a month for insurance, I still had to pay $8000 to cover my deductible.
With BLISTER+, I would have paid $0.
Ellie Smith on Racing all the Disciplines, Bike Setup, Welding, & More (Ep.148)
Ellie Smith entered the 2022 race season with few expectations and little more of a plan than to do her best and see where things went from there. Then she won the Australian National DH Championships (on an Enduro bike) — and that was just the start.
Trail Running Glossary of Terms: Trail Lingo
Trail running culture has a language all its own, full of slang terms, expressions, and phrases that add character to the sport. Here’s another update to our Trail Running Lingo glossary, in an attempt to define and explain some of the common, curious, and often-confounding vocabulary of the sport.
CORK: Holiday Edition (Ep.16)
Danielle & Katie Nichols, the sisters behind CORK in Stowe, VT, are back to talk more about “natural wine”; discuss Italy, “priest stranglers,” and Corksicles; offer advice on holiday gift buying; and tell us about the revamped CORK Wine Club.
2022-2023 Nordica Santa Ana Unlimited 93
Nordica’s Santa Ana series has gained a lot of fans over the years, and with the Santa Ana Unlimited 93, Nordica has done a good job maintaining some of the most notable qualities of the Santa Ana series while cutting out a whole lot of weight for a more uphill-friendly ski. Check out our full review for more.
Flash Review: 22/23 Fischer Ranger 96
Update 12.14.22: Luke Koppa adds his thoughts so far on the new Ranger 96.
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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Yeti SB120
Yeti’s been busy, launching three new bikes in just the last few weeks. Next up we’re taking a closer look at the shortest-travel one, the SB120.
Ryan Montgomery on Creating an LGBTQ+ Trail Community Through ‘Out Trails’ (Ep.150)
Ultrarunning is often admired for the strength of its community, a quality that unites runners with a sense of belonging. However, we can always do more to ensure that this feeling of acceptance extends to everyone, regardless of how they identify. So, we sat down with Altra Athlete Ryan Montgomery to talk to him about Out Trails, an initiative he started to help build safe spaces for LGBTQ+ runners.