BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Stuff We Like: March 2022
Our latest Stuff We Like roundup features everything from boots to baselayers, jackets, mittens, bike shoes, and much more. Check it out here.
Flash Review: 22/23 Head Kore 105
Head is making some tweaks to their freeride skis for 22/23, and we’ve been A/B testing the current and new Kore 105. Check out our thoughts.
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.)
2022 Cannondale Jekyll
Cannondale calls their new high-pivot Jekyll a game-on Enduro race bike, and it is a good one. But it’s also a bit more versatile than that label might suggest. Check out our full review for our take.
Running Through the News (Mar 2022) (Ep.112)
Blister running editor, Matt Mitchell, is joined by Blister reviewer, Gordon Gianniny, to discuss current events in the running world. The two dish on race results from the month of March, including the Way Too Cool 50k, Chuckanut 50k, and the Barkley Marathons; talk through the significance of Broken Arrow Skyrace’s prize purse announcement; look forward to the North American Golden Trail Series; and speculate about what Kilian Jornet is up to after leaving his longtime sponsor.
2022-2023 Black Crows Anima
After two seasons on it, the latest version of the Black Crows Anima has proven to be a pretty versatile, wider ski for a broad range of skiers. Check out our Full Review & Deep Dive comparisons for more info.
Deep Dive: Black Crows Anima
We compare the Anima to the DPS Foundation Koala 118, Moment Wildcat, Salomon QST Blank, Rossignol Blackops 118, Dynastar M-Free 118, J Skis Friend, 4FRNT Inthayne, Volkl Revolt 121, 4FRNT Renegade, Line Vision 118, Atomic Bent Chetler 120, Line Outline, Elan Ripstick 116, Head Kore 117, Icelantic Nomad 115, Prior Northwest 116, Nordica Enforcer 115 Free, Season Forma, & K2 Reckoner 112.
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.)
Ski Binding Design | BLISTER Summit ’22 Panel Discussion
At our 2022 Blister Summit, we brought together a wide-ranging group of panelists to discuss alpine ski bindings; their features and how they affect on-snow performance; the real-world considerations anyone might want to take into account when thinking about alpine bindings; Amer’s brand-new Strive binding; and much more. Watch the video here
2022 Guerrilla Gravity Trail Pistol
We’ve now used the same exact front triangle to review four different Guerrilla Gravity bikes, and the latest one, the revised Trail Pistol, has proven to be a nice update to the brand’s short-travel Trail bike. Check out our full review for more.
Benji Alexander on the Olympics, the Aftermath, & What’s Next (Ep.205)
Benji Alexander is back on the podcast to talk about becoming Jamaica’s first Olympian alpine ski racer; his experience in Beijing and his race runs; competition and representation at the Olympic games; and more.
2021-2022 Stereo Lynx MK 4
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pics, and flex pattern numbers for the Stereo Lynx MK 4.
Blister Summit Recap & Ski Reviews (Ep.188)
Kristin Sinnott, Kara Williard, and Sascha Anastas talk about the Blister Summit and discuss a bunch of the gear they spent time on from Fischer, Salomon, Dynastar, Renoun, Rossignol, and more.
Flash Review: 22/23 K2 Mindbender 99Ti
K2 is updating all their Mindbender Ti skis for 22/23, and we’ve been spending time on several of them. Check out our Flash Review of the 99Ti.
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.)
2022-2023 Nordica Santa Ana 98
The Nordica Santa Ana series has been a Blister favorite for many years, but how does the latest iteration of the Santa Ana 98 compare to the current market? Check out our full review.
Win Any 22/23 Icelantic Ski
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get to pick any ski they want from Icelantic’s expansive, new 22/23 lineup!
2022-2023 Tecnica Cochise Pro W
This season Tecnica updated their long-standing Cochise series of 50/50 boots, and we think the current design is a really appealing option for those who want a boot with a walk mode that makes minimal compromises when it comes to downhill performance. Check out our full review of the top-end women’s model, the Cochise Pro W.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
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.
Win 4FRNT Skis
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week can pick any non-4-Lock ski they want from 4FRNT’s diverse lineup!
Matt Manser on Atomic’s 22/23 Ski Boot Lineup & More (Ep.225)
Matt Manser is back to discuss the current lineup of Atomic ski boots and what’s new for this season; running through airports in ski boots; Tom Cruise; the Atomic Redster CS vs. the Hawx Ultra Professional; and more.
Manitou Jack Dropper Post
Manitou’s latest iteration of their Jack dropper post takes one of the best options out there — the Bike Yoke Revive — and keeps the core of what makes it great, but tries to refine a few of the details. So have they succeeded?
Flash Review: 22/23 Head Supershape e-Titan
Here are our thoughts so far on the widest ski in Head’s Supershape lineup.
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.)
A Very Deep Dive on Suspension with EXT’s Franco Fratton, Pt. 2 (Ep. 146)
EXT founder Franco Fratton is back on Bikes & Big Ideas to continue our deep dive on suspension design and technology, and he’s got a ton to teach all of us about damper design, performance, and some of the common misconceptions about them in the mountain bike world.
2-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (22/23)
We’re continuing to have our reviewers trim down their personal ski quivers for the 22/23 season, and things are finally starting to get tricky — check out Part Two of our reviewers’ picks for their personal 2-ski quivers, with additions from Kristin Sinnott, Paul Forward, Luke Koppa, & Jonathan Ellsworth.
Blister’s Holiday Gift Guide 2022 — Stocking Stuffers
Struggling to find the perfect gift for someone in your life? Our reviewers are here to help — check out some of their top stocking stuffer ideas for this year, with several new suggestions here in Part Two.
Flash Review: 22/23 Line Blade Optic 92
Update 11.29.22: Here are some more of our thoughts on the narrowest, cheapest, and lightest ski in Line’s new Blade Optic lineup.
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.)
Matt Seidel on Racing the Oldest Ultramarathon in the US & His Rookie Year Reflections (Ep.148)
Matt Seidel has finished in the top 6 at every trail race he’s entered this year, a successful rookie campaign he recently capped off by taking 4th place at the historic JFK 50 Mile a week ago. We caught up with the former D1 runner to talk about what he’s learned from his first season racing as an elite and a whole lot more.
Modern Weather Forecasting with OpenSnow Founder & Meteorologist, Joel Gratz (Ep.237)
We talk to OpenSnow founder, Joel Gratz, about the science of weather forecasting; the many weather models being used today; his love of skiing and snow; what led him to start a weather forecasting company; and more.
Starling Cycles Murmur, Swoop, and Twist V3
Starling has given their “Core” bikes (the Murmur, Twist, and Swoop) a major update, and while the new frames don’t look too different from the prior generation ones — and continue their steel single-pivot lineage — there’s a lot that has changed. Check out our First Look for the rundown.