BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Reviewing the News w/ Cody Townsend (Oct 2021) (Ep.188)
Cody and Jonathan discuss ‘fast pass’ programs at ski areas; Angel Collinson’s retirement announcement; the recent climate change / energy bill; bighorn sheep terrain closures in the Tetons; what we’re reading & watching; and more.
Stuff We Like: October 2021
Our latest Stuff We Like roundup features everything from paddleboards to beer, MTB tires to water bottles, a whole lot of apparel, and more.
Debatable: The Worst Bike Maintenance Task
What’s the worst bike maintenance task you can think of? In this edition of our “Debatable” series, our editor lays out his nomination, and his potential solutions to it.
Pete Wagner on Wagner’s new Summit Skis, Avalanche Cores, & Niehues Collab (Ep.168)
We talk to Pete Wagner about three big new things happening at Wagner Custom Skis, where everything is built right in Telluride, Colorado.
2021-2022 Wagner Summit 97
Historically, Wagner has only offered fully custom skis. But last year they made four models for the Blister Summit, and those Summit skis are now available as stock, “factory” options. The Summit 97 is their take on a versatile and stable all-mountain ski, and we think it is an excellent execution of that concept. Check out our full review & Deep Dive comparisons.
Deep Dive: Wagner Summit 97
We compare the Summit 97 to the Wagner Summit 107, Volkl M6 Mantra, Volkl Mantra 102, Blizzard Bonafide 97, Nordica Enforcer 94, J Skis Masterblaster, K2 Mindbender 99Ti, Salomon QST 98, Salomon Stance 96, Salomon QST 99, Fischer Ranger 102 FR, Fischer Ranger 99 Ti, Atomic Maverick 95 Ti, Armada Declivity 92 Ti, Moment Commander 98, Dynastar M-Pro 99, & 4FRNT MSP 99.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Win a Full Kit from Strafe
This week the winner will get to pick a jacket, pant, and midlayer from Strafe!
Mick Hannah on Racing & What Comes Next (Ep.89)
Mick Hannah just concluded a 20-plus year career on the World Cup DH circuit, but he’s far from done with bikes — and has a whole lot to say about racing, bike tech, growing mountain biking, and more.
Flash Review: 2022 Santa Cruz Bronson
The new Santa Cruz Bronson now features ultra-trendy mixed wheel sizes, but how does that play out on the trail? Check out our Flash Review for our early impressions.
Catching Up with Grayson Murphy (Ep.99)
Grayson Murphy is back on Off The Couch to talk about her 2021 race season; trail racing in Europe vs. the US; the Olympic trials; avoiding injuries; the biggest changes to her own training; the most ‘off the couch’ thing she’s ever done; and more.
Canfield Lithium
The Canfield Lithium is a highly capable Enduro bike that’s also much more versatile than its travel numbers might suggest. Check out our full review for everything that makes the Lithium stand out.
Jackie Paaso on her Arctic 12 Expedition (Ep.187)
We talk to the American skier who now calls Sweden home, Jackie Paaso, about her very raw, very real new film, The Arctic 12. We discuss her background; being on the Freeride World Tour with her husband, Reine Barkered; and the ins and outs of their 26-day expedition through the tallest peaks of northern Sweden.
Tech Tip: DIY Fork Lower Service
You can dramatically improve your suspension fork’s performance at home, in under an hour. Let us show you how.
Shop Talk: Willi’s Ski and Snowboard Shops (Ep.167)
We’re talking with Greg Klein, president of Willi’s Ski and Snowboard Shops, which is family owned and operated with several locations in the greater Pittsburgh area of Pennsylvania. We talk about what brought Greg’s father (Willi) to PA; Seven Springs Mountain Resort; the key ingredients of a great ski shop; ski length & ski width; Willi’s women’s program; shop beer vs. shop pizza; & more.
Win a Helmet & Shoes from Leatt
This week the winner can pick any half-shell helmet and pair of shoes from Leatt!
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Win Merino Wool Apparel from Ibex
The TWO lucky winners this week will each get a sweet prize pack from Ibex, including four of their high-end merino wool layers.
Five Ten Trailcross Clip-In
Five Ten’s new Trailcross Clip-In is the first, well, clip model in their Trailcross line, and Five Ten talks as much about its hiking performance as the on-bike portion of the program. So what does that mean for its performance as an actual bike shoe, and who is it going to work best for?
2022-2023 Head Raptor WCR 140S
Here are the specs, images, and our initial impressions and questions about the Head Raptor WCR 140S.
2023 Norco Fluid FS
Norco’s affordable all-rounder Trail bike, the Fluid FS, just got a big update, and while the new bike is marketed to beginner and intermediate riders, it’s got great-looking geometry and a nice build spec that seems like it could attract plenty of price-conscious experts, too.
Crestline Bikes on Adaptability, Collaboration, & Founding a Bike Brand (Ep.128)
We sat down with Troydon and Jimmy from Crestline Bikes to talk about their upcoming high-pivot VPP DH bike & VPP e-bike; getting advice from Greg Minnaar and Neko Mulally; starting a bike company during the pandemic; and a whole lot more.
Stuff We Like: July 2022
In the July edition of our “Stuff We Like” series, we’ve got everything from tents to bike racks, backpacks to sandals, and several summer accessories. Check it out to see the latest gear our reviewers have been digging.
Vorsprung Smashpot Coil Spring Fork Conversion Kit
There aren’t many coil-sprung forks left on the market, but Vorsprung’s Smashpot conversion kit opens up a lot of options for riders who miss that option. And having now spent a lot of time testing the Smashpot, it makes a compelling case for why certain riders might want to ditch their air springs. But who is it going to work best for, and what are the downsides? Check out our full review for the rundown.
Tailwind Nutrition Co-founder Jeff Vierling on Gut Bombs, Kitchen Chemistry, & Creating His Own Endurance Fuel (Ep.130)
Tailwind Nutrion’s products are some of the most popular fueling options for trail runners and mountain bikers alike, so we had their Co-founder, Jeff Vierling, on the show to hear all about how losing his breakfast after a mountain bike race inspired him to design his own endurance drink mix.
2022-2023 Norse Enduro
The Enduro is Norse’s do-everything all-mountain ski, for both resort and backcountry use, and it goes about accomplishing that in a pretty different way than many of its competitors. Check out our Full Review & Deep Dive comparisons for more.
Deep Dive: Norse Enduro
We compare the Norse Enduro to the Atomic Bent 100, Line Sick Day 104, Fischer Ranger 102, WNDR Alpine Vital 100, 4FRNT Raven, J Skis Masterblaster, Line Blade Optic 96, K2 Mindbender 99Ti, Wagner Summit 97, Blizzard Bonafide 97, Liberty Origin 101, DPS Pagoda 100 RP, Salomon Stance 96, Moment Commander 98, Salomon QST 98, Atomic Maverick 100 Ti, Renoun Endurance 98, Faction Dancer 2, Dynastar M-Pro 99, Faction Agent 3, Dynastar M-Free 99, Black Crows Camox, Volkl M6 Mantra, Nordica Unleashed 98, & 4FRNT MSP 99.
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.)
How to Produce More Olympic Skiers & Snowboarders, Grow Participation, & Support Rural Mtn Town Communities (Ep.219)
How do we grow participation in snowsports, support rural mountain communities, and produce more Olympic skiers and snowboarders? We sat down with Will Brandenburg of the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation to discuss all of the above.
Blister Brand Guide: Inov-8 Running Shoe Lineup, 2022
Spanning more than a dozen models that range from road trainers to mud-specific racers, Inov-8’s 2022 lineup has a bit of everything, but it can be a bit confusing to sort through it all. Check out our Brand Guide to see what sets each shoe apart from the others, and figure out which ones might make sense for you.