BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Ignorance is Bliss, Sometimes
Dropper posts keep getting longer — with OneUp’s new 240 mm version leading the charge — and our Bike Editor reflects on a decade-plus of dropper post evolution.
2022-2023 Moment Commander 108
We’ve had several reviewers on the latest iteration of Moment’s burly, metal-laminate, all-mountain charger — check out our full review & Deep Dive comparisons of the Commander 108.
Deep Dive: Moment Commander 108
We compare the Commander 108 to the Moment Commander 98, previous Commander 108, Nordica Enforcer 104 Free, K2 Mindbender 108Ti, Volkl Katana 108, Blizzard Cochise 106, Fischer Ranger 102, Moment Wildcat 108, Wagner Summit 107, J Skis Hotshot, Folsom Blister Pro 104, Sego Comp 110, Black Crows Corvus, Prior Husume, 4FRNT MSP 107, Faction Dictator 3.0, & Rossignol Blackops Sender Ti.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Win Majesty Skis
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get one of our all-time favorite touring skis, the Majesty Superwolf!
Gear Myths & More w/ Cody Townsend (Ep.187)
Cody Townsend and Jonathan Ellsworth review some news, then talk about 5 gear myths; cookware; coffeemakers; & more.
Flash Review: 22/23 Kästle ZX108
Here are Dylan Wood and Jonathan Ellsworth’s initial impressions of the ZX108 and how it compares to the ZX115 and ZX100.
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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Yoann Barelli on Progression, Coaching, & Career Shifts (Ep.108)
Yoann Barelli is back on Bikes & Big Ideas to talk about his new, very unique Into The Gnar Progression Team — and Yoann teases some very big news, too.
2022-2023 Head Formula RS 130 and Head Formula 130
This season Head overhauled their line of “Performance” alpine boots, and the new Formula boots are very different from the boots they replace.
Check out all the details in our First Look.
2022 Santa Cruz Bronson / Juliana Roubion
The Santa Cruz Bronson has grown a mullet, but it’s still a super versatile Trail bike that we think will work for a ton of different riders. Check out our full review for the complete rundown.
Jason Hardrath on FKTs & What Makes Him Tick (Ep.110)
Jason Hardrath holds more “Fastest Known Times” than anyone in the world. We talk to him about his upbringing; how a nearly fatal car accident introduced him to the world of FKTs; and his upcoming film, “Journey to 100,” which chronicles Jason’s attempt to climb the 100 tallest peaks in the state of Washington over 50 days; and more.
Flash Review: 22/23 Kästle ZX 115
The Kästle ZX115 was one of the most surprising skis we got on at the 2022 Blister Summit — and very much in a good way. Check out Jonathan Ellsworth’s 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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2022-2023 Salomon Stance 88 W
The women’s Stance 88 W is a versatile all-mountain ski that blurs the lines between stable chargers and more accessible, maneuverable alternatives. Check out our full review for more.
Jason Blevins & Chris Davenport (Ep.204)
We talk to Colorado Sun journalist, Jason Blevins, about this ski season & his predictions for next year’s, then we’re joined by Chris Davenport to talk about the 30th anniversary of the US Extreme Championships in Mt. Crested Butte; the Winter Olympics in Beijing; and more.
What We’re Watching — March 2022
March’s chapter of What We’re Watching has a bunch of ski, bike, and running videos for your entertainment — plus a sneak preview of our Bikes & Big Ideas guest for next week.
Win Elan Ripstick Skis
This week the winner of our Gear Giveaway will get to pick any pair of skis from Elan’s lightweight Ripstick collection!
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Machina Bikes on Building a Dream Bike (Ep.145)
Lots of people have dreamed of building their ideal bike; few have actually done it, and fewer have made something as impressive as the Machina Bikes prototypes. So we sat down with founders Tom and Sion to get the whole story.
3-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (22/23)
We’re continuing to narrow down our quivers, this time from 4 skis to 3. Check out Part Two of our reviewers’ personal picks, with additions from Paul Forward, Kristin Sinnott, Drew Kelly, Luke Koppa, and Jonathan Ellsworth.
Gelato: Alberto & Julia Bati of My Sugar Gelato Artigianale, Firenze, Italia (Ep.14)
This past June, Jonathan Ellsworth stumbled across a gelateria in Firenze (Florence) Italy, that basically changed his life. Because after going there every day — usually twice a day — he knew that he would have to come back to Florence and sit down for a CRAFTED conversation with Alberto and Julia Bati, owners of My Sugar Gelato Artigianale, to talk about the craft (and the hard work) of making some of the best gelato in the world. Here is that conversation, fresh from Florence.
Altra Mont Blanc BOA
Despite its seemingly niche design, the Altra Mont Blanc BOA does a lot of things really, really well. The incorporation of BOA’s Fit System and PerformFit Wrap correct some of the issues we felt hampered the standard version of the shoe, adding a level of precision and efficiency to a model primed for performance on just about every type of trail. Check out our full review to hear why we think the Mont Blanc BOA is a shoe worth getting excited about.
Joe DeMoor on the Sub-Ultra Trail Scene, His Colorado Running Roots, and Riding the Red Line (Ep.147)
Joe DeMoor is about as Colorado as they come; running up mountains is in his blood. The Buena Vista native and La Sportiva athlete has had a breakout year of racing thus far, so we sat down with him to talk about growing up on Colorado trails; the ins-and-outs of sub-ultra-distance racing; graveyard shifts; pain caves; and a whole lot more.
Flash Review: 22/23 Black Crows Atris
This past weekend one of our reviewers got his first turns of the season aboard the redesigned Atris — check out his initial thoughts on what’s changed and what hasn’t.
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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Benji Alexander on Life after the Olympics & the Future of Snowsports (Ep.236)
Since becoming Jamaica’s first Olympic alpine ski racer, nothing has slowed down for Benji Alexander. So we caught up with Benji to talk about post-Olympics life; opening doors for other athletes; ensuring the future of snowsports; and more.
Flash Review — Hope Evo 155 mm Cranks
Mountain bike crank length hasn’t been widely examined in a long time. That seems to be changing, with a number of brands touting the benefits of shorter options, and we’ve started spending time on Hope’s 155 mm option — one of the shortest on the market. 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.
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.)
Win Zag Skis
The winner of our gear giveaway this week will get either the Slap 98 or Slap 98 Lady from Zag Skis out of Chamonix, France!
Blizzard-Tecnica’s Women2Women Program with Leslie Baker-Brown (Ep.223)
Kristin Sinnott and Kara Williard talk with Blizzard-Tecnica’s Women2Women program founder and ski legend, Leslie Baker-Brown, about her background in ski racing; her 32 years of work for Blizzard-Tecnica; their design process for women’s gear (including designing the #1 selling ski in the world); what gives her hope and inspiration for the future; and where we can still work to improve the industry.
Renoun: the Non-Newtonian Ski Company | Blister Summit Brand Lineup
We sat down with Renoun founder & engineer, Cyrus Schenck, to get a rundown on what makes Renoun skis unique — and we do not use that term lightly — and the skis that constitute their current lineup. Other topics include what blood and Renoun skis have in common (?); how Renoun’s approach to ski weight has evolved over the years; the interesting backstory of their women-specific Earhart 88; and a whole lot more.
Black Diamond Rhythm T
As a mainstay of Black Diamond’s Distance Line, the Rhythm T is intended to be a do-it-all layer for everything from casual day hikes to long pushes above treeline. After over 2000 total miles of testing, we think the shirt is likely a worthwhile addition to many runners’ wardrobes. Check out our full review to learn why the Rhythm T might be the only one you need.