BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Ed Masters on Racing DH & Enduro at the Top Level (Ep.104)
We’ve got Ed Masters on Bikes & Big Ideas this week to talk about the incredible end to the 2021 World Cup season (and get hyped for racing to fire back up in 2022); catch up on his injury-laden 2021 season and how he’s doing these days; the similarities and differences between Enduro and DH, and the challenges of racing both; and a whole lot more.
Flash Review: 21/22 Atomic Hawx Ultra 130 Professional
Update 2.9.22: Luke Koppa adds his thoughts on the Atomic Mimic Professional liner (used with a non-Atomic shell) and Atomic Professional Dual Strap (vs. a Booster strap).
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.)
Deep Dive: Tecnica Ski Boots Brand Lineup, 21/22
Next up in our Deep Dive series on ski boots is Tecnica — check it out for a rundown on every boot in Tecnica’s 21/22 lineup, most comparable alternatives from other brands, and more details to help you figure out what differentiates each boot in the 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.)
Season Nexus Ski
We’ve spent the last two seasons riding Season’s do-everything ski — check out our full review of the Nexus for more on what makes it stand out.
Deep Dive: Season Nexus
We compare the Nexus to the Season Aero, Season Kin, Line Sir Francis Bacon, RMU Apostle 106, DPS Foundation Koala 103, Dynastar M-Free 108, Moment Deathwish 104, Volkl Revolt 104, Moment Wildcat 108, Sego Big Horn 106, Blizzard Rustler 10, Black Crows Atris, Nordica Enforcer 104 Free, J Skis Hotshot, Head Kore 105, Line Sick Day 104, Whitedot Altum 104, 4FRNT Devastator, & K2 Reckoner 102.
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.)
Flash Review: 21/22 Tecnica Zero G Tour Scout W
Check out some of our initial on-snow impressions of Tecnica’s stiffest women-specific backcountry touring boot.
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.)
Winter Running Gear, Tips, & Tricks (Ep.106)
As a follow-up to our Winter Running and the Meaning of Life conversation (ep. #103), today we’re talking about some very practical tips, tricks, and gear recommendations to help you get out and run in colder temps and snowier environments.
Reviewing the News w/ Cody Townsend (Jan 2022) (Ep.202)
Cody & Jonathan discuss skiing inbounds on touring gear; alpinism, obsession, & our top-5 climbing movies; a recent interview with Vail’s executive chairman, Rob Katz; Jerry of the Day & inclusivity; Eileen Gu & geopolitics; the future of Outdoor Retailer; & what we’re reading & watching.
What We’re Watching — February 2022
What We’re Watching is back with a bunch more ski and bike videos for your viewing pleasure, including some quick edits, a couple of longer pieces, and one really important statement on mental health.
2021-2022 J Skis Fastforward
We’ve been skiing J’s brand-new metal-laminate ski, the Fastforward, all season long — check out our full review & Deep Dive comparisons for our thoughts on its performance and who should have it on their list.
Deep Dive: J Skis Fastforward
We compare the Fastforward to the J Skis Masterblaster, Black Crows Serpo, Armada Declivity 92 Ti, Atomic Maverick 95 Ti, Volkl M6 Mantra, Blizzard Rustler 9, Nordica Enforcer 94, 4FRNT MSP 99, Salomon Stance 90, DPS Pagoda Piste 94 C2, Shaggy’s Ahmeek 95, DPS Pagoda Piste 90 RP, Blizzard Brahma 88, Folsom Spar 88, Renoun Endurance 88, K2 Mindbender 99Ti, and Fischer Ranger 94 FR.
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.)
Boot Fitting & How to Get a Proper Ski Boot Fit (Ep.183)
How should a ski boot actually fit? What does it feel like to have a “properly fitting” ski boot? And how do you achieve that? We’re discussing these questions and topics with Sebastian Steinbach, who is a boot fitting instructor in Europe for Masterfit University, and the owner of the freeride ski shop, Black Sheep Sports, in Munich, Germany.
Win Revo Goggles & Arc’teryx Jackets
This week TWO people will each get to pick any of Revo’s goggles, as well as Arc’teryx’s classic Atom LT midlayer!
Katy Winton on 2021, Life as an EWS Pro, & Signing With GT (Ep.103)
We sat down with Katy Winton to get the full story on her whirlwind 2021 season — including having to start her own team at the 11th hour — as well as her recent signing with GT. And along the way she sheds a ton of light on life as a professional racer, and everything that goes into training, mental preparation, race-day focus, managing a career and team contracts, and a whole lot more.
2022-2023 Salomon S/Lab MTN Summit
After a brief hiatus, Salomon is back in the lightweight touring boot game, and the MTN Summit boots are an interesting addition to this growing — and diversifying — category. Check out our First Look & Flash Review for more info.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Naked T/r
Naked Sports Innovations’ design approach is driven by the concept of “simplexity” — using simple design aspects to improve the utility of complex products. With the Naked T/r, a laceless trail running shoe intended for racing, the brand offers a rethinking of high-performance footwear through subtraction instead of addition. Check out our First Look for our early impressions.
Olivia Amber on Ego Trips, Halloween Costumes, & How Not to Die In the Mountains (Ep.144)
We caught up with The North Face mountain-ultra runner, Olivia Amber, a year after her first appearance on Off The Couch to recap her summer adventures; talk through the importance of managing ego in the mountains; recount all-time Halloween costumes; and much more.
Moment Factory Store
The Moment Factory Store is much more than just a ski factory. They offer a curated selection of hardgoods, in addition to a robust array of ski and bootfitting services, and an impressive demo program. Find out more about this unique shop in our summary.
Markus Eder on Training, Pressure, Mental Prep, & the Golden Age of Skiing (Ep.233)
We talk to one of the best big-mountain skiers of all time, Markus Eder, about training; skateboarding as prep for ski season; the golden age of skiing; competing; filming the Ultimate Run; lessons from Hoji and Sam Anthamatten; the Volkl ‘Built Together’ program; & more.
Win RMU Skis
This week the winner of our weekly Gear Giveaway will get a pair of RMU’s new powder ski, the Professor 121!
Q&A with Hoji: Gear, Training, Mental Prep, the Blister Summit, & More (Ep.220)
Hoji is back to answer questions from our Blister Members about gear; his tinkering process; coming to the Blister Summit; how he trains for an upcoming season; mental preparation, and … we get some bonus questions from Markus Eder, too.
Canfield Jedi 29
The Canfield Jedi is back, and the new 29er version of the longstanding flagship DH race bike offers a nicely refined take on the high-pivot suspension that made the earlier iterations popular.
Modernizing the Shoe Fitting Experience: A Review of Fleet Feet’s Outfitting Process
Getting fitted for running shoes is often practiced as more of an art than a science, a system that can rely too heavily on guesswork in the absence of information. Fleet Feet’s Outfitting Process, a method that uses 3D scanning technology to map the contours of the foot, provides a degree of precision that traditional fitting techniques lack. Check out our review to hear more about our experience.
LoveYourBrain on Care, Community, & Recovery from TBIs (Ep. 141)
We sat down with Adam Pearce of LoveYourBrain to chat about everything LYB is doing to provide resources and support for folks recovering from traumatic brain injuries, how the conversation around TBIs is changing, and much more.
Flash Review — 2023 RockShox Pike
The new 2023 RockShox ZEB has been super impressive, but how about its little sibling? Check out our Flash Review for our early impressions of the new Pike.
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.)
Trail / Enduro MTB Fork Comparisons
There are more options for Enduro forks on the market than ever before, and we’ve updated our roundup with nine of the top contenders from Fox, RockShox, Manitou, Öhlins, and Marzocchi — including RockShox’s new 2023 Lyrik and ZEB. So how do all these forks stack up, and who should be opting for the extra-burly Fox 38, RockShox ZEB, or Öhlins RXF38?
Barr Hill Distiller, Ryan Christiansen, on Honey, Bees, Gin, & More (Ep.11)
We talk with Barr Hill president and distiller, Ryan Christiansen, about bees and pollinators; the process of producing exceptional gin; what makes their Barr Hill vodka unique; the impact of their ‘Bees Knees Week’ initiative; their foray into the world of whiskey; and more