BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles

Win The New J Skis Masterblaster
This week the winner will get J Skis’ updated, metal-laminate all-mountain ski!

Reviewer Reports: Santa Cruz Bronson, Norco Range, We Are One Arrival, & More (Ep.90)
We’ve been testing a lot of bikes of late, so we sat down to give a rundown of what we’ve been riding, including the Santa Cruz Bronson, We Are One Arrival, Norco Range, and more.

Reserve Fillmore Tubeless Valves
Tubeless valves aren’t typically the most “exciting” things out there, but Reserve Wheels have made a genuinely better one, dubbed the Fillmore. Check out what makes them so special.

Hope Evo Crankset
Hope’s updated Evo crankset is reportedly designed for everything from XC to DH, and it stands out from most aluminum cranks due to its low weight & made-in-UK design. Check out our review for more on how it compares to the competition.

10 Barrel Brewing x Protect Our Winters: PRAY FOR POW
Here’s our take on this great beer for a good cause.

adidas Terrex Two Ultra
The Terrex Two Ultra is designed to offer comfort during long trail runs, and for the right person, it could be excellent. Check out our review to see if you should have it on your list.

Full Stack Supply Co. (Faction Skis & FW Apparel) Announces New Ski Boot Brand
Today it was announced that the parent company of Faction Skis & FW Apparel will be launching a new ski boot brand next season.

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
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 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.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:

Speed & Style on Dirt & Snow with Dillon Flinders (Ep.130)
We sat down with aspiring World Cup Downhiller and Freeride World Tour skier Dillon Flinders to talk about his goal of competing on both circuits simultaneously and his roadmap for getting there. We also get into the mental aspects of racing, injury recovery & motivation; mentorship; & much more.

Women’s MTB Jersey Roundup — 2022
In our Women’s MTB jersey roundup, we’ve got nine options across a range of sleeve lengths and levels of warmth, from full-on technical pieces to ones that look great off the bike, too.

2022-2023 Rossignol Pure Elite 120 GW
Here are our measured specs, photos, and a quick rundown on Rossignol’s new women’s alpine boot, the Pure Elite 120 GW.

New Image Brewing on Constant Experimentation, Inspiration, & Evolution (Ep.1)
For our first episode of CRAFTED, we’re talking with Brandon Capps, the founder and owner of New Image Brewing. Brandon is exceptionally good at — and passionate about — discussing the intricacies of brewing, growing a business, and doing things differently, so we cover all of that; what other breweries inspire him; coming up with 600+ beer recipes over the years; New Image’s constant production of new one-off beers vs. year-round options; and what truly makes a “Craft” company.

Men’s MTB Jersey Roundup — 2022
We’ve been testing a ton of mountain bike jerseys across a huge range of styles and intended use cases, and in our men’s roundup, we’ve got 13 options to compare.

Trail Running 101: How to Run Uphill
Hills can pose a challenge to runners new to the trails. Steep and sometimes rocky inclines have a way of disrupting the rhythmic stride found on the roads, often leading to frustration, less efficient running, and the following fatigue. Confronting a climb doesn’t always have to feel like a tremendous obstacle though, and in part seven of our Trail Running 101 series, we cover a few techniques for how to navigate them with ease.

Introducing: CRAFTED
CRAFTED is the newest addition to the Blister Podcast network — subscribe today to make sure you don’t miss out on our first episode, coming this week.

Alex Nichols on Coaching College Cross Country, Pikes Peak Streaking, & Beekeeping (Ep.132)
After being named the head coach of Colorado College’s cross country program last year, trail and ultrarunner, Alex Nichols, has made a habit of inviting some of his athletes out to support his own racing endeavors, including his 8th-place finish at the Western States 100 back in June. So, we talked to Alex about the intersection between coaching full-time at his alma mater and running trails professionally, and a whole lot more.

Introducing: Open Mic
We’re launching a new written series on BLISTER called, Open Mic, where athletes, artists, and others will be tasked with an unusual assignment. Jonathan Ellsworth explains.

2022-2023 Head Kore 87
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pics, and flex pattern numbers for the new Head Kore 87.

Mountain Towns & Local Food Systems, Pt. 1: Setting the Stage (Ep.221)
Jonathan and Kara respond to a listener’s question about what local food is and how you can support it; how to grow food in cold places; chicken tractors and therapy chickens; and how a robust local food system keeps our mountain towns healthier.

Blister Brand Guide: On Running Shoe Lineup, 2022
On’s shoes are instantly recognizable due to their unique, bulbous midsoles / outsoles. But how do each of their road and trail shoes differ, and which one should you get? Check out our Brand Guide to find out.