BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
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!
La Sportiva Cyklon
With a BOA fit system, aggressive outsole, and minimal midsole, the Cyklon is designed specifically for off-camber, mountainous terrain — and for that, it’s excellent. But there’s more to it, so check out our full review for the whole story.
Getting Here: Gunnison & Crested Butte
We’re big fans of our home valley, and for anyone who’s interested in visiting, we put together this guide to give you the information you’ll need to make your trip here easier and better.
Vinny Armstrong on the Future of Freeride (Ep.88)
We catch up with Vinny Armstrong to get her take on what the future of freeride looks like to this highly accomplished 22-year-old rider.
Flash Review: Guerrilla Gravity Trail Pistol
The new Guerrilla Gravity Trail Pistol is now full-carbon, but does this shorter-travel bike still feel like a mini-Enduro bike, or something else entirely? 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
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Dakine Agent Knee Pad
Dakine’s newest Agent knee pad is reportedly for “those who earn their airtime.” But are these best for those who like to pedal all day, folks who are primarily focused on rough descents, or people who do both? Check out our review.
Blister Summit Artist Panel: Art & the Outdoor Industry (Ep.186)
We brought together four very accomplished artists and designers to discuss the intersection of art and the ski and snowboard worlds, as well as the broader outdoor industry. Our panelists are Yorgo Tloupas, co-founder of Black Crows Skis; Geoff McFetridge, who has worked with brands like Patagonia, Nike, & Apple, and is Jonathan Ellsworth’s telemark coach; John Fellows, who lives in Crested Butte, designed our Blister Summit logo, and whose artwork is displayed all around the outdoor industry; and Travis Parr, co-founder of Icelantic Skis, and the person behind Icelantic’s very distinctive artwork.
2021 Commencal Meta TR 29
Two of our reviewers spent several months on Commencal’s downhill-oriented Trail bike, the Meta TR 29. Check out our video & written full reviews for their thoughts on who it suits and how it compares to several other bikes in its class.
Flash Review: We Are One Arrival
We just started spending time on the We Are One Arrival, and so far, it stands out from the crowd in more ways than just its looks. Check out our Flash Review for our initial take on the bike.
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.)
Would You Rather: Crappy Riding Conditions Edition
Hot, dusty, and dry or cold, wet, and muddy? This week in our Would You Rather series, our reviewers are weighing in on which flavor of sub-optimal mountain biking conditions they’d prefer to be stuck with.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Our (Massive) Ski Binding Shootout + Wildlife Encounters (Ep.208)
Luke, Kara, and Jonathan talk about our upcoming test, where we’ll be mounting up 20+ pairs of the same ski with 20+ different alpine bindings in the attempt to find out what really separates the most popular alpine (and 50/50) bindings from one another.
Win MTB Gear from 7iDP
This week TWO lucky winners will each get to pick any pair of 7iDP knee pads they want, and they’ll get a pair of gloves + a T-Shirt!
Sage Flow Motion
The Sage Flow Motion is a beautifully constructed titanium Trail hardtail, but unlike the XC-oriented options of yesteryear, it’s got modern, aggressive geometry and 29’’ wheels, and the result is a whole lot of fun.
Inov-8 Parkclaw G 280
Road-to-trail shoes are becoming an increasingly popular option for runners who might not have immediate access to trails from their front door. Asking a shoe to feel smooth on pavement and grip on dirt is a tall order, but after testing Inov-8’s Parkclaw G 280, we think it’s up to the task. Check out our full review for the whole story.
Rae Morrison on 8 Years on the EWS, Race Strategies, & Forging Her Own Path (Ep.129)
We sat down with EWS racer Rae Morrison to chat about her mental approach to racing and dialing in when to push and how hard; staying positive and returning from injuries; her unique team setup and having her husband as her mechanic; and much more.
2022-2023 K2 Mindbender 130
Here are the specs, images, and our initial impressions of the K2 Mindbender 130 boot.
Danielle Snyder on Rewarding Failure, Taper Tantrums, & Mental Health in Ultrarunning (Ep.131)
You’ve probably encountered the adage that running is 90 percent mental, yet despite this feeling (and how true it may be), most runners dedicate the majority of their training to making sure they’re physically fit. But the brain fatigues too, so we talked with running coach and licensed clinical social worker, Danielle Snyder, about the importance of mindset training and the connection between mental well-being and physical performance.
Reviewing the News w/ Cody Townsend (July 2022) (Ep.220)
We cover Gunstock Mountain Resort’s fight to operate; access issues & potential solutions; WC DH MTBers forming a union; mountain-town advice; what we’re reading & watching (answer: TOP GUN!) and more.
Blister Brand Guide: The North Face Trail Running Shoe Lineup, 2022
While trail running shoes are not new to The North Face, the brand recently gave their lineup a complete overhaul to showcase “VECTIV,” the patented technology system driving their footwear design process. Check out our Brand Guide to learn more about VECTIV, how it’s expressed in each of The North Face’s shoes, and which one might make the most sense for how and where you run.
Domestic Apparel Manufacturing, Supply-Chain Logistics, & More (Ep.207)
Domestic production of apparel has all but disappeared from the US, but Kitsbow is leading the charge to bring it back and hopes to be a blueprint for how other brands can do the same. And their CEO, David Billstrom, has a lot to say about how it’s been good for their brand, their customers, their community, and the planet.
Black Diamond Issues Voluntary Recall of Certain PIEPS & Black Diamond Avalanche Transceivers
Black Diamond has issued a voluntary recall for several Black Diamond and PIEPS avalanche transceivers — learn more here, including what to do if you have one of the affected models.
Flash Review: 22/23 Fischer Ranger 102
Update 7.29.22: We spent more time on the new Ranger 102 this past spring, and have some updates on it, including how it performs at some different mount points.
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.)