BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
2022 Fox 34 Fork
We’ve now tested Fox’s new 34 fork on both a hardtail and a modern short-travel Trail bike. Check out our full review of the fork for our thoughts on it, including how it compares to the alternatives from both Fox & RockShox.
Xero Mesa Trail
All of Xero’s shoes are designed to offer a barefoot-like feel, and the Mesa Trail is their take on a general-purpose trail running shoe. So how versatile is this minimalist shoe, and where could it fit into your running and training routine? Check out our review for our thoughts.
Gear Talk, Mic Drops, & Zen Koans with Flylow’s Dan Abrams (Ep.162)
Flylow founder (and certified gear nerd) Dan Abrams is back to talk about the skis and ski boots he’s interested in for the coming season; Flylow’s mountain bike apparel; and what’s new in the Flylow lineup for Winter 21/22.
Would You Rather: Old Parts or Old Geometry?
Dated parts, or an ancient frame? That’s the question we’re tackling this week in our “Would You Rather?” series. Check out our reviewers’ individual takes on the site, and let us know what you’d do in the comments.
Win a Sleep System from Zenbivy
This week the winner will get Zenbivy’s MotoBed — a super comfortable & convenient car-camping sleep system!
2022 Trek Session
The latest Trek Session is a much more race-focused DH bike than the previous iteration, but in the right terrain and with the right approach from the rider, it is an excellent one. Check out our full review for more info.
Reviewer Reports: Race Recaps and Fox Suspension (Ep.82)
The last few weeks have been packed with outstanding DH racing, so Noah Bodman and David Golay sat down to talk about all the action at World Championships and the Lenzerheide World Cup. They also discuss a whole bunch of new suspension that we’ve been testing from Fox, including the updated 34 fork and both the new DHX and Float X rear shocks.
Dean Karnazes on Longevity, Reading, & Writing (Ep.94)
Dean Karnazes is an ultra running legend. But beyond his impressive endurance exploits, Dean is an incredibly thoughtful and generous person who just so happens to love running. It was a real honor and a true pleasure to talk to Dean about running, his life-long interest in reading, his approach to writing, and what he is currently passionate about outside of the world of running.
Flash Review: Hustle Magnetic REMpedals
Luke Koppa has spent the past several weeks riding Hustle’s magnetic REMpedals, and the experience has been very interesting. Check out his thoughts so far.
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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Reviewing the News w/ Cody Townsend (Aug 2021) (Ep.181)
Cody and Jonathan discuss wildfire management; athlete sponsorships and why the current model needs to be fixed; emerging technologies designed to capture CO2; having to pay to ski uphill; the prospects of Airbnb returning to its roots; and they also fight about coffee, share what they’re reading and watching, and more.
What We’re Watching — September, 2021
What We’re Watching is back, this time with some recent event coverage, several new edits, and a couple of throwbacks for good measure.
Your Questions, Our Buyer’s Guide, & Luke’s Cry for Help (Ep.161)
Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ellsworth answer listener gear questions; share some info about our new winter buyer’s guide; and Luke shares with us some good news, but also presents new reasons for us to worry about him.
Win a Helmet, Sunglasses, & Pads from POC
This week you could win POC’s Kortal Race MIPS Helmet, Devour Sunglasses, & VPD Oseus Knee Pads!
2021 Ibis Ripley AF
We’ve spent the past few months riding the least-expensive version of Ibis’s least-expensive bike, the Ripley AF. All of our reviewers came away impressed, and you can check out our video and written reviews for the whole story.
Galfer on MTB Brake Tech (Ep.81)
Mountain biking with inadequate brakes is terrifying, but the role of pads and rotors is often underappreciated. So we sat down with Daryl Simmons of Galfer USA to go deep on brake pads and rotors, including differences in pad materials and why the basic metallic vs. organic debate doesn’t tell the whole story; what factors influence wet-weather performance and heat resistance; rotor design and how to think about choosing rotor sizes; and a whole lot more.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Blister Brand Guide: Nike Trail Running Shoe Lineup, 2022
Nike continues to expand their trail-running options, and in our Brand Guide we cover every shoe in their 2022 Trail lineup to help you figure out how each shoe differs and which might make the most sense for you.
Paddy O’Leary on Racing Horses, Fell Running, Lacrosse, & Community Building (Ep.128)
Paddy O’Leary’s path from the farm he grew up on in Wexford, Ireland to becoming an elite runner for The North Face is by no means a linear one. So we sat down with Paddy to talk about how he ended up racing on the trails (with and without a horse); growing the sport of lacrosse in Ireland; community building; fell running; and a whole lot more.
2022-2023 Line Blade Optic 96
Line’s brand-new Blade Optic 96 is an extremely versatile all-mountain ski that isn’t easily pigeonholed into a particular category, which is exactly why so many people should have it on their lists. Check out our Full Review & Deep Dive comparisons for the whole story.
Deep Dive: Line Blade Optic 96
We compare the Blade Optic 96 to the Line Blade Optic 104, Line Blade Optic 92, J Skis Masterblaster, Line Blade, Blizzard Rustler 9, Season Kin, Rossignol Blackops 98, Fischer Ranger 94 FR, K2 Mindbender 99Ti, Volkl M6 Mantra, Wagner Summit 97, Blizzard Bonafide 97, Salomon Stance 96, Atomic Maverick 95 Ti, Salomon QST 98, Black Crows Camox, Moment Commander 98, Renoun Endurance 98, Faction Dancer 2, Dynastar M-Free 99, Nordica Unleashed 98, Dynastar M-Pro 99, 4FRNT MSP 99, & Black Crows Serpo.
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.)
Blister Summit ’23: New Info, Dates, & Details (Ep.217)
On our Blister Podcast, Jonathan and Blister Summit Director, Kristin Sinnott, discuss the new format for our next Blister Summit; how to get the best pricing; what we learned from past Blister Summits; and who ought to come. (Answer: YOU.)
Men’s and Women’s Mountain Bike Shorts Roundup — 2022
We’ve been testing a ton of baggy MTB shorts for men and women, and our latest roundup features a dozen options from super lightweight and minimalist to burly, fully-featured ones.
Win Tickets to our 2023 Blister Summit
We’re extremely psyched to bring back the Summit even bigger and better for next year, and now’s your chance to join for free!
Blister Summit 2023: What, When, & How to Join
We’re very excited to be bringing back the Blister Summit bigger and better for its third year — register today to reserve your spot!
Blister Labs: Motorcycles, Laser Art, & Mtn Bikes with Greg Vanderbeek (Ep.204)
Greg Vanderbeek talks about starting a custom motorcycle business; the mountain bike projects we’re working on at Blister Labs; and more.
2022-2023 Head Kore RS 130 GW
Here are our measured specs, photos, and a quick rundown on the 22/23 Head Kore RS 130 GW.
Trinity MTB on Their Wild High-Pivot Prototypes (Ep.125)
Trinity MTB has been putting out some of the wildest prototype bikes in recent memory, so we sat down with Chase Warner and Mic Williams to get the rundown on their latest V2 bike, with its incredible adaptability and 3D printed construction; what’s next for V3; when you’ll be able to buy one; & a whole lot more.
Under Armour Charged Bandit Trail 2
Most people don’t associate Under Armour with trail running — but the brand’s new do-everything shoe, the Charged Bandit Trail 2, just might change that. The latest model from UA was designed with accessibility for novice runners in mind, and to that effect, we think the Charged Bandit Trail 2 could be a pretty competent option for a lot of people — not just those venturing off-road for the first time.