2019 Alchemy Arktos 29
While there are now lots of “do-it-all” Trail bikes on the market, the Alchemy Arktos 29 brings something a bit different to the table. Check out our full review for more.
Blister Brand Guide: Nike Trail Running Shoe Lineup, 2019
Nike makes hundreds of shoes, and they currently offer several trail-specific running shoes. So what sets each of their trail shoes apart? Check out our latest Brand Guide.
19/20 BLISTER Winter Buyer’s Guide, Part 1 (Ep.68)
We just released our new 19/20 BLISTER Winter Buyer’s Guide, and given that it’s over 200 pages long, there’s a lot to talk about. So we’re going to have a 2-part conversation about the Guide, and here in part 1, we’re going to discuss some of our Blister “Best Of” selections; and some of the products that just missed the cut; some general trends and takeaways from putting this big book together, and we find out the real reason why Luke prefers mittens to gloves.
Blister Brand Guide: Pivot Mountain Bike Lineup, 2020
When it comes to high-end tech, Pivot is one of the leaders in the industry, and they offer a wide range of mountain bikes. Check out our Brand Guide to help you quickly get a handle on the Pivot MTB lineup.
Why We Built a MTB Brand Guide (Ep.10)
Reviewers Luke Koppa, Jonathan Ellsworth, Dylan Wood, and David Golay discuss our new BLISTER Brand Guide to Mountain Bikes; why we saw a need for it; the trends and takeaways we’ve seen in the process of building it; and … the revolutionary new Badonkadonk bike.
Kyle Robidoux on Running, Skiing, & Being Legally Blind (Ep.19)
Kyle Robidoux is passionate about running and skiing and beer. He has run 25 marathons and ultra marathons, including three 100-mile races, and the Boston Marathon six times. Kyle also happens to be legally blind. So Kyle and I talk about his background, his anger about his receding vision and what he did about it; how he got into running and trail running; his efforts to create more inclusive trail races; his advice about how to deal with loss of any kind; and what specific things we all can do to be more supportive of everyone dealing with disabilities. (And we talk about beer.)
Adventure Photographer, Corey Rich (Ep.103)
Adventure photographer, Corey Rich, has spent a lot of time documenting some of the most interesting and amazing athletes in the world. So we talk to Corey about his time with the likes of Fred Beckey, Chris Sharma, Tommy Caldwell, Ashima Shiraishi; why making mistakes and being vulnerable makes for great storytelling; his excellent new book; what his dream assignment would be; and much, much more.
19/20 Blister Winter Buyer’s Guide
Here it is — check out the entire 19/20 Blister Winter Buyer's Guide, and you can still order your limited-edition print copy of the Buyer's Guide.
Reviewing the Reviewer: Jonathan Ellsworth (Ep.67)
Luke Koppa and Sam Shaheen pose questions & rate the answers of Blister founder, Jonathan Ellsworth, about being charged by a bear; nearly burning his house down; teaching philosophy; his favorite gear in the world; and (of course) the things he’s better at than Sam Shaheen.
Win an Outerwear Kit from FW
FW is a new apparel brand and the winner of this week’s Gear Giveaway will get their flagship outerwear kit, the 3L Manifest Jacket & Pants. Many of us at Blister were really excited when we saw FW’s collection at Outdoor Retailer last year, and the Manifest kit looks like a solid choice for those who want reliable weather protection and tons of features, all in a modern, clean style. Enter now for your chance to win.
Luke Nelson on Testing Limits (Ep.18)
Brendan Leonard & Jonathan Ellsworth talk to Luke Nelson about being a professional runner, physician assistant, race director (of the Scout Mountain Ultras), climate activist, husband, father of three, and … someone who doesn’t get a lot of sleep.
Video: Verb Cabin — “Another Way”
Ian Compton has taken a very different approach to skiing. Once one of the best park / urban skiers out there, Ian decided to leave skiing and move to, as he calls it, the “middle of nowhere,” Vermont. Verb Cabin’s short film, “Another Way,” documents Ian’s rise in the sport, the reasoning behind and the outcome of his decision to leave it, and now his return to skiing, in the form of a tiny undisclosed rope-tow near his new home. We think the video is incredibly well done, and you can watch it here.
J Skis founder, Jason Levinthal (Ep.102)
J Skis founder, Jason Levinthal, is back on the show, and this time, our conversation is made up almost entirely of your questions. And in his trademark style, Jason answers each of them with extreme candor. Check out the full video and conversation here.
2020 Ibis Mojo HD5
Ibis is releasing today the 5th generation of their longer-travel 27.5" bike, the Mojo HD5. We came away impressed with the prior-generation HD4, so how similar is the HD5 to the HD4? Is this new bike an entirely different beast? Check out our First Look.
Support Robb Gaffney
Robb Gaffney is a historic figure in the ski world, and he & his family need our help. Robb (who wrote the book Squallywood, created the Game of GNAR, and produced GNAR The Movie) was diagnosed with a rare form of bone-marrow cancer that he's fighting hard against. But that has left him unable to work for the foreseeable future, and this has created a very significant financial burden for his family. A GoFundMe page has been started for Robb, and we would ask you to please make a donation.
Strafe Sickbird Suit
One-piece snowsuits have had an interesting history. They were once very common, then they became a bit of a joke, and now some brands are making high-end one-pieces with modern materials and features. The Strafe Sickbird Suit falls into that last category, and we’ve come away both surprised and impressed by it. Check out our review.
2020-2021 Liberty Genome
Summer in the Northern Hemisphere officially ends tomorrow, and just in case that’s got you down, we thought we’d get you dreaming of skiing deep pow on super-fat skis. So check out our full review of the 140mm-wide Liberty Genome.
Folsom Skis & the New Blister Pro 104 (Ep.66)
We’ve been working on a special project with Folsom Skis, and it’s finally time to discuss the details with Folsom’s Mike McCabe. We also talk about Folsom’s (insane?) new plan to build and deliver custom skis in 2-3 days; go over a few highlights from the 19/20 Folsom lineup; and we ask Mike how much of a nightmare it was to work with us on this project.
Win a Backpack from Mystery Ranch
Enter now to win Mystery Ranch's brand-new alpine pack, the Scepter 35.