BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Blister Brand Guide: Rocky Mountain’s Mountain Bike Lineup, 2022
For model-year 2022, Rocky Mountain’s lineup remains mostly the same, apart from some new build kits and colors on their already-successful offerings. Check out our Brand Guide to see which 2022 Rocky Mountain bike might work best for you.
Flash Review: Nicolai / Geometron G1
The Nicolai G1 stands out as being just about the most aggressive-seeming Enduro bike on the market, and we’ve been spending time on it. Check out our Flash Review for our initial impressions.
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Running through the News (Aug 2021) (Ep.93)
Today we’re kicking off a new series on Off The Couch, and Sanjay Rawal joins us to talk primarily about track and field at the Olympics, but we also talk about the Leadville 100, and the longest foot race in the world, the 3,100-mile Self Transcendence race in New York.
Stuff We Like: August 2021
In the latest edition of “Stuff We Like,” our reviewers share a broad range of products they’re currently using — and really liking — from fancy sparkling water to bike tires, boots, and more.
Mountain Town Economics, Pt 3: Developing Housing, Addressing Climate Change, & Mitigating Megafires (Ep.180)
While we are dealing with the crisis of affordable housing, we are also dealing with a crisis of megafires. And our guest today, Scott Ehlert, is here to make clear how these two crises are related, and what solutions are available to mitigate both.
Adidas Terrex Speed Ultra
One of our reviewers is calling the Adidas Terrex Speed Ultra “one of the best long-distance trail shoes on the market.” Check out his review to see why.
Debatable: Internal Cable Routing Isn’t Worth It
It seems like almost every bike comes with internal cable routing these days, but why? Our Bike Editor lays out his case for why cables ought to stay external.
Shop Talk: Spokane Alpine Haus (Ep.160)
We talk with Rachel and Drew Harding, the owners of the Spokane Alpine Haus, about the ski scene in Spokane, Washington; the Alpine Haus’ massive equipment leasing program; interesting ways to destroy skis; kid’s gear; and more.
Win a Made-in-USA Shirt from Kitsbow
This week the winner will get Kitsbow’s Icon Flannel Shirt, which is made in the USA from Pendleton Wool!
2021 Forbidden Dreadnought
“A DH bike in all but the small print” is a bold claim for a 154mm-travel bike, but the Forbidden Dreadnought just might live up to it — in more ways than you might think. Check out our full review for all the details.
Chris Porter on Mullets, Dual-Crown Enduro Forks, & More (Ep.80)
Chris Porter, one of the most interesting and most opinionated figures in the MTB world, is back on Bikes and Big Ideas. We discuss the Geometron G1 & how Chris chooses to set up his personal bike; dual-crown Enduro forks & how we both wish they were more common; EXT suspension, including the Era fork and custom G1-spec Storia shock; & much more.
2021 Leadville 100 Winner, Annie Hughes (Ep.92)
Annie Hughes is 23 years old and is quickly becoming a force in the world of ultra running. So we talked with Annie about her preparation for Leadville and the race itself; waiting tables; our idea to run for president (which is related to waiting tables); her plans to run the Moab 240 this October, and what she’s most excited about beyond this October.
Hip Pack Roundup — 2021
Hip packs have gone from being an ironic fashion throwback to a commonly accepted mountain bike accessory, but they now come in all shapes and sizes. We’ve been testing six options, from ultra-minimalist to quite roomy, and here you can check out how they compare and which would work best for you.
Mountain Town Economics, Pt 2: Housing, Community, & Core Values (Ep.179)
Our guest today is Troy Russ, the community development director of Crested Butte. Troy has a long history in community planning and development, so is able to provide an incredibly well-informed perspective on a broad range of topics, and there are a lot of relevant considerations and takeaways for mountain communities everywhere.
Hoka One One Zinal
The Zinal is Hoka’s latest offering in the more minimally cushioned, fast-and-light category of trail shoes. So how does it compare to the numerous other options in that class, and what sort of runners should have it on their list? Check out our review.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Blister Brand Guide: La Sportiva Trail Running Shoe Lineup, 2022
La Sportiva has made a name for itself in many categories, including the trail running world. Their trail running shoes range from minimal race shoes to burly options designed for rough terrain, and you can check out our 2022 Brand Guide to see what sets each La Sportiva shoe apart from the others.
2022 Niner JET 9 RDO
The Niner JET 9 RDO has proven to be a well-sorted short-travel Trail bike that balances a lot of traits well, and could work for a lot of different riders. Check out our full review for all the info.
2022-2023 Head Kore 93
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pics, and flex pattern numbers for the Head Kore 93.
TrainingPeaks Co-founder Dirk Friel on Coaching, Artificial Intelligence, & the Future of Endurance Training (Ep.127)
Endurance training has come a long way from handwritten logs and fax machines, and we owe a lot of that progress to web-based platforms like TrainingPeaks. Founded in the late 90s by endurance coaches Dirk Friel and his father, Joe Friel, TrainingPeaks has helped modernize the ways athletes can track, analyze, and plan their training. So, we sat down with Dirk to hear more about how better data leads to better performance; artificial intelligence; and a whole lot more.
Reviewing the News w/ Cody Townsend (June 2022) (Ep.216)
Cody and Jonathan discuss the Mountain Gazette story about outdoor influencers & accountability; Matthew Fairbrother’s bikepacking — and enduro racing — across Europe; the ‘most Canadian’ news story; what we’re reading & watching; recent Supreme Court rulings; mountain-town advice; & more.
Trail Running 101: How to Fuel a Trail Run
Learning to eat on the run can be one of the most challenging parts of trail running; figuring out what kinds of foods work for you (and maybe more importantly, identifying those that don’t) can be tricky. But here are some basic ways to get started.
Flash Review — Öhlins RXF 34 m.2
We’ve started spending time on Öhlins’ new RXF 34 m.2 — 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
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.)
European Food Reviews & Trip Report + Updates on our Buyer’s Guides (Ep.203)
Luke and Jonathan discuss Jonathan’s travels across France & Italy; his visits to the Lange factory and ATK bindings factory; provide updates on our Mtn Bike Buyer’s Guide and Winter Buyer’s Guide; and more.
Altra Timp 4
Altra could have easily gotten away with making a few minor tweaks when updating their high-cushioned Timp; instead, the brand completely reengineered the Timp 4 from the ground up. Check out our review to see what we think of all the new changes.
Win Percussion Massage Devices from Roll Recovery
This week TWO lucky winners will each get Roll Recovery’s new R1 percussion massage device!
2022-2023 Rossignol Sender 106 Ti Plus
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pics, and flex pattern numbers for the new Rossignol Sender 106 Ti Plus.
2022-2023 Lange RS 130 LV
Here are our measured specs, photos, and a quick rundown on the 22/23 Lange RS 130 LV.