BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Tech Tip of the Week: Quieting Shimano Brake Pad Rattle
Shimano’s brakes are some of the most popular options out there, but their finned brake pads also have a reputation for rattling. Luckily there’s an easy DIY fix to quiet them down. Check it out.
Win Pedals & Tools from OneUp
This week the winner will get OneUp’s pedals & their excellent EDC tool system!
Blister Summit Panel on Ski Design (Ep.159)
We are airing the panel session on ski design that we held at the Blister Summit. We talk to the designers behind the skis from Blizzard, Folsom Custom Skis, Rossignol, Dynastar, and Wagner Custom Skis to get their respective design philosophies; discuss current trends in ski design; debate whether skis are being dumbed down today; determine once and for all whether stated sidecut radius numbers are fake; & more.
Gear of the Year (So Far) (Ep.79)
We check in with several of our reviewers to discuss the gear they’ve been most impressed with so far this year; the new products they’re most excited to check out; and along the way we talk about mullet bikes, bike shop pranks, and unveil several genius new ideas that we definitely shouldn’t be giving away for free.
2022 Canyon Lux Trail
The Canyon Lux has seen plenty of action (and results) on the World Cup XC circuit, and now it’s got a bigger sibling, the Lux Trail. The new bike is a lot more than just an XC race bike with a little extra suspension, though — check out all the details in our First Look.
New 4FRNT Switch & MSP 107
4FRNT just launched their 2021-2022 ski lineup, and back at the Blister Summit, we sat down with 4FRNT’s Sam Kimmerle & Nick Africano to get the rundown on the brand-new Switch; the consistently positive feedback surrounding the MSP 107; who has the coolest name in the ski industry; and more.
Dakota Jones on the Footprints Running Camp (Ep.91)
We talk with Dakota Jones about how motivation evolves, different chapters of life, and what led to the launch of the Footprints Running Camp.
Benji Alexander’s Bid to Become Jamaica’s 1st Olympic Alpine Ski Racer (Ep.178)
Benji Alexander is a passionate ski racer and backcountry skier with a stranger-than-fiction backstory. So we talk to Benji about how Burning Man got him into skiing; what inspired his Olympic aspirations; the numerous logistics he has had to navigate to make this happen; the financial hurdles that all Olympic hopefuls have to face; and what motivates him to keep pushing forward.
EXT Era Fork
After making a big splash with their rear shocks, EXT’s first fork is here. There’s a whole lot that’s interesting and unusual about the Era, but how does it all add up on the trail? Check out our full review to find out — now with some additional thoughts from Xan Marshland.
Would You Rather: Dream Hardtail or Mid-Price Full Suspension?
Dream hardtail or more modest full suspension bike as an everyday ride? That’s the question we’re tackling in our new “Would You Rather” series. Check out our reviewers’ individual takes on the site, and let us know what you’d do in the comments.
Fanatik
Fanatik is an outstanding mountain bike-specific shop in Bellingham, WA, with a focus on custom bike and wheel builds, and a large e-commerce presence. They’re the local go-to for parts, service, and complete bikes, as well as an integral part of the Bellingham mountain biking community.
A Very Deep Dive on Coffee (Ep.158)
You had to know we’d do this, right? We sat down with Sam Higby to talk about Sam’s time in the outdoor industry and in the coffee business; the difference between good and bad instant coffee; light roasts vs. dark roasts (and what some dark roasts have in common with hot sauce or double IPAs); the brewing process & brewing at altitude; how to make great coffee on a budget; and more.
Win Packs & Jerseys from RMU
This week TWO people will each get RMU’s Enduro 5L fanny pack + one of their Party Time Tech Tees!
Mountain Bike Tires: A Guide & Comparisons
In this guide, we’re comparing more than a dozen of the most popular Trail, Enduro, & DH tires to each other, highlighting their pros and cons, and helping you figure out which option might work best for you. In our latest update, we’ve got a couple of new additions from Schwalbe and Michelin.
Mtn Biking 201: A Guide to Tire Casings & Rubber Compounds
What are tire casings and rubber compounds — and why should you care? And how do one brand’s casing and compound options compare to another’s? In this Gear 201 article, we answer those questions and more, and we’ve just added our thoughts on the latest rubber compounds and casings from Schwalbe and Michelin.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Reviewer Reports: Santa Cruz, Pivot, Kavenz, & More (Ep.124)
We’ve been testing a ton of bikes across the spectrum, from XC(ish) to big Enduro sleds, and we’ve got updates on a lot of them, plus some teasers for other things we’re cooking up.
Flash Review — Rossignol Mandate
The Rossignol Mandate is a killer value in terms of parts spec, but is the frame up to it? 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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2021-2022 Stereo Piste RS
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pics, and flex pattern numbers for the Stereo Piste RS.
Naked Sports Innovations Co-founder Lindsay Dakota on “Simplexity” & Their New Laceless Trail Racing Shoe (Ep.126)
Naked Sports Innovations’ line of products has evolved a lot from the popular Running Band that started it all, and this month they announced plans for their first (laceless!) trail running shoe, the Naked T/r. So we sat down with Naked’s President and Co-founder, Lindsay Dakota, to break down their debut model and to talk about how the notion of “simplexity” drives their design process
Blister Brand Guide: Arc’teryx Trail Running Shoe Lineup, 2022
Best known by many for their high-end outerwear, Arc’teryx has now been making trail running shoes for a few years — including one of the lightest models on the market. Check out our Brand Guide to learn more about their current options and how they stand out from each other.
2022-2023 Renoun Earhart 88
Here are our thoughts on Renoun’s women-specific all-mountain ski, the Earhart 88, how it compares to the competition, and what sorts of skiers we think should have it on their lists.
Flash Review — Kavenz VHP 16
We’ve started spending time on the Kavenz VHP 16. 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.)
2022-2023 Dynastar M-Pro 108
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pics, and flex pattern numbers for the new Dynastar M-Pro 108.
2021-2022 Head Kore 117
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pics, and flex pattern numbers for the Head Kore 117.
Ski Development & Ski Testing with AJ Kruajitch & Jake Stevens (Ep.202)
Few people spend as many days as we do testing skis on snow. But Rossignol’s AJ Kruajitch definitely does. So Jonathan Ellsworth spent a day at Les Deux Alpes going through AJ’s testing process, then talking with him and Jake Stevens about the similarities and differences in our approaches.
Win Yakima Bike Pads
The TWO winners of our Gear Giveaway this week will each get Yakima’s Gatekeeper truck bed tailgate pad!
Flash Review — Pivot Firebird
We’ve started spending time on the new Pivot Firebird, and it feels like a big Enduro bike first and foremost, but a notably efficient, fairly nimble one. 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.)