BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Shimano ME5 Clipless Shoes
Shimano’s ME5 isn’t just a less expensive version of the ME7, it’s a different shoe altogether. And depending on what you’re looking for, that’s actually a really good thing.
Moment Skis 21/22 Lineup with Luke Jacobson (Ep.170)
Moment Skis CEO, Luke Jacobson, is back to talk about Moment’s 21/22 lineup of skis; the new Moment factory; the new Deathwish 104; snowblading; & more.
Stan’s No Tubes on the Past, Present, & Future of Tubeless Tech (Ep.91)
We go deep on tubeless tire systems with Mike Bush of Stan’s No Tubes, including the history of the rim tape and sealant design we all use today; rim and tire design for tubeless; how sealant actually works; and a whole lot more.
Tessa Chesser on the Javelina 100; “Diesel Mode”; & Dealing with Adversity (Ep.100)
Tessa Chesser (who just podium’d at the Javalina 100 miler, earning a gold ticket to Western States) came on droppin’ mics, spittin’ inspiration, telling her story and mincing no words, and talking about how she has dealt with negativity and adversity.
Hustle Avery REMTech Magnetic Clipless Pedals
Hustle’s Avery REMtech pedal is the latest take on a magnetic MTB pedal that aims to bring you the best of both the clipless and flat-pedal worlds. Two of our reviewers — one clipless fan, one flats fan — spent several months using the Avery to see where it shines, how it compares to traditional options, how much metal debris is actually on their local trails, and more. Check out their full review.
Read Now: 2021-2022 Blister Winter Buyer’s Guide
The free digital version of our 21/22 Winter Buyer’s Guide is now available for all to view.
2021 Cannondale Scalpel HT
The Cannondale Scalpel has been a full-suspension XC race bike for almost 20 years, but now there’s a hardtail version — and its geometry is pretty wild. Check out this new, ultra-progressive take on an XC race bike.
Angel Collinson on Her Retirement from Skiing, Processing Change, & More (Ep.189)
We talk to one of our all-time favorite skiers (and people), Angel Collinson, about her recent announcement of her retirement from professional skiing; why she felt that now was the time; the factors that led to her decision; how she thinks about and processes change; what she’s up to now, and what might be next.
Vorsprung Secus Fork Air Spring Upgrade
We’ve now tested the Vorsprung Secus in the RockShox ZEB, and have only grown more impressed. Check out our full review to find out what makes this air spring upgrade so good.
What We’re Watching — November 2021
This month’s What We’re Watching features a baker’s dozen ski, bike, and freedive(?) videos for your viewing pleasure.
Nordica Announces New Santa Ana & Enforcer Unlimited Skis
Nordica just announced their first line of touring-oriented skis. We’ll be spending time on them soon, but in the meantime, learn more about the new skis here.
Shop Talk: Vertical Playground, Oppdal Norway (Ep.169)
Once upon a time, a couple of friends who were scheming to get some gear for their own adventures ended up creating a phenomenal outdoor shop. We talk to Trygve Sande and Rune Kvalsnes about the origins of Vertical Playground; their trip with Hoji where the idea of the 4FRNT Raven was born; some of their favorite gear; and more.
Women’s Bike Jersey Roundup — 2021
Whether your jerseys are looking pretty worn after a long summer or your bike season is just starting, this roundup is for you.
Win The New J Skis Masterblaster
This week the winner will get J Skis’ updated, metal-laminate all-mountain ski!
Reviewer Reports: Santa Cruz Bronson, Norco Range, We Are One Arrival, & More (Ep.90)
We’ve been testing a lot of bikes of late, so we sat down to give a rundown of what we’ve been riding, including the Santa Cruz Bronson, We Are One Arrival, Norco Range, and more.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Flannel Shirt Roundup — 2022
Flannels — they’re basically the unofficial uniform of fall, and for good reason. Cozy enough to lounge in at home, and (usually) nice-looking enough for town. Check out our roundup for a bunch of options for women and men.
Todd Aydelotte on Running Through History, Edgar Allen Poe, & The Warriors UltraRun (Ep.135)
We sat down with ultrarunner and race director, Todd Aydelotte, to hear all about how he uses running to trace the lives of historical figures, like Edgar Allen Poe, Walt Whitman, and Teddy Roosevelt. Along the way, we also talk about the semi-legal 28-mile road race he created to reenact the 70’s cult film, “The Warriors”; running through New York City subways after dark; and a whole lot more.
Fathers and Sons
Sander Hadley reflects on the themes of expectations, potential, grace, and making your own path, and how they’ve been shared throughout the lives of fathers and sons from three different generations.
Camelbak M.U.L.E. Pro 14 100 oz
Camelbak is a very well-known name when it comes to hydration packs, and the M.U.L.E. name has been in their lineup since the ‘90s. This experience definitely shows in the M.U.L.E. Pro 14 100 oz, and it has a generous feature set and storage space that could work for a lot of riders.
Trail Running Glossary of Terms: Trail Running Shoe Categories
While roads almost always guarantee a consistent running surface, the same cannot be said for the wide-ranging “trails” out there. Trail running shoes mirror this variability in the range of different forms they can take, with some types of shoes performing better in certain scenarios than others. In the third installment in our Trail Running Glossary of Terms series, we’ve outlined several of the most common categories of trail running shoes, including some of the advantages they offer and where each one might be limited.
Chris Davenport on Skiing Portillo & Joining Peak Skis (Ep.226)
We catch up with Chris about his recent ski trip to Portillo, Chile, and discuss his decision to join Bode Miller at Peak Skis.
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Win $150 Outdoor Element Gift Cards
This week TWO lucky winners will each get $150 gift cards to spend on any of Outdoor Element’s numerous camping & outdoor accessories!
Blister Labs: MTB Wheelset Testing & Establishing Proof of Concept (Ep.211)
Greg Vanderbeek is back with a Blister Labs update on our mountain-bike-wheels testing. We discuss why the dynamic modeling we’ve been doing in the field is a critical component for ongoing testing back at the lab; what our test results are revealing about carbon vs. aluminum wheels; and more.
Hope Tech 4 V4
Hope’s disc brakes got a major overhaul in the form of the new Tech 4 generation earlier this year, and that brought a very major increase in power to the range. But how does their burliest brake, the Tech 4 V4, compare to the competition? Check out our full review.
Reviewer Reports: Bikes, Suspension, Brakes, & More (Ep.132)
David Golay and Dylan Wood sat down to chat about a ton of the bikes and gear they’ve been testing, including the Pivot Shadowcat, Intense Tracer 279, Canfield Jedi 29, the new Manitou Dorado, and much, much more.
Stuff We Like: August 2022
The August edition of our “Stuff We Like” series is packed with items fit for summer and shoulder seasons, from board shorts to running belts, several t-shirts, bike tools, blankets, sandals, lightweight hoodies, and much more. Check it out to see the latest gear our reviewers have been digging.