BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
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.
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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 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.
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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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.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
2022-2023 Lange XT3 Tour Pro
Here are our measured specs, images, and initial questions about the Lange XT3 Tour Pro.
Eric Olsen on Bikepacking the EWS (Ep.126)
Eric Olsen just returned from bike touring between the first three rounds of the EWS, so we sat down with him to hear where he got the idea in the first place; how it all went, including encountering golf-ball-sized hail and a flock of schoolchildren mid-race; the notion of bikes as transportation & European bike touring culture more broadly; and much, much more.
La Sportiva Karacal
La Sportiva is synonymous with hardwearing shoes for running in difficult, mountainous terrain. However, the brand has lately focused on making more accessible models for runners who prioritize comfort over technical performance. With the Karacal, we think they’ve mostly succeeded in meeting that demand.
2023 Santa Cruz Megatower
The V2 Santa Cruz Megatower is a very different bike from its predecessor, and we think it’s a whole lot better for it. But what all has Santa Cruz changed, and how does that add up on trail? Check out our full review to find out.
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!