BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Southern Hemisphere Skiing, Sustainability, & Shop Strategies w/ Outside Sports (Ep.352)
Today, we head south to the snow, and back behind the counter at Outside Sports in New Zealand. We talk about the gear and innovations they’re stoked on; what it takes to keep a mountain town business thriving; sustainability from a local shop’s perspective, and more.
Flash Review: Esker Woodsy
We’ve started testing Esker’s Woodsy Trail / All Mountain bike, and its combination of a compliant ride, efficient suspension, and all-day comfort has it looking like an interesting option in a crowded category.
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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Esker Woodsy
Esker’s new all-metal All Mountain bike can be had in either aluminum or titanium and features 145 mm of DW-developed Orion Dynamics suspension. Check out what they’ve come up with, and our early impressions of the aluminum Woodsy.
Win MTB Protection From 7iDP
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get a $200 gift card from 7iDP!
Reviewer Reports: New Bikes, Shimano Di2, & More (Ep.279)
We’ve been testing a massive amount of new gear, including Shimano’s first wireless MTB drivetrain, a ton of new bikes, and a whole lot more. So we got the gang together to talk about a bunch of it.
The Madness of Nile Zacherle, Mad Fritz Brewing (Ep.74)
Madness. That’s what you call it when a former sponsored skateboarder gets a Ph.D. in fermentation, then starts brewing super-premium beer in Napa Valley.
Shimano Deore M6200 & XT M8200 Di2 Wireless Drivetrain and Wheels
Just two weeks after launching their first wireless MTB drivetrain at the flagship XTR tier, Shimano now has Deore and XT versions for folks who want wireless shifting at a more affordable price. Here are all the details.
Shimano XT M8200 & M8220 Brakes
Shimano’s XT brakes have gotten an overhaul to go with the new wireless XT Di2 drivetrain. Here’s what’s new, what isn’t, and the full rundown on the XT brake options.
Specialized Gravity Racing & Brembo Announce Partnership
The speculation about the prototype brakes that Specialized Gravity Racing has been racing on can be put to rest: they’re from Brembo. Here’s what we know so far.
‘Forrest Gump’ w/ Brendan Leonard & Jonathan Ellsworth (Ep.41)
Forrest Gump premiered on June 23, 1994, and Tom Hanks won the Oscar for Best Actor. But according to Brendan Leonard (semi-rad.com), the real story is that Gump introduced millions of people to ultrarunning. Brendan and Jonathan discuss that and a whole lot more.
Jib League & the Future of Freeskiing with Woodsy (Ep.361)
We talk with James Woods (aka Woodsy) about how he and fellow pro skiers, Ferdinand Dahl and Oystein Braaten, created Jib League to fill voids that they were noticing in the freeskiing world. The unique event series they created has been loved by athletes and viewers alike, and the story of how it came to be is just as interesting as all the absurd tricks put down by the riders at each stop.
Aenomaly Switchgrade 2.0 Evo Seat Angle Adjuster
The Aenomaly Switchgrade is a clever way to allow on-the-fly seat angle adjustment, but how beneficial is it in practice? We’ve been testing the updated Switchgrade Evo 2.0, and are ready to weigh in.
Flash Review: 24/25 ON3P Woodsman 92
Update 6.13.25: Jonathan Ellsworth adds his thoughts on the Woodsman 92, where it excels, and what sort of skiers ought to consider it.
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.)
Win Alpaca Apparel from Arms of Andes
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get a $200 gift card from Arms of Andes!
The New Rules of Apparel: PFAS, What’s Changed, & What It Means for You (Ep.351)
In this panel discussion from Blister Summit 2025, we asked apparel designers from Patagonia, Flylow, Ortovox, and Rab to discuss what you should expect from the new generation of PFAS-free apparel; how it compares to what you’ve used in the past; and what you can do to make the most of it.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Formula Selva V
Formula has a new version of their Selva All-Mountain / Enduro fork, and while it’s got some things in common with the prior-generation version, the new Selva V gets a new chassis, a new spring, and some other interesting features that set it apart — both from the prior-generation Selva, and the rest of the long-travel single crown market.
Hoji, Marcus Caston, Nick Russell, & Chris Davenport: Life Updates, Mtn-Town Advice, Trip Reports, & More (Ep.362)
We brought together some legends of snowsports — Hoji, Marcus, Nick, & Dav — and asked them to share some life updates; their best mountain-town (and relationship) advice; trip reports & travel stories; & more.
Thule T2 Pro XTR
Thule’s T2 Pro XTR hitch-mounted bicycle rack is one of the more popular options on the market. And after testing it ourselves, we understand why. Check out our Full Review to find out how this rack performs, including direct comparisons to the Yakima StageTwo.
Southern Hemisphere Skiing, Sustainability, & Shop Strategies w/ Outside Sports (Ep.352)
Today, we head south to the snow, and back behind the counter at Outside Sports in New Zealand. We talk about the gear and innovations they’re stoked on; what it takes to keep a mountain town business thriving; sustainability from a local shop’s perspective, and more.
Flash Review: Esker Woodsy
We’ve started testing Esker’s Woodsy Trail / All Mountain bike, and its combination of a compliant ride, efficient suspension, and all-day comfort has it looking like an interesting option in a crowded category.
Esker Woodsy
Esker’s new all-metal All Mountain bike can be had in either aluminum or titanium and features 145 mm of DW-developed Orion Dynamics suspension. Check out what they’ve come up with, and our early impressions of the aluminum Woodsy.
Win MTB Protection From 7iDP
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get a $200 gift card from 7iDP!
Reviewer Reports: New Bikes, Shimano Di2, & More (Ep.279)
We’ve been testing a massive amount of new gear, including Shimano’s first wireless MTB drivetrain, a ton of new bikes, and a whole lot more. So we got the gang together to talk about a bunch of it.
The Madness of Nile Zacherle, Mad Fritz Brewing (Ep.74)
Madness. That’s what you call it when a former sponsored skateboarder gets a Ph.D. in fermentation, then starts brewing super-premium beer in Napa Valley.
Shimano Deore M6200 & XT M8200 Di2 Wireless Drivetrain and Wheels
Just two weeks after launching their first wireless MTB drivetrain at the flagship XTR tier, Shimano now has Deore and XT versions for folks who want wireless shifting at a more affordable price. Here are all the details.
Shimano XT M8200 & M8220 Brakes
Shimano’s XT brakes have gotten an overhaul to go with the new wireless XT Di2 drivetrain. Here’s what’s new, what isn’t, and the full rundown on the XT brake options.
Specialized Gravity Racing & Brembo Announce Partnership
The speculation about the prototype brakes that Specialized Gravity Racing has been racing on can be put to rest: they’re from Brembo. Here’s what we know so far.