BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Eli Brown & Jonathan Ellsworth: Can We Change a White-Wine Hater’s Mind? (Ep.60)
Today, Jonathan and Eli will be trying several white wine options to see if Eli can get Jonathan more interested in what white wines have to offer.
Flash Review: 24/25 Salomon QST X
Japow Update: Kara Williard brought the QST X with her on a recent trip to Japan and she’s now added her thoughts on this lightweight powder ski.
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Reece Wilson on forming AON Racing, Partnering with Gamux, Belt Drives, Gearboxes, & More (Ep.262)
We check in with Reece Wilson about his newly formed AON racing team; partnering with Gamux and the benefits of belt drives and gearboxes; the likely rivalry between his team and Atherton Racing to see who will bring home the Gates Belted 100k Purse; and a whole lot more.
Tyrolia Attack Hybrid 14 MN/PT Ski-Touring Binding
Tyrolia has entered the “hybrid” category of touring bindings by expanding their well-known Attack series with the all-new Hybrid 14 MN/PT. Check out our First Look for our measured specs and all the details on this new system.
2024-2025 Fischer Nightstick 104
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the Fischer Nightstick 104.
Flash Review: Ibis Oso 1.1
Ibis made some meaningful tweaks to the Oso 1.1, and we’ve gotten some initial trail time on Ibis’ burly eMTB. Check out our initial thoughts.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Alex Hackel on Kings & Queens of Corbet’s, Movies, & More (Ep.346)
We’re talking about all things ‘Kings & Queens’ with Alex Hackel, who has podiumed both times he’s competed in the event. Alex is also a 2-times X-games medalist, he’s the co-founder of 1000skis, and he’s a terrific filmmaker, and we discuss all of this and more.
Flash Review: 25/26 Head Kore 118Ti
Crested Butte has gotten 30+ inches of new snow in the past few days, so we’ve been breaking out several new pow skis. First up is the Kore 118Ti, which represents a pretty big shift for the Kore series. Here are our initial thoughts.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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2025-2026 Head Kore 118 Ti
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the new Head Kore 118 Ti.
‘Downhill’ w/ Amie Engerbretson & Jonathan Ellsworth (Ep.36)
‘Downhill’ stars A-list comedians (Will Ferrel, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, etc); takes place entirely at a ski resort; and was released on Valentine’s Day. So it must be every skier’s favorite Rom-Com, right? Hear Amie and Jonathan’s strong reactions to one of the most puzzling ski movies ever.
2024-2025 La Sportiva Maestro.2 LS
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the lightweight La Sportiva Maestro.2 LS.
2024-2025 Scarpa Maestrale RS
Scarpa’s Maestrale boots have been ubiquitous in the touring category for many years now — and for good reason. But Scarpa hasn’t been afraid to refine these boots over the years, and we’ve spent the past couple of seasons testing the latest iteration. Here’s our Full Review.
Love, Drugs, & Graphene: Mito Materials’ Founders on Next-Gen Ski Construction (Ep.335)
Today we are talking about love, materials science, and ski construction. We’re looking at graphene, why you might soon be hearing more about it in skis in the near future, and the unique properties of Mito Materials’ functionalized graphene.
Camille Balanche on Yeti’s Return to World Cup DH, the State of the Sport, Injuries, & More (Ep.261)
World Cup DH is undergoing a ton of changes at the moment, and we sat down with Camille Balanche to get her take on all of it. In addition to getting her thoughts on the state of World Cup Downhill, we talk about her move to Yeti; her injury struggles over the last couple of seasons and returning to form; pay in women’s racing; her 2025 plans and goals; and a whole lot more.
2024-2025 Moment Countach 104
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the Moment Countach 104.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
House of Looptail on Remaking Vintage Mountain Bike and BMX Tires (Ep. 266)
House of Looptail’s Wakeman Massie joins us to chat about remaking vintage mountain bike and BMX tires; designing the first Surly singlespeed frame; why old mountain bikes deserve to be ridden; and a whole lot more.
Fox 34 SL
XC race courses are more technical than ever and race bikes are getting beefed up to match. Fox’s new 34 SL replaces the 34 Step Cast and promises a stiffer chassis, optional longer travel, and more. Check out what they’ve come up with.
Hi-Fi Audio: Capturing the Heart & Soul of Music with Heaven 11’s Itai Azerad (Ep.62)
Music — and how you listen to it — matters. In this CRAFTED conversation, Simon is joined by Heaven 11 Audio’s Itai Azerad to discuss building amplifiers that capture the heart and soul of music.
Flash Review: 24/25 Line Vision 114
Line replaced their Vision 118 with the new Vision 114 for 24/25, and we’ve been spending time on the new model this season. Check out our initial impressions.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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2024-2025 Line Vision 114
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the LINE Vision 114.
2025-2026 Elan Ripstick 96
Elan recently overhauled their longstanding Ripstick collection, so how different are the new skis, and what makes the Ripstick 96 stand out in today’s market? Here’s our Full Review.
Deep Dive: Elan Ripstick 96
We compare the Ripstick 96 to the Ripstick 102 Black Edition, Salomon QST 94, Dynastar M-Pro 94 Ti, Renoun Endurance 98, Line Optic 96, Salomon QST 92, Line Pandora 99, Shaggy’s Ahmeek 95, K2 Mindbender 96C, RMU Apostle 96 Ti, Black Crows Camox, Blizzard Rustler 9, ZAG Slap 98, Stockli Stormrider 95, and Head Kore 94 Ti.
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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Flash Review: 25/26 Salomon QST 94
Salomon’s new QST 94 is the narrowest addition to their new QST lineup of skis, replacing the popular QST 92. Here are our initial impressions on the QST 94, including how it compares to the outgoing model.
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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Reviewing the News w/ Cody Townsend, February 2025 (Ep.350)
Cody and Jonathan are back to review the news, including the passing of ZipFit’s Sven Coomer; threats to public lands; JD Vance’s ski trip; and more. We also rate your takes, discuss the most Canadian news, and share what we’ve been reading and watching.
Arbor Carter Camber, 158 cm
Mark Carter is a badass, but what about his signature board? We’ve been riding the Arbor Carter for a full season and have found it to be a surprisingly versatile example of a modern volume-shifted shape. Here’s our Full Review.
2025-2026 Völkl M7 Mantra
Over the past 20 years, the name “Mantra” has stood as one of the most recognized in modern skis. So how does Volkl’s latest iteration of the Mantra, the M7, compare to its predecessor, and how well does it work as an all-mountain option? Here’s our Full Review.
Deep Dive: Völkl M7 Mantra
We compare the M7 Mantra to the M6 Mantra, Mantra 102, Blizzard Anomaly 94, Faction Dancer 2, Nordica Enforcer 94, Salomon Stance 96, Wagner Summit 97, Fischer Ranger 96, Peak 98 by Bode, K2 Mindbender 99Ti, 4FRNT MSP 99, Black Crows Justis, Nordica Enforcer 99, Kastle Paragon 101, Stockli Stormrider 95, ZAG Harfang 96, Head Kore 94 Ti, & Dynastar M-Pro 94 Ti.
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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