BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Running Through the News (Sep / Oct 2021) (Ep.98)
Sanjay Rawal joins us to discuss the Boston Marathon being held on Indigenous People’s Day; why the sport of long-distance running is particularly well-positioned to create a more equitable situation for indigenous people; the ramifications of having so many high-profile marathons held so close to one another; and the mission of Shalane Flanagan.
Sturtevants
Sturtevants are our Recommended Ski & Bike Shops in the Sun Valley area, and not only do they offer excellent service and products, they also offer tons of ski and bike demos and a full guiding outfit out of their shops.
Willi’s Ski Shops
Willi’s Ski shops are our Recommended Shops in the Pittsburgh area because they offer the vital services that the ski industry is reliant upon for growth, from junior buyback programs to beginner packages and affordable season lease options — in addition to high-end gear and tuning services.
Vertical Playground
Vertical Playground is our recommended shop in Norway because of their widespread expertise on gear and services for everything from ski touring to mountain biking, climbing, hiking, whitewater kayaking, and more.
The GOAT: Greg Minnaar (Ep.87)
We catch up with Greg Minnaar, the greatest DH rider of all time, about this past season and his World Champs victory; keys to his high-level longevity; his mental approach to racing; Tom Brady; and more.
Leatt 5.0 Clipless Shoes
Leatt’s 5.0 Clipless shoe offers downhill-worthy protection in a package that still pedals impressively well — and it’s competitively priced. That sounds great, but is there a catch?
Pon Holdings to Buy Dorel Sports (Cannondale, GT, & More)
Pon Holdings — the Dutch conglomerate that owns Santa Cruz, among other brands — has just agreed to buy Cannondale, GT, and more from Dorel for $810 million.
McKenna Peterson on Ski Movies, Boats, & Hemingway’s Typewriter (Ep.185)
Last Friday, we had a GEAR:30 conversation with McKenna Peterson to discuss her ski gear preferences. Today, we dive into McKenna’s past and present to talk about her segment in the new MSP film; discuss some of the formative events of her life, and learn more about what makes this professional skier (and professional commercial fishing captain) tick.
Flash Review: 2022 Norco Range
The 2022 Norco Range gets a new high-pivot layout, and the results are eye-opening. Check out our Flash Review for our early impressions.
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What We’re Watching — October 2021
Our recurring What We’re Watching series is back, and we’ve got a dozen skiing, biking, and fishing videos for your enjoyment. There’s everything from quick shredits to some longer options, and a bit of recent event coverage, too.
The Pro’s Gear: McKenna Peterson (Ep.166)
We sat down with one of the stars of Matchstick Productions’ new film, The Stomping Grounds, to discuss her personal gear preferences; what ski equipment she’d most like to see get made; the topic of women-specific gear; the best ways to get more women involved in skiing; and more.
Win an Outerwear Kit from Outdoor Research
Enter for a chance to win OR’s Skytour Ascentshell Jacket & Bibs!
Olivia Amber: from XC Skiing to the Tech World to Mountain Running (Ep.97)
Olivia Amber grew up in rural Wisconsin; headed off to Maine (where she became an all-American XC skier); found her way into the tech world of San Francisco; then started getting into ultra running. Now, Olivia is a Salomon athlete who is also juggling a career in tech. We talk about all of the above, plus coffee; sleeping / not sleeping; her current & future interests in running; and more.
Vali Höll, New World Cup DH Overall Champion (Ep.86)
Matt Manser (of GEAR:30 fame) and Jonathan Ellsworth talk to the very impressive (and very candid) Vali Höll about her remarkable season; race tactics; racing styles; Greg Minnaar & whether she can imagine still racing in 20 years; and more.
2022 Trek Top Fuel
The Top Fuel has been in Trek’s lineup for nearly 20 years now, but they’ve just overhauled it and the 2022 model is a very different beast. Check out our First Look for all the details.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Trail Running Glossary of Terms: Shoe Anatomy
Trail running shoes come in all different shapes and sizes, and finding the appropriate pair to suit your needs can be difficult if you’re unfamiliar with the technical terms commonly used to describe them. So, in the first installment of our Trail Running Glossary of Terms, we’ll break down each of the features routinely found on trail shoes to help you get a better sense of what to look for.
Speed & Style on Dirt & Snow with Dillon Flinders (Ep.130)
We sat down with aspiring World Cup Downhiller and Freeride World Tour skier Dillon Flinders to talk about his goal of competing on both circuits simultaneously and his roadmap for getting there. We also get into the mental aspects of racing, injury recovery & motivation; mentorship; & much more.
Women’s MTB Jersey Roundup — 2022
In our Women’s MTB jersey roundup, we’ve got nine options across a range of sleeve lengths and levels of warmth, from full-on technical pieces to ones that look great off the bike, too.
2022-2023 Rossignol Pure Elite 120 GW
Here are our measured specs, photos, and a quick rundown on Rossignol’s new women’s alpine boot, the Pure Elite 120 GW.
New Image Brewing on Constant Experimentation, Inspiration, & Evolution (Ep.1)
For our first episode of CRAFTED, we’re talking with Brandon Capps, the founder and owner of New Image Brewing. Brandon is exceptionally good at — and passionate about — discussing the intricacies of brewing, growing a business, and doing things differently, so we cover all of that; what other breweries inspire him; coming up with 600+ beer recipes over the years; New Image’s constant production of new one-off beers vs. year-round options; and what truly makes a “Craft” company.
Men’s MTB Jersey Roundup — 2022
We’ve been testing a ton of mountain bike jerseys across a huge range of styles and intended use cases, and in our men’s roundup, we’ve got 13 options to compare.
Trail Running 101: How to Run Uphill
Hills can pose a challenge to runners new to the trails. Steep and sometimes rocky inclines have a way of disrupting the rhythmic stride found on the roads, often leading to frustration, less efficient running, and the following fatigue. Confronting a climb doesn’t always have to feel like a tremendous obstacle though, and in part seven of our Trail Running 101 series, we cover a few techniques for how to navigate them with ease.
Introducing: CRAFTED
CRAFTED is the newest addition to the Blister Podcast network — subscribe today to make sure you don’t miss out on our first episode, coming this week.
Alex Nichols on Coaching College Cross Country, Pikes Peak Streaking, & Beekeeping (Ep.132)
After being named the head coach of Colorado College’s cross country program last year, trail and ultrarunner, Alex Nichols, has made a habit of inviting some of his athletes out to support his own racing endeavors, including his 8th-place finish at the Western States 100 back in June. So, we talked to Alex about the intersection between coaching full-time at his alma mater and running trails professionally, and a whole lot more.
Introducing: Open Mic
We’re launching a new written series on BLISTER called, Open Mic, where athletes, artists, and others will be tasked with an unusual assignment. Jonathan Ellsworth explains.
2022-2023 Head Kore 87
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pics, and flex pattern numbers for the new Head Kore 87.
Mountain Towns & Local Food Systems, Pt. 1: Setting the Stage (Ep.221)
Jonathan and Kara respond to a listener’s question about what local food is and how you can support it; how to grow food in cold places; chicken tractors and therapy chickens; and how a robust local food system keeps our mountain towns healthier.