BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Eric Pollard on Innovation, Graphics, & Season’s Ski Lineup (Ep.164)
It is difficult to overstate the innovation that Eric Pollard has brought to modern skiing, and in this conversation, you’ll get to hear more about how Eric sees the world and finds himself pursuing new directions. We also talk about graphics; Season’s all-black topsheets; and each of the models in Season’s ski lineup.
USWE Pace 8 Running Vest
Our running editor has been searching for the ideal running vest for 6 years now, and the USWE Pace 8 might just be the best one he’s used. Check out our review to see why.
Alex Desmond on Designing a Better Adaptive MTB (Ep.84)
Alex Desmond is an engineer, and when a friend of his suffered a stroke and was no longer able to ride a bike, Alex decided to do something about it. Six years later, the fruits of that project are here — as the Orange Phase AD3. Not only is the end result remarkable, but the story of how it came to be might be even wilder, so we sat down with Alex to get the rundown on the project including a whole lot of the technical details; getting the likes of Martyn Ashton and Lorraine Truong involved; the limitations of other adaptive mountain bikes; and how Alex ultimately used the project to land a job at Orange.
Dakine Seeker 18L Bike Hydration Backpack
Fanny packs are seemingly taking over the mountain bike world, but larger packs still have their place, and the Dakine Seeker 18 is a good one. Check out our full review.
Anton Krupicka on His Return to Racing; DFW vs. Murakami; & More (Ep.96)
We talk to Anton Krupicka about his recent return to racing; his ongoing exploration of different ways to move through the mountains; we get his unfiltered take on Murakami’s What I Talk about When I Talk about Running; and more.
2022 Transition Scout and Sentinel Alloy
Transition has long offered both aluminum and carbon frame options on most of their bikes, but the aluminum option was missing from both the Scout and Sentinel — until now. The more affordable versions are back, and you can check out all the details in our First Look.
2021 Knolly Tyaughton
We’ve talked a lot about how much fun aggressive hardtails can be, and now Knolly has launched their take on the genre — the Tyaughton — which is available in both titanium and steel. Check out our First Look for all the details.
Season Eqpt Co-Founder, Austin Smith, on Snowboarding, Telemarking, Comfy Boots, & Fire Truck Customization (Ep.182)
Austin Smith is the co-founder of Season Eqpt and the man in charge of the snowboard side of Season, while his co-founder, Eric Pollard, oversees the ski side. Today you’ll get Austin’s perspective on Season and their 21/22 snowboard lineup (plus a whole bunch of other topics), then on our GEAR:30 podcast, you’ll hear Eric offer his perspective on all the latest at Season.
Hoka One One Speedgoat 4
Hoka’s Speedgoat shoe has garnered a very strong following over the years, but how does the latest iteration compare to the previous ones — and other high-cushion trail shoes on the market? Check out our review of the Speedgoat 4.
Blister Q&A: Suspension Setup, Value Parts, & Bike Geometry Trends
In our new recurring Blister Q&A series, we’re tackling your questions on whatever topics you might want to hear about — we’re kicking it off with some Q’s about suspension setup, value MTB parts, and more.
Win Full Tilt Boots
This week the winner will get a pair of boots from Full Tilt’s First Chair collection!
The Pro’s Gear: Bode Miller (Ep.163)
On this episode of GEAR:30, Bode Miller makes clear that his different and creative ways of thinking weren’t just hallmarks of his approach to racing — they define his approach to skis, ski boots, bindings, and eyewear, too.
We Are One Founder, Dustin Adams, on The Arrival (Ep.83)
When we last checked in with We Are One’s Dustin Adams, he broke the news that they’d be making a bike. Now, 18 months later, it’s here. So we figured it was a great time to get Dustin back on Bikes & Big Ideas to talk about The Arrival, including balancing versatility vs. focusing on specific attributes; the modular frame platform and plans for future models; frame repairs, and making things in North America. And if that’s not enough, Dustin also drops several bonus big ideas in this one.
2022 Devinci Spartan HP
What’s that? It’s, it’s … another high-pivot Enduro bike! This one’s the all-new Devinci Spartan — check out our First Look for all the details.
Olympian Natasha Wodak on Mental Preparation; Her Mantras; Running Playlists; & More (Ep.95)
We talk to Tasha Wodak about her performance in last month’s Olympic games; the twists and turns of her running career; mental preparation and the mantras that inspire her; a critical insight to remember during life’s hardest moments; running playlists; and more.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Black Diamond Issues Voluntary Recall of Certain PIEPS & Black Diamond Avalanche Transceivers
Black Diamond has issued a voluntary recall for several Black Diamond and PIEPS avalanche transceivers — learn more here, including what to do if you have one of the affected models.
Flash Review: 22/23 Fischer Ranger 102
Update 7.29.22: We spent more time on the new Ranger 102 this past spring, and have some updates on it, including how it performs at some different mount points.
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 Merino Wool Apparel from Ibex
The TWO lucky winners this week will each get a sweet prize pack from Ibex, including four of their high-end merino wool layers.
Five Ten Trailcross Clip-In
Five Ten’s new Trailcross Clip-In is the first, well, clip model in their Trailcross line, and Five Ten talks as much about its hiking performance as the on-bike portion of the program. So what does that mean for its performance as an actual bike shoe, and who is it going to work best for?
2022-2023 Head Raptor WCR 140S
Here are the specs, images, and our initial impressions and questions about the Head Raptor WCR 140S.
2023 Norco Fluid FS
Norco’s affordable all-rounder Trail bike, the Fluid FS, just got a big update, and while the new bike is marketed to beginner and intermediate riders, it’s got great-looking geometry and a nice build spec that seems like it could attract plenty of price-conscious experts, too.
Crestline Bikes on Adaptability, Collaboration, & Founding a Bike Brand (Ep.128)
We sat down with Troydon and Jimmy from Crestline Bikes to talk about their upcoming high-pivot VPP DH bike & VPP e-bike; getting advice from Greg Minnaar and Neko Mulally; starting a bike company during the pandemic; and a whole lot more.
Stuff We Like: July 2022
In the July edition of our “Stuff We Like” series, we’ve got everything from tents to bike racks, backpacks to sandals, and several summer accessories. Check it out to see the latest gear our reviewers have been digging.
Vorsprung Smashpot Coil Spring Fork Conversion Kit
There aren’t many coil-sprung forks left on the market, but Vorsprung’s Smashpot conversion kit opens up a lot of options for riders who miss that option. And having now spent a lot of time testing the Smashpot, it makes a compelling case for why certain riders might want to ditch their air springs. But who is it going to work best for, and what are the downsides? Check out our full review for the rundown.
Tailwind Nutrition Co-founder Jeff Vierling on Gut Bombs, Kitchen Chemistry, & Creating His Own Endurance Fuel (Ep.130)
Tailwind Nutrion’s products are some of the most popular fueling options for trail runners and mountain bikers alike, so we had their Co-founder, Jeff Vierling, on the show to hear all about how losing his breakfast after a mountain bike race inspired him to design his own endurance drink mix.
2022-2023 Norse Enduro
The Enduro is Norse’s do-everything all-mountain ski, for both resort and backcountry use, and it goes about accomplishing that in a pretty different way than many of its competitors. Check out our Full Review & Deep Dive comparisons for more.
Deep Dive: Norse Enduro
We compare the Norse Enduro to the Atomic Bent 100, Line Sick Day 104, Fischer Ranger 102, WNDR Alpine Vital 100, 4FRNT Raven, J Skis Masterblaster, Line Blade Optic 96, K2 Mindbender 99Ti, Wagner Summit 97, Blizzard Bonafide 97, Liberty Origin 101, DPS Pagoda 100 RP, Salomon Stance 96, Moment Commander 98, Salomon QST 98, Atomic Maverick 100 Ti, Renoun Endurance 98, Faction Dancer 2, Dynastar M-Pro 99, Faction Agent 3, Dynastar M-Free 99, Black Crows Camox, Volkl M6 Mantra, Nordica Unleashed 98, & 4FRNT MSP 99.
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.)