BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
2021 Marin Alpine Trail
The Marin Alpine Trail is one of the most playful Enduro bikes we’ve been on recently, but also manages to keep a great deal of capability in technical terrain — and is an impressive bang-for-buck to boot. We think it’s a really compelling option for the right sort of rider, and you can check out our full review to find out who we think will get on best with this unique offering from Marin.
Unlikely Hikers & the Evolution of the Outdoor Industry (Ep.86)
If you want to understand one of the most important developments currently taking place in the outdoor industry, then listen up. Jenny Bruso is the founder of Unlikely Hikers, and what she has started is a movement that is growing fast, and for good reason. See why.
Flash Review: 21/22 Atomic Maverick 88 Ti
This season we spent time on all the new Maverick “Ti” skis, and here we discuss our initial thoughts on the narrowest option in the group.
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Blister Brand Guide: Santa Cruz / Juliana Mountain Bike Lineup, 2021
Santa Cruz and its sister brand, Juliana, have been steadily updating several of their long-standing bikes over the past year. Check out our Brand Guide for more info on their whole 2021 lineup, and which of their bikes might make sense for you.
Ride Concepts Hellion Elite Shoe
Ride Concepts recently added a new flat-pedal shoe to their lineup, the Hellion Elite, which is a relatively low-profile option with the brand’s stickiest rubber. But how does it compare to popular options like the Five Ten Freerider Pro, and which riders are going to like this new shoe the most? Check out our full review to find out.
Old Principles & New Challenges of Apparel Design (Ep.147)
We talk with Carl Moriarty (previously the Design Director at Arc’teryx, currently the Design Director at Rapha) about his career path in the outdoor industry; several principles of technical apparel design; the challenge of balancing high performance with sustainability; and how being clear on these things can help us evaluate advertising claims about new pieces.
Win a Women’s or Men’s MTB Kit from 7mesh
This week the winner will get kitted out head-to-toe with high-end Mtb apparel from 7mesh!
Flash Review: 21/22 Romp Zorro 89
Romp is adding a few new designs to their lineup for next year, and we’ve so far been impressed by the versatility of their new narrow all-mountain ski.
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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Hoka One One Evo Mafate 2
The Evo Mafate 2 is designed to cover a lot of distance while still being light, efficient, and reliable on a wide range of trail surfaces. And so far, we’d say it pretty much lives up to the hype. Check out our review for more.
Öhlins TTX22 Shock
The world of high-end shocks is one filled with lots of dials and adjustments, but that can also make it a bit tricky to arrive at your ideal settings. The Öhlins TTX22, however, has proven to offer the reliable, high-end performance you’d expect of a top-tier product, but is also very simple and easy to get running really well. Check out our full review for the whole story.
Vero Sandler on REAL MTB, Digging, Dance Moves, & Getting Slidey (Ep.65)
Vero Sandler just competed in the first ever REAL MTB event, so we caught up with this Kiwi with the French name (Veronique) who lives in Wales to talk about the experience and get her thoughts on being the first (and only) female in the comp; the importance of checking your junk (???); the art of “getting slidey”; her current big idea; and more.
Jean-Luc Diard on the Deckers X Lab Design Philosophy & Products (Ep.85)
We’re talking again with one of the most influential product designers in the outdoor industry, Jean-Luc Diard, about the design philosophy of Deckers X Lab, a number of the models in the Deckers Lab lineup, and why they are trying to rethink everything from the standard flip flop to the casual sneaker to the suspension systems of high-end, performance shoes.
Blister Summit Panel on Ski Design
We talk to ski designers from Blizzard, Folsom, Rossignol, Dynastar, & Wagner Skis about their respective design philosophies; current trends in ski design; whether skis are being dumbed down today; whether stated sidecut radius numbers are fake; current consumer interests; and more.
Flash Review: 21/22 Atomic Hawx Ultra 130
Dylan Wood spent some time in the revised version of Atomic’s lightweight alpine boot, and here he shares his initial thoughts on its overall performance and how it differs from the previous version.
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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2021 Rocky Mountain Altitude
The Altitude has been in the Rocky Mountain lineup for more than a decade now, but what, exactly, the Altitude is has changed a lot over the years, and the bike got a dramatic overhaul for 2021. We’ve been riding the latest iteration, and have found it to be surprisingly versatile for a 160 / 170 mm travel Enduro bike.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Win Ride Concepts MTB Shoes
This week two winners will each get a pair of Ride Concepts’ flat-pedal or clipless Hellion Shoes!
Reviewer Reports: Touring Setups, Resort Skis, & Jelly Bean Bribery (Ep.197)
Kristin Sinnott, Dylan Wood, Kara Williard, Drew Kelly, and Luke Koppa cover everything from the setups Drew used while touring for several weeks in Alaska this spring, to a whole bunch of skis, boots, and bindings from Faction, Blizzard, K2, Nordica, Salomon, and more. We also touch on some new Strafe outerwear, get an update from Kara on some heated socks, and discuss some unique gear and tricks that Kristin’s been using to ski with her son.
Flash Review — 2022 Orbea Rallon
We’ve started spending time on the new Orbea Rallon Enduro bike, and our early impressions are quite positive. Check out our Flash Review for our initial thoughts.
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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2022-2023 DPS Pagoda Tour 106 C2
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pics, and flex pattern numbers for the DPS Pagoda Tour 106 C2.
Contra Bikes on Building a Bike From Scratch (Ep.118)
Designing a bike frame is hard enough. Taking it to production is an even bigger challenge, but that hasn’t stopped Evan Turpen, and his Contra Bikes high-pivot prototype is extremely impressive. So this week on Bikes & Big Ideas, we sat down with Evan to chat about why he decided to start a bike company, and what he hopes to achieve with the bike; learn all about designing and fabricating frames from scratch (and how he learned to do it), and a whole lot more.
Hoka Tecton X
Hoka has a reputation for taking risks, and their first carbon-plated trail shoe, the Tecton X, benefits from the brand’s willingness to experiment with design and forgo the conventional. While the shoe has some drawbacks that limit its versatility, it’s nonetheless a worthy entrant into the hyper-performance trail shoe category and a model we expect to see on plenty of start lines this summer. Check out our full review for more.
Trail Running 101: What Do I Need to Trail Run?
Trail runners often like to say that simplicity is one of their favorite aspects of the sport. All you need is a pair of running shoes and you’re ready to go, right? Well, sort of. A pair of trail running shoes alone can get you started, but when you start logging longer miles, you’ll probably find yourself shopping for a few other helpful items. Here’s where to start.
Elan Lieber on the Miwok 100k, Coffee, and Running Fearlessly (Ep.120)
Elan Lieber called his recent performance at the 2022 Miwok 100K, “the run of his life,” but not for reasons you might expect. Shortly before his 2nd place finish, Elan said goodbye to his grandfather for the final time. So we talked to Elan about the role running plays in overcoming loss, how to learn to let go of fear, and much more.
2022-2023 Tecnica Zero G Tour Scout W
The Zero G Tour Scout W is the stiffest women-specific model in Tecnica’s Zero G line — here are our thoughts on it, and how it compares to the Tecnica Cochise Pro W.
2022-2023 Blizzard Hustle 10
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pics, and flex pattern numbers for the new Blizzard Hustle 10.
The Guide Life, with Ian Havlick (Ep.211)
Jonathan is in Iceland this week, skiing at Deplar Farm and being guided by AMGA-certified guide, Ian Havlick. They sat down to talk about Ian’s path to becoming a professional guide; the misperceptions about the profession; recommendations for how to get into guiding; the confusion around tipping; and more.
Antidote Carbonjack
Antidote calls their Carbonjack an Enduro bike, but that sells its versatility short — it’s a really good all-rounder that we think will be an especially good fit for certain riders. Check out our full review to find out who.