BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Flash Review: Salsa Blackthorn 145 C
Update 7.2.25: We have another reviewer spending time on the new Salsa Blackthorn 145 C, so check out our updated Flash Review for some more early impressions.
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‘Ski Party’ w/ Amie Engerbretson & Jonathan Ellsworth (Ep.43)
Today we are talking about a film that just celebrated its 60th anniversary: ’Ski Party’ came out on June 30, 1965; it stars a couple major actors and singers; and when we recently learned of its existence, we immediately knew who we needed to recruit to discuss: Amie Engerbretson.
Training for Outdoor Sports & the Current State of PT w/ Dr. Stephen Burkert (Ep.363)
Today, we are talking about training and outdoor-sports performance with Dr. Steve Burkert of Snow Beast Performance. We discuss best practices for training, the most common summer injuries, and some alarming trends in the physical therapy world that we all need to understand.
Outlier Void and Pendulum Pedals
Outlier’s Void and Pendulum pedals don’t look like anything else out there, so is their performance similarly quirky, just plain good, or somewhere in between? We’ve had multiple reviewers spend a lot of time on both versions and are ready to weigh in.
Stuff We Like: June 2025
In this edition of ‘Stuff We Like,’ our reviewers discuss a bunch of products that have stood out recently — from MTB tires that are dang near perfect for current conditions to a paper-airplane kit loved by kids and adults alike, classic summer apparel, and more.
Our Thoughts on Peak Skis & What Needs to Happen Next (Ep.353)
Jonathan lays out his thoughts about the Peak Skis debacle, Luke Koppa offers his perspective too, and we discuss what we think needs to happen going forward.
Win Apparel From Fjällräven
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get the men’s or women’s Hoja Wool Tee, Hoja Hybrid Shorts, and Rider’s Wind Jacket from Fjällräven!
Flash Review: EXT Vecta
EXT has historically made very high-end suspension, and while their new Vecta coil shock isn’t cheap, it’s a lot more affordable than EXT’s other offerings. But how does it perform? We’ve got some 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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Update: Revised Public Land Sale Still a Terrible Idea
The Senate is still trying to sell more than a million acres of our public lands, and their revised proposal is still insultingly disingenuous — both to those who enjoy the outdoors and those seeking affordable housing. Here’s the latest, and why voicing your opinion is so urgent and important.
Portland Design Works’ Erik Olson on Making Products for the Everyday Cyclist (Ep.280)
In today’s conversation, Simon talks with Erik Olson, founder of Portland Design Works, about designing simple, elegant products for everyday riding; bike commuting with his dog; sustainability; speaking Chinese, and more.
Mondraker Level
The new Mondraker Level is still a burly electrified aluminum eMTB, but it gets the Bosch Gen 5 motor treatment, a big 800 Wh battery, mixed wheels, and new geometry. Let’s check it out.
2026 RockShox SID SL & Reba
RockShox’s XC forks are getting an overhaul, and while the standard SID carries on unchanged, both the ultralight SID SL and budget-oriented Reba get new chassis and some other updates. Check out what’s new.
Craft N/A Cocktails & Why They Matter More Than You Think (Ep.75)
Craft N/A Cocktails are on the rise, but there is still much that needs to evolve in this space. Jonathan Ellsworth and our CRAFTED co-host (and professional mixologist) Eli Brown discuss, and you’ll learn why fast-growing whiskey company, Uncle Nearest, is so interested in the N/A space.
Hope EVO Brakes
Hope is giving their brake lineup an overhaul, and while the EVO name implies refinement rather than wholesale change, there’s a lot new here — including an updated lever, two new calipers, and more.
‘Unbreakable: The Western States 100’ w/ Cody Townsend & Jonathan Ellsworth (Ep.42)
Cody and Jonathan discuss what many regard as the greatest ultra film of all time, ‘Unbreakable.’ It documents the 2010 running of Western States, and the 2025 race happens this Saturday, June 28.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Deep Dive: Yeti MTe
We compare the Yeti MTe to the Yeti SB140, Propain Sresh SL, Pivot Shuttle SL/AM, Pivot Shuttle AM, Pivot Shuttle SL, Norco Fluid VLT 130, Santa Cruz Heckler SL, Trek Fuel EXe Aluminum, Mondraker Dune XR, Cannondale Moterra SL, and Rocky Mountain Instinct Powerplay.
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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1UP Super Duty Rack & RakAttach
We’ve been hauling lots of bikes on the 1UP Super Duty rack anchored to their RakAttach swing-out hitch mount, including some light off-roading with heavy eMTBs, and of course, some camping to help put the practicality of the RakAttach swing-out to the test.
Brandon Semenuk’s ‘Foreverish’ Series w/ Dylan Wood & Simon Stewart (Ep. 48)
Brandon’s new series has raised the bar yet again for cinematography and riding level. So Dylan and Simon discuss why Semenuk’s films set the standard; why he’s the GOAT; their favorite segments; and the impact high-budget short films may have on bike media.
Reviewing the News w/ Dr. Len Necefer, July 2025 (Ep.368)
Dr. Len Necefer is back to talk about thumb scrolling(??); energy & water issues; Trek’s sustainability report & initiatives; rate your takes; and share what he’s been reading & watching.
Specialized’s Updated Butcher and Eliminator Tires
Specialized has continued to invest heavily in its tire program, and the refreshed Butcher and Eliminator bring big changes to two of their most popular tires. We’ve been riding both tires for several months, and they’re some of the Big S’s most impressive work yet.
Win Sunglasses From Ombraz
The winner of our Giveaway will get any pair of Ombraz Armless Sunglasses!
Our New Mountain Bike Buyer’s Guide (Ep.285)
We just published the first chapter of our new Mountain Bike Buyer’s Guide, so we sat down to talk about what’s in it; how it’s structured & why; what makes it different — and better — than other buyer’s guides; and wrap with a guessing game about each other’s bike preferences.
Flash Review: Propain Hugene 3 CF
The variety of ride traits across mid-travel Trail bikes is wider than ever, so where does the new Propain Hugene slot in? We’ve got some thoughts after about a month on board the updated Hugene 3.
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.)
OUR GUY WON! Celebrating CRAFTED co-host, Eli Brown, on His Grant Award + What’s Next for His Project (Ep.79)
On CRAFTED ep. 75, we told you about the proposal Eli submitted re: N/A cocktails. Well, Eli won the very competitive ‘Raise the Bar’ grant, so Jonathan talks with him about why this is a big deal, and Eli shares more details about his project. Congrats, Eli!
RockShox Vivid Coil
The coil shock market is loaded with great options, but the RockShox Vivid Coil stands out for merging easy setup with ample adjustability — and distinct on-trail performance. Our Full Review unpacks our thoughts after six months with RockShox’s flagship coil shock.
Stuff We Like: July 2025
In this edition of ‘Stuff We Like,’ our reviewers discuss some new hiking / trekking boots, ultralight sleeping pads, impressive everyday apparel, portable bike ramps, and more. Check it out to see which products have been standing out this month.
‘Quicksilver’ w/ Steve Smith & Simon Stewart (Ep.47)
Former San Francisco bike messenger Steve Smith joins Blister senior editor, Simon Stewart, to talk about this film starring a young Kevin Bacon. The lads dive right into why the film had a memorable bike influence on them, how realistic it is, and what the hell Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon is all about.