BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Video: Blister Summit Panel on Ski Boot Design
In the Blister Summit panel on Ski Boot Design, we talk to three key people in the world of ski boots: Thor Verdonk, global brand director of Lange ski boots; Matt Manser, product manager of Atomic ski boots; and Stefano Mantegazza, product manager of the Tecnica Group. We discuss their design philosophies; whether we should get rid of flex ratings; whether a precise-fitting boot can be a warm boot; the most frustrating trend in ski design today; where the biggest innovations are currently taking place; and more.
MADE: Custom Technical Apparel (Ep.139)
MADE is a new company that’s setting out to make custom technical apparel. Their 3 co-founders are all veterans of the technical apparel and outdoor industries, and Luke Koppa and I talked to Cheryl LeBarr, Capri Philip, and Dustin Butcher about why they started MADE and how they are making this happen.
2021-2022 Volkl Katana 108
The Volkl Katana was an absolute classic of a ski that was beloved by many. Volkl brought back the Katana name this season, and you can now check out our Full Review & Deep Dive comparisons of the new Katana 108.
Deep Dive: Volkl Katana 108
We compare the Katana 108 to the old Katana, Volkl Mantra 102, Head Monster 108, Blizzard Cochise 106, Dynastar M-Pro 105 / Pro Rider, Folsom Blister Pro 104, Rossignol Blackops Sender Ti, Black Crows Corvus, Fischer Ranger 107 Ti, Prior Husume, Nordica Enforcer 100, Nordica Enforcer 104 Free, K2 Mindbender 108Ti, 4FRNT MSP 107, Fischer Ranger 102 FR, J Skis Hotshot, Salomon QST 106, Dynastar M-Free 108, & ON3P Woodsman 108.
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Win Men’s & Women’s Baselayers from ODLO
The TWO winners this week will each get ODLO’s merino baselayers!
Flash Review: 21/22 Atomic Maven 93 C
We’ve been spending time on the widest women’s ski in Atomic’s new Maven series — check out our thoughts on it so far.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Cassie Abel on Wild Rye, Women-Led Wednesday (Ep.57)
Cassie Abel is the co-founder and CEO of Wild Rye, which is a company that creates apparel for women-identifying outdoor-lovers, regardless of age, background, size, or skill level. But Cassie is not only running a women’s apparel company, she is working to change the entire business landscape for women.
Flash Review: 21/22 Volkl M6 Mantra
We now have a day on both the 177 cm & 184 cm M6 Mantra. Check out what we think so far.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Sun Ringlé Duroc SD37 Pro Wheels
Sun Ringlé has been making mountain bike wheels for about as long as there have been mountain bikes, and we’ve spent the past 6 months on their latest heavy-duty alloy wheelset, the Duroc SD37 Pro. Check out our full review to see how they compare to the competition.
Flash Review: 21/22 Salomon Shift Pro 130
Eric Freson has been spending time (in the backcountry & resort) in Salomon’s newest offering in the “50/50” category of AT boots. Here are some of his thoughts.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Season Forma Ski
While it sounds cliche, the Season Forma is a ski that legitimately makes you look at the mountain in a different way. Check out our Full Review & Deep Dive comparisons to see why it has become one of the standout skis this year for our managing editor.
Deep Dive: Season Forma Ski
We compare the Forma to the Line Pescado, Dynastar M-Free 118, Line Vision 118, Volkl Revolt 121, Line Outline, 4FRNT Renegade, DPS Koala 118, Blizzard Rustler 11, K2 Reckoner 122, Black Crows Anima, Volkl Revolt 121, J Skis Friend, Moment Wildcat, Salomon QST Blank, Icelantic Nomad 115, & K2 Mindbender 116C.
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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Blister Brand Guide: Rocky Mountain’s Mountain Bike Lineup, 2021
For model-year 2021, Rocky Mountain’s lineup saw some significant changes, including the all-new Instinct and Altitude. Check out our Brand Guide to learn more about the current line and which bike might work best for you.
Flash Review: 21/22 Salomon QST 98
We just got a day on the new QST 98 — 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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2021-2022 Line Vision 118
Lightweight and playful, the Line Vision 118 should be on your list if you’re looking for a pow ski that you’ll use in the backcountry, the resort, or a mix of both.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Sander Hadley on Expectations, Evolving, & Longevity (Ep.207)
We sat down with Sander Hadley to talk about his entrance into the world of professional skiing; shifting expectations; his gear setup; and more.
2022 Sea Otter Classic Recap, Part 2
We’ve got a lot more coverage from Sea Otter 2022, including a bunch of new bikes, some sweet retro paint jobs, and a whole bunch more.
2022 Sea Otter Classic Recap, Part 1
Our Bike Editor just wrapped up his first day at the 2022 Sea Otter Classic and there’s a ton of cool stuff to show off — check out Part 1 of our coverage.
Bode Miller on his new ski company, Peak Skis; the Winter Olympics; & More (Ep.191)
We talk with Bode Miller about his new company, Peak Skis and their new “Keyhole Technology”; revolutionizing ski manufacturing; his vision for Scarpa ski boots; his take on the Winter Olympics; and a whole lot more.
Ski Design in 2022 | BLISTER Summit ’22 Panel Discussion
We talk with Jed Yeiser (K2), Mike McCabe (Folsom), Jake Stevens (Rossignol), and Cyrus Schenck (Renoun) about the current state of ski design; current trends; future trends and potential advancements in ski design; and more.
Flash Review: 22/23 Renoun Earhart 88
Here are some of our thoughts so far on Renoun’s women-specific all-mountain ski, the Earhart 88.
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 Light & Motion Lights
This week THREE lucky winners will each get one of Light & Motion’s high-powered, waterproof, rechargeable bike lights!
2022-2023 Fischer Transalp Pro
Here are our thoughts on Fischer’s latest touring boot, which blurs the lines between existing categories, but could consequently be the “Goldilocks” boot for certain people.
Lazer KinetiCore (Ep.112)
Lazer’s new KinetiCore technology is meant to protect against rotational impacts while being lighter, cooler, more comfortable, and using less plastic than other systems, including MIPS — and its design is very clever in its simplicity. So we sat down with Lazer’s Chris Smith to get the rundown on what KinetiCore is, why Lazer developed it, and a whole lot more.
Athletes & Entrepreneurship | BLISTER Summit ’22 Panel Discussion
We talk with pro skiers & entrepreneurs, Chris Davenport, McKenna Peterson, and Julian Carr about how being a professional athlete has evolved; how they balance their skiing careers with starting and managing other businesses; and more.
Bode Miller Launches New Ski Brand, Peak Ski Company
Bode Miller has launched a new direct-to-consumer ski brand, Peak Ski Company. Check out our writeup for all the details on the brand and its first six ski models.
Aenomaly Switchgrade Seat Angle Adjuster
Most mountain bikers just set their seat angle to a comfortable position to pedal on flat ground and forget about it. But Aenomaly thinks there’s a better way, so they made the Switchgrade to let you change your seat angle on the fly. And having spent a few months on one, they’re definitely on to something. Check out our full review for more.