BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Reviewer Reports: Privateer 161; Suspension Roundup; Aggressive Hardtails; & Wheel Size (Ep.53)
We’re discussing the Privateer 161; offering more fork and shock comparisons; wrapping our heads around Marin’s aggressive hardtail; and our bike editor makes the case for why you might want to reconsider swearing allegiance to one particular wheel size.
Flash Review: 20/21 Moment Chipotle Banana
Check out Paul Forward’s initial take on Moment’s 122mm-wide Chipotle Banana, both as a pure pow ski and as a resort chop ski.
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2021-2022 4FRNT Devastator
From the steep and deep to the firm and fast, we’ve been spending a lot of time on the overhauled 4FRNT Devastator. Check out our Full Review & Deep Dive comparisons to see how the new ski compares to its predecessor and the rest of the playful all-mountain market.
Deep Dive: 4FRNT Devastator
We compare the new Devastator to the previous Devastator, Moment Meridian, Sego Big Horn 106, Whitedot Altum 104, Moment Wildcat 108, J Skis Hotshot, Dynastar M-Free 108, K2 Reckoner 112, Black Crows Atris, Line Sir Francis Bacon, ON3P Woodsman 108, Volkl Revolt 104, Season Nexus, Fischer Ranger 102 FR, Nordica Enforcer 104 Free, Shaggy’s Ahmeek 105, Icelantic Nomad 105, 4FRNT MSP 107, Blizzard Rustler 10, & Liberty Origin 106.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Flash Review: 20/21 Faction La Machine
Reviewer Paul Forward has been skiing a lot of pow on a lot of fat skis. One of those has been Faction’s 126mm-wide La Machine — check out his initial impressions.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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La Sportiva Jackal GTX
The Jackal GTX takes the more accommodating fit and long-distance-oriented design of the standard Jackal and makes it better for cold, wet trails thanks to a Gore-Tex laminate. Check out our review to see how it’s been performing this winter.
Reviewing the Reviewer: Dylan Wood (Ep.135)
In the hot seat: Blister mountain bike and ski reviewer, Dylan Wood.
2021-2022 Blizzard Cochise 106
Blizzard updated their all-mountain charger this season, and it’s now time for us to weigh in on the updated Cochise 106. Check out our full review & Deep Dive comparisons.
Deep Dive: Blizzard Cochise 106
We compare the Cochise 106 to the previous Cochise, the Volkl Katana 108, Prior Husume, Black Crows Corvus, Rossignol Blackops Sender Ti, Folsom Blister Pro 104, Fischer Ranger 107 Ti, Dynastar M-Pro 105, 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.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Win Majesty Skis & Rocky Mounts Ski Rack
This week this winner will get a pair of Majesty’s freeride skis + Rocky Mount’s LiftOp ski rack!
Flash Review: 20/21 Norse Enduro
We just spent a day on a new ski from a new ski company — the Norse Enduro. 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 Canyon Stoic
Sub-$2K price tag, huge size range, modern geometry — the new Canyon Stoic hardtail checks a lot of boxes on paper. And after spending a couple months riding it, we think it checks a lot of boxes on the trail, too. Check out our full review of this versatile hardtail.
Brooklyn Bell on Biking, Art, Skiing, & More (Ep.52)
Brooklyn Bell is a mountain biker and a skier and an artist and a former figure skater and a future frog scientist (maybe). So we talk about all of that and a whole lot more, including Brooklyn’s current big idea.
Women’s Insulated Parka & Jacket Roundup
Looking for a big, warm, comfortable coat for chilly days around town? Check out several of the insulated parkas & jackets that our reviewers have been testing out this season.
Gordon Gianniny
Vitals: 6’1”, 145 lbs For more on my background, listen to the below podcast, starting around 6:40 Running Background, Style, and General Preferences I grew up in Durango, CO and started running in middle school after discovering that I wasn’t very good at the foot-eye
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
McKenna Peterson & Jed Yeiser on Developing Skis; the Blister Alpine Binding Test; & More (Ep.189)
Jonathan was in the Cascade mountains of Washington this week with K2 skier, McKenna Peterson, and K2 ski designer, Jed Yeiser, and after a great day of skiing, we sat down to talk about ski developing and prototyping; ski testing; our ski-binding shootout; biathlons; flip flips; & books.
Win Zag Skis
This week the winner of our Gear Giveaway will get Zag’s playful freeride ski, the Slap 104!
2022-2023 Head Kore 111
The newest member of Head’s Kore line, the Kore 111 is a ski that’s both very agile and very supportive, making it a very appealing soft-snow option for aggressive, dynamic skiers. Check out our Full Review & Deep Dive comparisons for more.
Deep Dive: Head Kore 111
We compare the Kore 111 to the Head Kore 105, Head Kore 117, Atomic Bent 110, 4FRNT Hoji, Salomon QST Blank, Line Vision 118, Black Crows Anima, J Skis Friend, RMU North Shore YLE 110, K2 Reckoner 112, Moment Deathwish, Blizzard Rustler 11, Sego Comp 110, Dynastar M-Free 108, Icelantic Nomad 105, Nordica Enforcer 110, J Skis Slacker, and WNDR Alpine Intention 110.
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 Elan Ripstick Tour 104
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pics, and flex pattern numbers for the new Elan Ripstick Tour 104.
EXT Founder Franco Fratton on a Lifetime in Suspension (Ep.110)
EXT founder Franco Fratton might be the most interesting man in the suspension world, and we sat down to talk about his career, working in Formula One, entering the bike market, suspension design philosophy, and a whole lot more.
Flash Review: 22/23 K2 Mindbender 99Ti W
Here are our initial impressions of the revised version of K2’s metal-laminate women’s all-mountain ski, the 22/23 Mindbender 99Ti W.
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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Stuff We Like: March 2022
Our latest Stuff We Like roundup features everything from boots to baselayers, jackets, mittens, bike shoes, and much more. Check it out here.
Flash Review: 22/23 Head Kore 105
Head is making some tweaks to their freeride skis for 22/23, and we’ve been A/B testing the current and new Kore 105. Check out our 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 Cannondale Jekyll
Cannondale calls their new high-pivot Jekyll a game-on Enduro race bike, and it is a good one. But it’s also a bit more versatile than that label might suggest. Check out our full review for our take.
Running Through the News (Mar 2022) (Ep.112)
Blister running editor, Matt Mitchell, is joined by Blister reviewer, Gordon Gianniny, to discuss current events in the running world. The two dish on race results from the month of March, including the Way Too Cool 50k, Chuckanut 50k, and the Barkley Marathons; talk through the significance of Broken Arrow Skyrace’s prize purse announcement; look forward to the North American Golden Trail Series; and speculate about what Kilian Jornet is up to after leaving his longtime sponsor.
2022-2023 Black Crows Anima
After two seasons on it, the latest version of the Black Crows Anima has proven to be a pretty versatile, wider ski for a broad range of skiers. Check out our Full Review & Deep Dive comparisons for more info.