BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Spring Running Apparel Roundup
Spring can be a tricky time when it comes to figuring out what to wear while heading out for a run, so we’ve put together a roundup of pieces that we’ve found to work well for spring’s ever-changing temperatures and weather.
Win a Bike Rack from Rocky Mounts
This week the winner will get one of Rocky Mounts’ hitch-mounted bike racks!
AT Boots, Bindings, & Skis w/ Sebastian Steinbach (Ep.145)
We talk with the owner of Blacksheep Sports Freeride Shop in Munich, Germany, about a bunch of ski touring gear, including the new Tecnica Cochise 130, Lange XT3 Tour Pro, Dalbello Quantum Free 130, Plum Summit 12 binding, Moment Wildcat Tour 108, and more.
2021-2022 Salomon QST 98
The Salomon QST 99 was one of the most versatile skis we’ve reviewed in the past few years, and for 21/22, Salomon is replacing it with the new QST 98. While they’re pretty different, we think Salomon has once again made a ski that could work for a lot of people, but you should check out our full review & Deep Dive comparisons to see if the new QST 98 is the ski for you.
Deep Dive: Salomon QST 98
We compare the QST 98 to the Salomon QST 99, Salomon Stance 96, Salomon QST 106, 4FRNT MSP 99, Volkl M6 Mantra, Blizzard Bonafide 97, Nordica Enforcer 100, Moment Commander 98, Fischer Ranger 102 FR, Dynastar M-Pro 99, K2 Mindbender 99Ti, Black Crows Camox, Black Crows Justis, Liberty Origin 96, Blizzard Rustler 10, Nordica Soul Rider 97, Dynastar Menace 98, & J Skis Masterblaster.
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Catching Up with Carson Storch (Ep.63)
Carson Storch is one of the most talented freeriders in the world, but his intense passion for mountain biking might actually be the most notable thing about him. We caught up with Carson about how his recovery is going from a recent injury — and how he approaches rehab in general; his background and ascendance in slopestyle and freeride mountain biking; his plans for 2021; and more.
Ride Concepts Transition Clipless Shoe
The Ride Concepts Transition is a gravity-oriented clipless shoe with a bunch of compelling features, and two of our reviewers have been spending time in it. Check out their thoughts in our full review.
Flash Review: 21/22 Shaggy’s Ahmeek 95
We recently spent time on two different versions of one of Shaggy’s playful all-mountain skis: the standard Ahmeek 95, and then an extra-heavy version that features sheets of … magnesium. 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 Pivot Switchblade
Over the past several months, three of our reviewers spent time on Pivot’s do-it-all Trail bike, the Switchblade, and they think it does an impressive job of standing out in a very crowded category. Check out our full review to see why.
Neli Vazquez Rowland on the Run to End Homelessness & A Safe Haven (Ep.84)
Neli Vasquez Rowland is the co-founder and president of A Safe Haven, which is a Chicago-based nonprofit whose goal is to end homelessness. So we talk to Neli about A Safe Haven’s comprehensive approach; how and why their model could be adopted by other cities around the world; their Run to End Homelessness; and more.
Blister Summit Brand Lineups: Wagner Custom Skis
At the Blister Summit, we talked to Wagner Custom Skis founder, Pete Wagner, about why Wagner had never done a ski demo before the Blister Summit; how & why they created skis specifically for the Summit (which are now a part of their offerings); and how their custom design process works.
2021-2022 WNDR Alpine Vital 100
From steep, techy lines in the backcountry, to fast laps at Mt. Crested Butte, we’ve now used the WNDR Alpine Vital 100 for a bit of everything. Check out our full review and Deep Dive comparisons for more on this ski and its algae-derived construction.
Deep Dive: WNDR Alpine Vital 100
We compare the Vital 100 to the WNDR Alpine Intention 110, 4FRNT Raven, Atomic Bent Chetler 100, Salomon MTN Explore 95, Line Sick Day 104, Armada Tracer 98, K2 Wayback 96, Line Vision 98, G3 FINDr 102, Fauna Pioneer, Blizzard Zero G 105, Volkl Blaze 106, Black Crows Camox, Liberty Origin 96, & Liberty Origin 101.
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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Report: The 20/21 Ski Season in Europe (Ep.166)
We talk to Sebastian Steinbach of Blacksheep Sports in Munich, Germany, about this past season; we revisit some of Sebastian’s predictions prior to the ski season; and we get his early predictions for what he thinks this next ski season will look like in Europe.
Banshee Titan V3
We recently reviewed Banshee’s short-travel Phantom, and we’ve also spent the past year+ on its longer-travel sibling, the Titan. It’s an impressive (and incredibly good looking) 29er, but who is it best suited for, and where does it most notably excel? Check out our full review to find out.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Dynafit Alpine
The Dynafit Alpine is designed to be a do-everything shoe that fits well, provides enough cushioning for long days out on the trails, and holds up regardless of where you take it. After testing, this statement checks out, and then some. The Dynafit Alpine is not only a great mountain running shoe, but one of the best all-around trail running models we’ve tested this year.
Stuff We Like: May 2022
In the May edition of our “Stuff We Like” series, we’ve got some puffy layers ideal for camping, bike accessories, casual apparel, and more. Check it out to see the latest gear our reviewers have been digging.
2022-2023 Wagner Summit 109
The Summit 109 is the newest addition to Wagner’s “Factory Series” of skis, and it’s a very well-rounded all-mountain ski that two of our reviewers — with quite different skiing styles — both really enjoyed. Check out our Full Review & Deep Dive comparisons for more.
Deep Dive: Wagner Summit 109
We compare the Summit 109 to the Wagner Summit 106, Wagner Summit 107, K2 Mindbender 108Ti, Line Blade Optic 104, Nordica Enforcer 110, J Skis Hotshot, RMU YLE 110, WNDR Alpine Intention 110, Head Kore 111, Atomic Bent 110, Moment Commander 108, Salomon QST Blank, 4FRNT Hoji, Icelantic Nomad 105, Volkl Katana 108, Blizzard Cochise 106, Sego Comp 110, Dynastar M-Free 108, Black Crows Corvus, Prior Husume, 4FRNT MSP 107, Moment Wildcat 108, Fischer Ranger 108, Moment Deathwish, & Rossignol Sender Ti.
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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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.