BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Blister Summit Brand Lineups: ROSSIGNOL 21/22
At the Blister Summit, we dove deep into Rossignol’s 21/22 ski lineup, with Rossi’s alpine category manager, Jake Stevens. We discussed the decision to kill the “7 Series” and the Soul 7; what they are going for with their Black Ops series that replaces it; why “-ish” is a very important suffix for Rossignol; and more.
Cam Smith on Setting The Grand Traverse Record & Training for Skiing, Running, & Mtn Biking (Ep.163)
Last Sunday, Cam Smith and Tom Goth set a new record at the Grand Traverse, which is a point-to-point ski race from Crested Butte to Aspen. Starting at midnight, racers travel 40 miles across the Elk Mountain range, climbing over 6,800 vertical feet. Cam is also a repeat winner of the Triple Crown of The Grand Traverse, so we talked to Cam about his record-setting night; skiing vs. skimo; his World Cup ski goals; and how he specifically trains for skiing and mountain running and mountain biking.
Flash Review: 20/21 Folsom Custom Rapture
Last year reviewer and heli-guide, Paul Forward, worked with Folsom to create an ideal pow ski for a season of heli skiing. Check out his initial thoughts on the resulting ski.
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Flash Review: 21/22 Tecnica Cochise Pro W
Kara Williard has been spending time in the new 120-flex women’s Cochise boot. Check out her 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 Wagner Summit 106
Wagner made a few skis for testing at the Blister Summit, and we’ve continued to spend time on their “50/50” 106mm-wide ski. The results have been quite impressive — check out our Full Review & Deep Dive comparisons.
Deep Dive: Wagner Summit 106
We compare the Wagner Summit 106 to the Line Sick Day 104, Elan Ripstick 106, Liberty Origin 106, Black Crows Atris, Blizzard Rustler 10, Volkl Blaze 106, Armada Tracer 108, Sego Condor 108, J Skis Slacker, 4FRNT MSP 107, Whitedot Altum 104, 4FRNT Devastator, Moment Wildcat 108, & Fischer Ranger 102 FR.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Flash Review: 21/22 Liberty Origin 101
Liberty is updating their Origin & Genesis skis for 21/22, and launching two new models. Check out our initial thoughts on the new Origin 101.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Blister Brand Guide: Specialized Mountain Bike Lineup, 2021
The 2021 model year brought with it a bunch of new and revised bikes from one of the biggest brands in the world. Check out our Brand Guide for Specialized’s 2021 lineup for more info on the bikes, how they compare, and which ones you might want to consider.
Ski Boot Liners: Zipfit & Atomic Mimic Professional (Ep.140)
Sascha Anastas and Jonathan Ellsworth discuss a couple of new liners they’re reviewing: the Zipfit World Cup liner and the Atomic Mimic Professional liner.
Flash Review: 21/22 DPS Pagoda 100 RP
DPS is launching a whole new collection of skis for 21/22. Check out our initial thoughts on the 100mm-wide option in the new Pagoda series.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Win Women’s & Men’s Fjallraven Jackets & Packs
The TWO winners this week will each get a rain jacket + totepack from Fjallraven!
Kera Linn is Coming Up Fast (Ep.58)
We talk to Kera Linn about her rather meteoric rise in the mountain biking world — from her first time on a mountain bike, to her recent signing with Cannondale. We also talk about her equally interesting backstory (which includes playing all of the sports and going to all of the colleges) in this really fun conversation.
Blister Summit Athlete Panel: Elyse Saugstad, Sage Cattabriga-Alosa, & Pep Fujas
At our Blister Summit, we talked to Elyse Saugstad, Sage Cattabriga-Alosa, and Pep Fujas about this unusual ski season; the evolution of the ski industry; their best advice to aspiring pros; thoughts on ski gear; and more.
Strafe Castle Jacket
With a sleek look that’s paired with high-end materials and insulation, the Strafe Castle Jacket warrants strong consideration if you’re in the market for an insulated ski / snowboard jacket that doesn’t look out of place away from the slopes.
Flash Review: 21/22 Elan Ripstick 116
Check out some of our initial answers to the questions we posed when we first got our hands on Elan’s widest ski.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
2022 Orbea Occam & Occam LT
“Longer” and “slacker” might be the go-to buzzwords for modern Trail bikes, but the Orbea Occam LT makes a very compelling case for why a lot of riders might want to pick something a little more moderate. It’s an outstanding take on a quicker-handling long-travel Trail bike that feels thoroughly modern despite bucking a lot of current trends. Check out our full review for more, including comparisons to nine other Trail & Enduro bikes.
Shop Talk: Recap of the Season; Skiing with Kids; & Heated Socks (Ep.194)
We talk with Rachel and Drew Harding from The Spokane Alpine Haus about the highlights and challenges of this past season; skiing with kids; heated socks; and more.
Win Down Jackets from Outdoor Vitals
This week THREE lucky winners will each get Outdoor Vitals’ NovaUL down jacket, a lightweight, warm midlayer with some cool tech.
2022-2023 Armada ARW 106 UL
The ARW 106 UL is a playful ski offered in lengths ranging from 164 cm all the way to 188 cm, meaning there are a whole lot of skiers who could potentially enjoy it. We had three reviewers testing it out this season — check out all of their thoughts in our full review.
Deep Dive: Armada ARW 106 UL
We compare the ARW 106 UL to the Line Sir Francis Bacon, Salomon QST 106, RMU Apostle 3.0 106, K2 Reckoner 102, Line Blade Optic 104, 4FRNT Devastator, Season Nexus, DPS Koala 103, Dynastar M-Free 108, Volkl Revolt 104, Sego Big Horn 106, Moment Deathwish 104, and Black Crows Atris.
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 Head Kore 99
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pics, and flex pattern numbers for the Head Kore 99.
SCOR 4060
SCOR says their new 4060 LT is “just seriously fun.” But it’s still a 160 / 170 mm travel Enduro bike, so just how game-on is it, really? Check out our full review for the rundown, including comparisons to 11 other bikes in its class.
Kitsbow CEO David Billstrom on Domestic Manufacturing and Community Investment (Ep.115)
Domestic production of apparel has all but disappeared from the US, but Kitsbow is leading the charge to bring it back and hopes to be a blueprint for how other brands can do the same. And their CEO, David Billstrom, has a lot to say about how it’s been good for their brand, their customers, their community, and the planet.
2022-2023 Blizzard Hustle 11
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pics, and flex pattern numbers for the Blizzard Hustle 11.
Stuff We Like: April 2022
In the April edition of our “Stuff We Like” series, we’ve got some colorful footwear and packs, cheap gloves, touring outerwear, running accessories, and more.
Pablo Vigil on the Early Days of Mountain Running & Lessons from 50 Years of Racing (Ep.117)
Pablo Vigil has been called the greatest mountain runner in the world. In the 1980s he was nearly unbeatable, winning the famous Sierre-Zinal four consecutive times. We talk to Pablo about the early days of mountain running; what has changed since then; why he thinks simplicity is still the key to training (and life); and much more.
Flash Review: 22/23 Faction Mana 2
Here are some of our initial on-snow impressions of the 102mm-wide Mana 2, which is the replacement for the Candide 2.0.
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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