BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Flash Review: Formula Selva V
The new Formula Selva V stands out from the market for being lightweight and highly tunable via Formula’s CTS valve system, but how does its performance stack up next to other long-travel single-crown forks? We’ve got some early thoughts.
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Hoji, Marcus Caston, Nick Russell, & Chris Davenport: Life Updates, Mtn-Town Advice, Trip Reports, & More (Ep.362)
We brought together some legends of snowsports — Hoji, Marcus, Nick, & Dav — and asked them to share some life updates; their best mountain-town (and relationship) advice; trip reports & travel stories; & more.
Thule T2 Pro XTR
Thule’s T2 Pro XTR hitch-mounted bicycle rack is one of the more popular options on the market. And after testing it ourselves, we understand why. Check out our Full Review to find out how this rack performs, including direct comparisons to the Yakima StageTwo.
Southern Hemisphere Skiing, Sustainability, & Shop Strategies w/ Outside Sports (Ep.352)
Today, we head south to the snow, and back behind the counter at Outside Sports in New Zealand. We talk about the gear and innovations they’re stoked on; what it takes to keep a mountain town business thriving; sustainability from a local shop’s perspective, and more.
Flash Review: Esker Woodsy
We’ve started testing Esker’s Woodsy Trail / All Mountain bike, and its combination of a compliant ride, efficient suspension, and all-day comfort has it looking like an interesting option in a crowded category.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Win MTB Protection From 7iDP
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get a $200 gift card from 7iDP!
Reviewer Reports: New Bikes, Shimano Di2, & More (Ep.279)
We’ve been testing a massive amount of new gear, including Shimano’s first wireless MTB drivetrain, a ton of new bikes, and a whole lot more. So we got the gang together to talk about a bunch of it.
The Madness of Nile Zacherle, Mad Fritz Brewing (Ep.74)
Madness. That’s what you call it when a former sponsored skateboarder gets a Ph.D. in fermentation, then starts brewing super-premium beer in Napa Valley.
Shimano Deore M6200 & XT M8200 Di2 Wireless Drivetrain and Wheels
Just two weeks after launching their first wireless MTB drivetrain at the flagship XTR tier, Shimano now has Deore and XT versions for folks who want wireless shifting at a more affordable price. Here are all the details.
Shimano XT M8200 & M8220 Brakes
Shimano’s XT brakes have gotten an overhaul to go with the new wireless XT Di2 drivetrain. Here’s what’s new, what isn’t, and the full rundown on the XT brake options.
Specialized Gravity Racing & Brembo Announce Partnership
The speculation about the prototype brakes that Specialized Gravity Racing has been racing on can be put to rest: they’re from Brembo. Here’s what we know so far.
‘Forrest Gump’ w/ Brendan Leonard & Jonathan Ellsworth (Ep.41)
Forrest Gump premiered on June 23, 1994, and Tom Hanks won the Oscar for Best Actor. But according to Brendan Leonard (semi-rad.com), the real story is that Gump introduced millions of people to ultrarunning. Brendan and Jonathan discuss that and a whole lot more.
Jib League & the Future of Freeskiing with Woodsy (Ep.361)
We talk with James Woods (aka Woodsy) about how he and fellow pro skiers, Ferdinand Dahl and Oystein Braaten, created Jib League to fill voids that they were noticing in the freeskiing world. The unique event series they created has been loved by athletes and viewers alike, and the story of how it came to be is just as interesting as all the absurd tricks put down by the riders at each stop.
Aenomaly Switchgrade 2.0 Evo Seat Angle Adjuster
The Aenomaly Switchgrade is a clever way to allow on-the-fly seat angle adjustment, but how beneficial is it in practice? We’ve been testing the updated Switchgrade Evo 2.0, and are ready to weigh in.
Flash Review: 24/25 ON3P Woodsman 92
Update 6.13.25: Jonathan Ellsworth adds his thoughts on the Woodsman 92, where it excels, and what sort of skiers ought to consider it.
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 Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Rebecca Rusch on Battling Back, Switching Gears, Mtn Biking vs Gravel Biking, & More (Ep.367)
What happens when you go from being so tenacious that you earn the name, ‘the Queen of Pain’ to struggling just to get off the couch? Today, Rebecca Rusch shares the story of her journey, and it’s a journey that every single one of us will relate to, and all of us need to hear.
Big News & Updates: Our New Mtn Bike Buyer’s Guide; Our Winter Buyer’s Guide; & the State of Buyer’s Guides in 2025 (Ep.357)
We’re releasing our first-ever Blister Mountain Bike Guide, and we’re doing it in a way that we don’t think has ever been done in the bike (or ski) world. We’re also talking about the state of buyer’s guides in 2025, and you’ll get the latest updates on our 25/26 Winter Buyer’s Guide.
Win Titan Straps
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get a bunch of Titan’s multifunctional straps — 2 of each length of Utility Straps, 2 of each length of Industrial Straps, and 4 of each length of Mini Straps for a total of 28 Titan Straps!
Get It Now! Our 2025-2026 Blister Winter Buyer’s Guide
Our 25/26 Winter Buyer’s Guide: it’s bigger than ever, as honest and accurate as it’s always been, and it’s now available to order. Here’s how to get your copy.
Stashed’s Elliot Tanner on Making Innovative Bike Storage Systems (Ep.284)
In today’s conversation, Simon talks with Elliot Tanner, founder of Stashed, about his fascinating journey from being involved in designing and making parts for Marker’s iconic Kingpin touring binding to engineering and manufacturing the innovative Spacerail Bike Storage System, and more.
Flash Review: Rimpact Chain Damper
The thinking behind the Rimpact Chain Damper is more novel than it may first appear, and its effects on bike suspension stand out, too. Here’s what we’ve learned so far during our initial testing.
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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Rimpact Chain Damper
Rimpact’s Chain Damper looks a whole lot like their take on an Ochain. And, yes, they’ve got some real similarities, but the thinking behind their designs — and the designs themselves — are much more different than you might expect. Here’s what you need to know, including our early on-trail impressions.
‘Johnny Tsunami’ w/ Mike Rogge, Justin Bobb, & Jonathan Ellsworth (Ep.46)
Is it possible that a Disney kids movie from 1999 is the single best movie ever made about the age-old clash between skiers & snowboarders? It is, and ‘Johnny Tsunami’ is also a contender for our highest award, the ‘Single Best Film in its Class.’
Ibis Ripley AF and Ripmo AF
Ibis just introduced new aluminum versions of their Ripley and Ripmo, with the same modern, size-specific geometry as their carbon fiber counterparts, in-frame storage, and competitively priced build kits. Check out all the details here.
Santa Cruz Vala AL
The new Vala AL brings the first aluminum frame to the Santa Cruz eMTB lineup. Many of the details are the same as the carbon Vala, but there are some differences, beyond just a lower price. Check out our First Look to see what they’ve come up with.
Ups, Downs, & Unspoken Aspects of Pro Skier Life w/ Noah Gaffney, Anne Wangler, Mallory Duncan, & Jake Hopfinger (Ep.366)
At Blister Summit 2025, we sat down with professional skiers Mallory Duncan, Anne Wangler, Noah Gaffney, and Jake Hopfinger. What followed was a very candid conversation about how they present themselves during hard times, the personal financial aspects of being a pro, career longevity, and much more.
Flash Review: Propain Sresh SL
We’ve been riding Propain’s first light-assist eMTB, the Sresh SL, equipped with TQ’s latest HPR60 drive system. Check out our initial on-trail impressions, including comparisons to the Yeti MTe and Pivot Shuttle SL/AM.
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.)