BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Reviewing the News w/ Cody Townsend (Dec 2020) (Ep.156)
Cody Towsend and Jonathan Ellsworth talk about chess & The Queen’s Gambit; savants & skier savants; ski media; political appointees; avalanche accidents; Cody’s new film, The Mountain Why; and more.
Sage Cattabriga-Alosa on Biking, Skiing, Similarities, & Transitions (Ep.47)
Sage Cattabriga-Alosa is one of the best big line skiers of all time, and he’s an extremely good — and extremely passionate — mountain biker, too. So we talked with Sage about how he thinks about the similarities of skiing & mountain biking; riding lines in Virgin, Utah back in 2004; riding with Cam McCaul; what aspect of mountain biking he is most focused on improving; and his film, Balance.
2021-2022 Armada Declivity 92 Ti
We’ve spent the past few weeks skiing one of Armada’s new metal-laminate skis, the Declivity 92 Ti. Check out our Full Review & Deep Dive comparisons of this fun, lively, & versatile ski.
Deep Dive: Armada Declivity 92 Ti
We compare the Declivity 92 Ti to the Salomon Stance 90, Fischer Ranger 94 FR, Head Kore 93, Nordica Enforcer 94, J Skis Masterblaster, Volkl Mantra M5, Folsom Spar 88, Blizzard Brahma 88, Elan Wingman 86 CTi, Line Blade, Liberty Evolv 90, & Liberty V92.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Win Kastle Skis & Spyder Jackets
The TWO winners this week will each get a pair of Kastle skis + a jacket from Spyder.
Shop Talk: Backcountry Essentials, Bellingham WA (Ep.128)
On our latest edition of ‘Shop Talk’, we’ve got the founder of Backcountry Essentials, Chris Gerston, talking about Bellingham; starting Backcountry Essentials; and some of the gear that he thinks works really well for skiing at Mt Baker and for volcano skiing.
PNW Components Rainier Gen 3 Dropper Post
The PNW Components Gen-3 Rainier is a very promising option in the increasingly crowded field of dropper posts, and comes at an unusually attractive price. So how does it compare to the competition? Check out our review.
La Sportiva Blizzard GTX
The Blizzard GTX is one of a few shoes on the market specifically designed for running on snow and ice. We’ve spent time in it doing just that, and in our full review, we go into who would really benefit from a specialized shoe like this, and who might be better off in something more versatile.
Flash Review: 20/21 Salomon Stance 90
Here are our initial thoughts on the new Stance 90, with comparisons to several other skis in its class.
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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Snowboarder Elena Hight on Competition, Transitions, & Blank Canvas (Ep.155)
Elena Hight is an X Games Gold Medalist, two-time Olympian, and a badass. We discuss her new film, Blank Canvas; competitive drive; how similar or different it is preparing to ride a big backcountry line versus a half-pipe contest run; her time in the mountains with the likes of Hana Beaman, Travis Rice, and Danny Davis; the art of getting better at dealing with changes and transitions in life; and more.
Winter Running Gear Roundup
Freezing temps and / or snowy trails mean your running gear plays a much larger role in how enjoyable your runs will be. Check out a few of the misc. pieces that some of our reviewers use just about every time they head out for a winter run.
1-Ski-Boot Quiver; Listener Questions; Skis; Apparel; & Masks (Ep.127)
Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ellsworth discuss several listener questions about ski quivers; 1-boot quivers; some game-changing news in the ski boot world; a number of skis, apparel pieces, and ski masks we’ve been testing; & what we’re celebrating this week.
1-Ski-Boot Quiver: Reviewer Selections (20/21)
Check out Part Two of our reviewers’ 1-boot-quiver selections, with additions from Paul Forward & Eric Freson
Win Candide Thovex’s Skis
We can’t guarantee they’ll make you ski like him, but the winner this week will get Candide’s signature ski, the Faction CT 5.0.
Flash Review: 20/21 Renoun Endurance 88
We’ve been spending time on Renoun’s narrowest all-mountain ski — check out our initial impressions.
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:
2022-2023 Volkl Secret 96
The Secret 96 is a particularly impressive women’s all-mountain ski for those who prioritize stability, suspension, and precision. Check out our full review for more.
Flash Review: 21/22 Stereo Lynx MK 4
We’ve been spending time on Stereo’s do-everything 100mm-wide ski, the Lynx, and there have been lots of surprises so far.
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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Rossignol Announces 22/23 Sender & Rallybird Skis & HI-SPEED Boots
Rossignol is tweaking several of their freeride skis for 22/23, as well as launching an entirely new collection of alpine boots. Check out the details here.
Ed Masters on Racing DH & Enduro at the Top Level (Ep.104)
We’ve got Ed Masters on Bikes & Big Ideas this week to talk about the incredible end to the 2021 World Cup season (and get hyped for racing to fire back up in 2022); catch up on his injury-laden 2021 season and how he’s doing these days; the similarities and differences between Enduro and DH, and the challenges of racing both; and a whole lot more.
Flash Review: 21/22 Atomic Hawx Ultra 130 Professional
Update 2.9.22: Luke Koppa adds his thoughts on the Atomic Mimic Professional liner (used with a non-Atomic shell) and Atomic Professional Dual Strap (vs. a Booster strap).
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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Deep Dive: Tecnica Ski Boots Brand Lineup, 21/22
Next up in our Deep Dive series on ski boots is Tecnica — check it out for a rundown on every boot in Tecnica’s 21/22 lineup, most comparable alternatives from other brands, and more details to help you figure out what differentiates each boot in the lineup.
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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Season Nexus Ski
We’ve spent the last two seasons riding Season’s do-everything ski — check out our full review of the Nexus for more on what makes it stand out.
Deep Dive: Season Nexus
We compare the Nexus to the Season Aero, Season Kin, Line Sir Francis Bacon, RMU Apostle 106, DPS Foundation Koala 103, Dynastar M-Free 108, Moment Deathwish 104, Volkl Revolt 104, Moment Wildcat 108, Sego Big Horn 106, Blizzard Rustler 10, Black Crows Atris, Nordica Enforcer 104 Free, J Skis Hotshot, Head Kore 105, Line Sick Day 104, Whitedot Altum 104, 4FRNT Devastator, & K2 Reckoner 102.
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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Flash Review: 21/22 Tecnica Zero G Tour Scout W
Check out some of our initial on-snow impressions of Tecnica’s stiffest women-specific backcountry touring boot.
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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Winter Running Gear, Tips, & Tricks (Ep.106)
As a follow-up to our Winter Running and the Meaning of Life conversation (ep. #103), today we’re talking about some very practical tips, tricks, and gear recommendations to help you get out and run in colder temps and snowier environments.
Reviewing the News w/ Cody Townsend (Jan 2022) (Ep.202)
Cody & Jonathan discuss skiing inbounds on touring gear; alpinism, obsession, & our top-5 climbing movies; a recent interview with Vail’s executive chairman, Rob Katz; Jerry of the Day & inclusivity; Eileen Gu & geopolitics; the future of Outdoor Retailer; & what we’re reading & watching.
What We’re Watching — February 2022
What We’re Watching is back with a bunch more ski and bike videos for your viewing pleasure, including some quick edits, a couple of longer pieces, and one really important statement on mental health.