BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Nathan VaporSwift 4L Race Vest
While many aspects of running are less expensive than other, more gear-intensive sports, running vests can be quite pricey. But the VaporSwift 4L is Nathan’s take on a more affordable, yet still race-ready running vest — check out our review to see how it compares to its higher-end competition.
Peter Bromka on Running & Writing (Ep.76)
Brendan Leonard and Jonathan Ellsworth talk with Peter Bromka, a runner that grew up in Portland, ran at Tufts University, and now is back in Portland where he runs for the Bowerman Track Club Elite Program. But in addition to training hard and running fast, Peter is focused on writing about running itself. And in this conversation, you’ll hear more about how he is currently pursuing both.
Blister’s Holiday Gift Guide 2020 — Under the Tree
Next up in our gift guide are those items that we think would be great under the tree — check out our reviewers’ top picks.
2021 Pivot Mach 6
Pivot just announced a brand-new bike — the latest generation of their 27.5″ Trail / Enduro bike, the Mach 6. Check out our First Look to learn more about the bike that Pivot says offers “eye-watering speed, telepathic handling, & unflappable stability.”
Inclusivity & Innovation in the Outdoor Industry: Moosejaw CEO, Eoin Comerford (Ep.153)
We talk with Moosejaw’s CEO, Eoin Comerford, about how to increase diversity and inclusivity in the outdoor industry; the Moosejaw Outdoor Accelerator; what Moosejaw’s aims are today, and how those aims are informed by Moosejaw’s parent company, Walmart; and more.
Canfield Bikes’ Lance Canfield (Ep.45)
We talk to Lance Canfield about Canfield’s new Tilt and Lithium bikes and the rest of their 20/21 lineup; the origins story of Canfield; the evolution of Rampage and competing in the first Rampage comps; the mountain bike industry today; and more.
Blister Brand Guide: Topo Athletic Running Shoe Lineup, 2020
Topo Athletic continues to expand their line of low-drop, wide-toebox running shoes — check out our Brand Guide for the full rundown on their 2020 lineup and which model might make the most sense for how and where you run.
Ski Quivers for Garden Gnomes, 1-Year-Olds, & Heli Guides (Ep.125)
We talk to Blister reviewers Sascha Anastas & Paul Forward about their ski quivers; binding preferences; coffee in AK; your questions; and more.
Win Men’s & Women’s Kits from Le Bent
The TWO winners this week will each get kitted out head-to-toe by Le Bent!
2-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (20/21)
Check out Part Two of our reviewers’ 2-ski quiver selections, with additions from Kristin Sinnott, Jonathan Ellsworth, Sascha Anastas, Eric Freson, & Sam Shaheen.
Protect Your Phone: Survivor Endurance Case
We talk about protecting our brains with a helmet, and our bank accounts with injury insurance. Time to talk about protecting the pocket supercomputers we all carry when we’re skiing, riding, running, and wrecking.
On Guide Books & Decision Making in the Backcountry (Ep.152)
Sales of backcountry guide books are up, and more and more people are venturing out. So we talked with Beacon Guide Books founder, Andy Sovick about how he got into publishing guide books; why he actually dislikes the term “guide books”; whether or not backcountry guide books should even exist; the responsibilities that come with publishing them; why Andy is an advocate of the “ATES” system (Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale); and more.
Improving Performance by Rethinking Fit? BOA Fit System (Ep.75)
Most of you are familiar with the BOA fit system, but do you know what BOA is up to today? Or maybe you’ve thought, What’s wrong with regular shoe laces? We went to the BOA Performance Fit Lab to learn more; hear why they see a big opportunity in trail running shoes; and see how they are working with companies to optimize products.
Blister’s Holiday Gift Guide 2020 — Stocking Stuffers
It’s that time of year again, where many of us are thinking about gifts for our family and friends. Our reviewers are chiming in with their gift ideas, and we’re kicking things off with stocking stuffers.
2021 Canfield Tilt & Lithium
Canfield recently added two new 29ers to their lineup, the Tilt & Lithium, and we’re very excited about both. Check out our First Look to see why.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Topic of the Week: Get Lights, Go Night Riding
Our Bike Editor has been re-discovering the joy of night riding recently and thinks you should, too.
New 2022/2023 Ski Gear (Ep.182)
Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ellsworth discuss a ton of next season’s new products, and some of the most intriguing product categories.
2022-2023 Wagner Summit 107
The Summit 107 may look like a pretty conventional, directional, ~107mm-wide ski. But its versatility and capabilities are not conventional. Check out our full review.
Deep Dive: Wagner Summit 107
We compare the Summit 107 to the Wagner Summit 106, Blizzard Cochise 106, Volkl Katana 108, K2 Mindbender 108Ti, Nordica Enforcer 104 Free, J Skis Hotshot, Folsom Blister Pro 104, Sego Comp 110, Black Crows Corvus, Prior Husume, Dynastar M-Free 108, Icelantic Nomad 105, Black Crows Atris, 4FRNT MSP 107, Moment Commander 108, Moment Wildcat 108, Faction Dictator 3.0, & Salomon QST 106.
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Win La Sportiva Ski Boots
Enter for a chance to win the men’s or women’s version of La Sportiva’s new freeride touring boot, the Vanguard!
Flash Review: 21/22 Moment Commander 108
Check out our thoughts so far on Moment’s metal-laminate, all-mountain charger, the Commander 108.
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.)
RockShox’s New Flight Attendant Electronic Suspension (Ep.102)
RockShox launched their long-awaited take on an electronically-controlled suspension system, Flight Attendant, late last year. And so we brought RockShox’s Chris Mandell back on Bikes & Big Ideas to tell us all about it.
Hoka Ultrarunner, Sabrina Little, on Teaching Philosophy; Running; & Writing about Both (Ep.104)
Sabrina Little is an ultra runner (she has held the American record in the 200K and the 24-hour American record), a writer, & philosophy professor. So we talk about all of the above, why she values all of the above, and also toothpaste and Harry Potter.
Blister Crash Course Video: Tele Skiing
Well, here it is. Watch us struggle to learn how to tele ski, get all sorts of conflicting advice, and maybe(?) make a bit of progress.
SCARPA Announces New 4-Quattro Boot Collection
SCARPA is launching their first “alpine-oriented” series of GripWalk boots, but these aren’t your typical alpine boots. Learn more about the new 4-Quattro boots here.
Sample Flash Review: Atomic Bent 110
Update 2.22.22: We just got back on the Bent 110 at the Blister Summit, this time with 8″ of new snow. Check out some of our additional impressions.
Fischer Announces Redesigned 22/23 Ranger Series
Fischer is overhauling their line of Ranger skis for 2022-2023. Check out our writeup for the highlights of the updates.