BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
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.
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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
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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
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Flash Review: 20/21 J Skis Hotshot
Update 12.17.20: check out our thoughts on how the Hotshot has been handling chop, crud, and off-piste terrain.
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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Mountain Bike Jacket Roundup — 2020
This roundup is for the folks who don’t let a bit of cold and / or wet weather keep them from getting out on the trails. Check out 8 of the Mtb shells we’ve been testing, ranging from ultra packable and breathable to burly and fully waterproof.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Logan Williams on the Black Canyon 100k; Recovery; & Running as an Art Form (Ep.108)
Our running editor, Matt Mitchell, sat down with Salomon athlete Logan Williams to discuss his recent top 10 finish at the Black Canyon 100K. This top-10 finish happened after Logan ruptured his achilles last year at Black Canyon, so Logan talks about what returning to the scene of the crime meant for him; his relationship with injury; how he’s recovering from racing 62 miles through the desert; his thoughts on running as an artform, and a whole lot more.
Blister Summit 2022: Panel Session Topics, Participants, & Schedule
Here’s a rundown on all of the panel discussions we’ll be hosting at our 2022 Blister Summit, as well as a schedule, list of panelists, and a way for you to submit your own questions for all panel discussions.
Blister Summit Panel Session Topics & Speakers + Product Design & Innovation (Ep.185)
We give an update on the topics we’ll be discussing at our upcoming Blister Summit, and tell you who the athletes, founders, product designers, and snow safety experts are that we’ll be discussing these things with. Then, we’re reposting a fantastic conversation on product design and innovation — it’s a must-listen for anyone interested in either of those things.
2022-2023 4FRNT Hoji
The middle ski in Eric Hjorleifson’s signature series got a big update this season, and we think the changes make for a notably more versatile ski — whether you use it in the backcountry or at the resort. Check out our full review & Deep Dive comparisons of the Hoji.
Deep Dive: 4FRNT Hoji
We compare the Hoji to the 4FRNT Renegade, 4FRNT Raven, 4FRNT Devastator, WNDR Alpine Intention 110, Black Crows Corvus, Salomon QST Blank, 4FRNT Inthayne, Black Crows Anima, Line Vision 118, K2 Reckoner 112, Moment Deathwish, J Skis Friend, Wagner Summit 106, Head Kore 111, RMU YLE 110, Sego Comp 110, Icelantic Nomad 105, Nordica Enforcer 110 Free, and J Skis Slacker.
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 Kästle Skis
This week the winner of our Gear Giveaway will get a pair of the Kästle ZX100, their all-round, playful freeride ski.
Starling Cycles on Simplicity, Design, & Building Bikes in a Shed (Ep.105)
Starling Cycles have made a name for themselves building simple, elegant steel single-pivot bikes, and we sat down with founder Joe McEwan to talk about going from working on aerospace composites to building metal bikes, his thoughts on bike design — including why simpler is often better — and a whole lot more.
On the Creation of a “Hyper-Performance” Trail Shoe Company: Speedland (Ep.107)
Why would two friends who’d been working at the highest levels of product design at Nike and Under Armour leave to create a hyper-specific, hyper-performance trail running shoe company? We talk to Speedland co-founders, Dave Dombrow and Kevin fallon to get the answers; to learn about their journeys into and through the design world; and to discuss the design elements of what a “hyper-performance” trail shoe looks like to them.
Flash Review: 22/23 Head Formula RS 130 & Formula 130
We’ve been spending time in two of Head’s new “Performance” alpine boots, and so far, the results have been quite promising.
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 Salomon QST 106
For the 22/23 season, Salomon is updating one of their most popular skis, and we’ve been spending a lot of time on the new QST 106. Check out our full review & Deep Dive comparisons.
Deep Dive: Salomon QST 106
We compare the new QST 106 to the previous QST 106, Nordica Enforcer 104 Free, Blizzard Rustler 10, 4FRNT MSP 107, Moment Deathwish 104, Dynastar M-Free 108, Moment Wildcat 108, Black Crows Atris, DPS Koala 103, Season Nexus, RMU Apostle 106, Head Kore 105, and J Skis Hotshot.
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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2021 Canyon Spectral 29
Canyon’s Spectral 29 Trail bike got a major overhaul last year, and then the 27.5 version followed suit for 2022, with a Mullet version added for good measure. We’ve been testing the 29er version, and think it’s a very versatile bike that’ll work well for a lot of people — and it’s a killer value, too.