BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Win J Skis
The winner this week will get what J calls “the least nerdy touring ski on the market.”
RockShox ZEB Ultimate Fork
We’ve spent the last couple of months using the new RockShox ZEB — check out our updated review for thoughts on how it compares to forks like the RockShox Lyrik & Manitou Mezzer Pro, and who we think is going to get along best with it.
Surfing Trails on a Bike without Pedals (Ep.41)
A bike without pedals? Dog mushing? Surfing mountains? We talk to Gravity Scooters about how the idea of a DH scooter came to be; the advantages of ditching your pedals — and seat posts; designing a DH scooter; dog mushing; and more.
Kaytlyn Gerbin on Science, Volcanoes, & Pretty Much Everything Else (Ep.69)
Brendan Leonard and Jonathan Ellsworth talk to Kaytlyn Gerbin about her work as a bioengineer, the Rainier Infinity Loop; running ultras vs mountaineering; why scientists make good ultra runners; cheating on snowboarding; and a whole lot more.
Black Crows Skis co-founder, Camille Jaccoux (Ep.144)
We talk to Black Crows Skis founder, Camille Jaccoux, about growing up in Chamonix and his background in skiing; what Black Crows is doing to grow the brand while trying to stay true to the reasons they started the company; the lost art of ski ballet; who would win in a mogul comp between Camille and Glen Plake; and more.
Win Men’s & Women’s Packs from Dakine
The TWO winners of this week’s Gear Giveaway will each get one of Dakine’s Heli Pro ski / board packs!
Shop Talk: Sebastian Steinbach, Black Sheep Sports (Ep.116)
We talk to the founder of Black Sheep Sports about this past ski season; his predictions for the upcoming ski season in Europe — and whether we’ll see a backcountry boom in Europe? We then talk about the critical art of customer service; why friends shouldn’t tell friends to just “Go buy this boot”; and more.
2021 Fox 38 Fork
We’ve spent the last 3 months riding Fox’s burliest single-crown fork, the 38, and comparing it to other mainstays in the category to see just how much of a difference the bigger chassis (and new internals) make on the trail. Spoiler alert: it’s a significant difference, but there’s more to it. Check out our full review.
Jonathan & Maddie run (and record this during) the Elk Run 5k (Ep.68)
Last Saturday, Blister reviewer & accomplished ultrarunner, Maddie Hart, ran the Emma Coburn Elk Run 5k with Blister founder & unaccomplished runner, Jonathan Ellsworth, and they recorded the experience. Hilarity (and embarrassment) ensued, but it was all for a great cause.
Order our 20/21 Winter Buyer’s Guide
The most honest, accurate, and useful buyer’s guide in the world. Order your copy today.
Faction Skis: Company History & 20/21 Lineup (Ep.115)
For some time now, Faction has been one of the hottest brands in skiing. But how much do you actually know about the company? This week we are talking about the history of the brand, some key moments in the company, and some big recent changes; what it’s like to go skiing with and design skis for Candide Thovex; and Faction’s lineup for the upcoming season.
Win any Renoun Ski
This week’s winner will get to pick any Renoun ski they want!
Manitou Mezzer Pro Fork
Manitou’s Mezzer Pro was one of the first “extra-stiff,” single-crown forks to hit the market, and we’ve spent the last 4 months comparing it to its growing competition. Check out our full review to see how it stacks up.
Patagonia Announces New CEO + Head of Patagonia, Inc.
Today Patagonia announced their new CEO, as well as their new head of Patagonia, Inc., which is the portion of the company that designs & produces their apparel & equipment.
Reviewer Reports: Trek Slash, Banshee Phantom, EXT Shock, Hayes Brakes (Ep.40)
We check in with reviewers Dylan Wood (who gets to keep his seat at the bar), David Golay (who is now reconsidering what makes brakes good or bad), and Eric Freson (who still enjoys a sick jazz soundtrack) to get their updates on the Trek Slash, EXT Storia shock, Hayes Dominion A4 brakes, and the Banshee Phantom V3.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Gear of the Year, 2021 (Ep.99)
2021 was Blister’s busiest year ever for testing mountain bikes and gear, and there were some real standout products among that crop. So we rounded up a bunch of our reviewers to give a rundown of the highlights of the last year, and we make some predictions for the year to come and talk about a bunch of the bikes and gear that we’re most excited to spend time on soon, too.
Reviewing the News w/ Cody Townsend (Dec 2021) (Ep.197)
Cody and Jonathan discuss the current situation of under-staffed & overcrowded ski areas; national parks and Native American tribes; the looming shortage of lithium batteries for electric vehicles; whether or not to ski the backcountry with your dog; what we’re watching; and more.
Ion Rascal Amp
The Ion Rascal Amp doesn’t try to be the techiest, most gadget-laden shoe on the market. Instead, it tries to take a tried-and-true design and execute it well. So did Ion succeed?
Flash Review: 21/22 J Skis Masterblaster
Update 1.4.22: With all the recent snow, we’ve been able to see how the new Masterblaster handles softer and steeper off-piste conditions, and have some more thoughts on the ski.
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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2021-2022 Nordica Santa Ana 104 Free
We’ve now had multiple reviewers on the Nordica Santa Ana 104 Free, and in this update, Kara Williard adds her thoughts on this metal-laminate women’s all-mountain ski.
2022 Norco Range
Even by the standards of ~170mm travel Enduro bikes, the Norco Range is quite the bruiser — both on the way down, and on the climb back up. But for the right rider, that makes it something special.
What We’re Watching — January 2022
Kick off the new year (or ride out the post-NYE hangover?) with this month’s installation of What We’re Watching, which includes everything from quick edits to a couple of feature-length ski, bike and climbing films.
Over The Edge
Over The Edge has more than 25 years of experience as a core mountain bike shop, dedicated to serving their customers with top notch sales and service, as well as leading trail building efforts in their communities.
ON3P Skis 22/23 Lineup with Scott Andrus (Ep.177)
We talk with ON3P Skis founder, Scott Andrus, about what’s been going on at ON3P, and we walk through the brand’s 22/23 lineup of skis.
Win Season Skis or Boards
Enter for a chance to win any Season snowboard or pair of skis you want!
Deep Dive: Lange Ski Boots Brand Lineup, 21/22
Second in our new Deep Dive series on ski boot lines is the 21/22 Lange ski boot collection, which includes everything from racing to free-touring boots, and we discuss all notable specs, features, most similar boots from other brands, and more. Become a Deep Dive subscriber or Blister Member to check it out.
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.)
Michele Graglia on Success & Struggle (Ep.102)
Michele Graglia has racked up a number of major victories in his career, including wins at the Badwater 135, Yukon Arctic Ultra, the Moab 240, and more. But in this conversation, we focus on some of Michele’s recent struggles, disappointments, and difficulties, and Michele talks about what he’s learned along the way — and what he’s still learning.