BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Reviewers’ 2020 Highlights & 2021 Resolutions (Ep.157)
For our first Blister Podcast of 2021, we asked a few of our reviewers to share one highlight of the past year; one thing they’re most looking forward to in 2021; and one new year’s resolution. We got quite a range of answers — and apparently Kristin Sinnott and Jonathan Ellsworth will be starting up a new reality TV show? Please enjoy, and Happy New Year!
Flash Review: 20/21 DPS Pagoda Piste 90 RP
Update 1.4.21: check out our thoughts on how the Pagoda Piste 90 RP performs off-piste.
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Flash Review: 20/21 Whitedot Ragnarok ASYM
Check out Paul Forward’s initial thoughts on Whitedot’s big, asymmetrical pow ski.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Hoka One One Torrent 2
Many people were fans of the original Hoka Torrent for its combination of comfort and lightweight efficiency for fast-paced trail runs. So, how does the updated Torrent 2 compare, and who should have this new trail shoe on their list?
Gear of the Year, 2020 (Ep.129)
Luke Koppa & Jonathan Ellsworth talk about some of the skis they’ve recently been testing; name some of the most surprising products of 2020 and some of the standout products of 2020; offer a few gear predictions for 2021; and end with what they’re celebrating this week.
Win Folsom Skis
This week the winner will get the Folsom Blister Pro 104 + some Folsom gear!
2020-2021 Hinterland Maul 121
Hinterland is a small-batch ski manufacturer out of Utah, and we’ve been impressed by the widest ski in their lineup, the Maul 121. Check out our full review for more on the ski and how it compares to other playful pow skis on the market.
Flash Review: 20/21 Scarpa F1 LT
Check out reviewer Paul Forward’s initial thoughts on the F1 LT and how it compares to the previous Alien RS.
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 Elan Wingman 86 CTi
Elan puts the Wingman 86 CTi in the “All-Mountain Versatile” category of their lineup, and we don’t think they’re far off with that description.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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2020-2021 Spark R&D Arc Pro Splitboard Binding
We spent all of last season using the ultralight “Pro” version of Spark R&D’s Arc binding — plus several of Spark’s in-house accessories — and have come away very impressed.
Blister Brand Guide: Adidas Terrex Trail Running Shoe Lineup, 2020
Adidas continus to expand their off-road-oriented Terrex line of running shoes, with everything from high-cushion, long-distance shoes to minimal, lightweight options. Check out our Brand Guide to get the rundown on all of their 2020 shoes.
Flash Review: 20/21 4FRNT Devastator
Check out our initial impressions of the new Devastator, where we answer some of the questions we first posed in our First Look.
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 Movement Fly Two 115
Check out our initial thoughts on Movement’s playful (but also pretty stable) pow ski.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Blister Brand Guide: Columbia Montrail Trail Running Shoes ’20
While it doesn’t include a huge number of shoes, Columbia-Montrail’s 2020 trail running shoe lineup offers runners a few different options to suit specific needs, and is particularly appealing for those not looking to drop a ton of money on their next pair of shoes. Check out our Brand Guide to see how each shoe differs and which might be worth a look from you.
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.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Yoann Barelli on Progression, Coaching, & Career Shifts (Ep.108)
Yoann Barelli is back on Bikes & Big Ideas to talk about his new, very unique Into The Gnar Progression Team — and Yoann teases some very big news, too.
2022-2023 Head Formula RS 130 and Head Formula 130
This season Head overhauled their line of “Performance” alpine boots, and the new Formula boots are very different from the boots they replace.
Check out all the details in our First Look.
2022 Santa Cruz Bronson / Juliana Roubion
The Santa Cruz Bronson has grown a mullet, but it’s still a super versatile Trail bike that we think will work for a ton of different riders. Check out our full review for the complete rundown.
Jason Hardrath on FKTs & What Makes Him Tick (Ep.110)
Jason Hardrath holds more “Fastest Known Times” than anyone in the world. We talk to him about his upbringing; how a nearly fatal car accident introduced him to the world of FKTs; and his upcoming film, “Journey to 100,” which chronicles Jason’s attempt to climb the 100 tallest peaks in the state of Washington over 50 days; and more.
Flash Review: 22/23 Kästle ZX 115
The Kästle ZX115 was one of the most surprising skis we got on at the 2022 Blister Summit — and very much in a good way. Check out Jonathan Ellsworth’s 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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2022-2023 Salomon Stance 88 W
The women’s Stance 88 W is a versatile all-mountain ski that blurs the lines between stable chargers and more accessible, maneuverable alternatives. Check out our full review for more.
Jason Blevins & Chris Davenport (Ep.204)
We talk to Colorado Sun journalist, Jason Blevins, about this ski season & his predictions for next year’s, then we’re joined by Chris Davenport to talk about the 30th anniversary of the US Extreme Championships in Mt. Crested Butte; the Winter Olympics in Beijing; and more.
What We’re Watching — March 2022
March’s chapter of What We’re Watching has a bunch of ski, bike, and running videos for your entertainment — plus a sneak preview of our Bikes & Big Ideas guest for next week.
Win Elan Ripstick Skis
This week the winner of our Gear Giveaway will get to pick any pair of skis from Elan’s lightweight Ripstick collection!
12 New Skis from the Blister Summit (Ep.186)
Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ellsworth give a quick recap of the Blister Summit, then discuss a dozen of the skis we spent time on at the event.
2022-2023 Faction La Machine Max
Faction’s 126mm-wide La Machine Max turned heads when it first came out, and our reviewer / heli-guide / pow-expert has become a very big fan of it after two seasons. Apparently, he’s not the only one, since Faction is also creating a whole new collection of La Machine skis for 22/23. Check out our Full Review & Deep Dive comparisons for more on the widest La Machine and the rest of the new series.
Deep Dive: Faction La Machine Max
We compare the Faction La Machine Max to several other wide powder skis, including the 4FRNT Renegade, Folsom Rapture, Moment Chipotle Banana, Moment Wildcat Tour, Head Kore 117, DPS Lotus 124, and Moonlight Cruiser.
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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