BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Win Alpaca Apparel from Arms of Andes
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get a $200 gift card from Arms of Andes!
The New Rules of Apparel: PFAS, What’s Changed, & What It Means for You (Ep.351)
In this panel discussion from Blister Summit 2025, we asked apparel designers from Patagonia, Flylow, Ortovox, and Rab to discuss what you should expect from the new generation of PFAS-free apparel; how it compares to what you’ve used in the past; and what you can do to make the most of it.
Deep Dive: Santa Cruz Bronson 5
We compare the Santa Cruz Bronson 5 to the Santa Cruz Bronson 4, Santa Cruz Hightower 4, Santa Cruz Nomad, Yeti SB165, Ibis Ripmo, Specialized Stumpjumper 15, Spot Mayhem 140, Esker Woodsy, Propain Tyee, Norco Sight, Transition Sentinel V3, and Kona Process 153.
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Santa Cruz Bronson 5
The Santa Cruz Bronson has evolved a lot over the years, and while the updates to the latest Bronson 5 look relatively subtle on paper, it’s a very different bike from the Bronson 4. We’ve had multiple editors in different locations spend time on the Bronson and have a comprehensive Full Review to share.
Chris McCaffrey on Riding His Bike Around the World (Ep.278)
The day after he submitted his final college paper, Chris McCaffrey set off to ride his bike around the world. He made it back to his hometown of Boulder, CO, seventeen months later. The story of the trip is a wild, inspiring, beautiful one, and you don’t want to miss it.
Steve Matthiasson on Wine, Punk Rock, Bikes, & Fireworks (Ep.73)
Steve is one of the most respected winemakers in Napa Valley, and he produces wines that buck some of the most fashionable trends in the valley. Steve is also a passionate mountain biker and snowboarder, a teacher, and a wine consultant; today, we dive into all of these aspects.
Flash Review: Revel ReRun
Revel Bikes is back in action after being reacquired by its founder, and that means their new bikes, like the ReRun, are hitting the market. Check out how we’re getting along with Revel’s first eMTB so far.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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‘E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial’ w/ Jonathan Ellsworth & Simon Stewart (Ep.40)
On June 10, 1982, ‘E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial’ premiered in the USA. This Steven Spielberg film won multiple Oscars, became the most successful film of all time, and caused a huge spike in bike sales. So today, we revisit one of the most significant films in movie history.
Flash Review: Salsa Spearfish
Salsa has jumped right into the modern XC bike mix with the new Spearfish. Check out our Flash Review to see how we’re getting along with it after a few rides.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Flash Review: 25/26 Salomon QST 106
We’re rounding out our Flash Reviews of the updated Salomon QST series with the longest-standing model, the QST 106 — check out our initial thoughts on how it compares to the prior-gen version and other QST models.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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2025-2026 Salomon QST 106
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for Salomon’s updated QST 106.
Blister Book Club: ‘Everest, Inc.’ w/ author, Will Cockrell (Ep.360)
Jonathan talks with Will Cockrell about his excellent book, Everest, Inc. They discuss the fascinating history of guiding on Everest, the evolution of that industry, and the broader topic of the ethics, principles, and parameters of guiding in general, anywhere.
TRP Evo Pro Brakes
TRP’s Evo Pro brakes take over from the popular DH-R Evo as their flagship gravity offering, and TRP says the new stoppers offer better ergonomics, more power, and greater adjustability. We’ve spent the last seven months putting those claims to the test. See how the Evo Pro brakes stack up.
Ski vs Bike Industry, Part 2: State of Shops; Gear Wins & Fails; & the Future of Each (Ep.350)
Today, we take a look at the state of ski shops vs bike shops; what each industry is doing to grow participation and engagement in their sport; gear wins and fails; and our reviewers weigh in on which industry has the brighter future.
Ibis Oso 1.1
The Ibis Oso 1.1 got a few construction tweaks and a smaller price tag, but it’s still a very unique-looking offering on the eMTB market. It comes with a unique ride, too, but one that should appeal quite a bit to the right buyer. Read on to find out who the Oso might be for.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Win Bike Care Kits From Formula 100
The two winners of our Gear Giveaway this week will both get a bike care kit from Formula 100, including cleaners, lubricants, and more!
What is NNormal? NNormal’s CEO on Kilian Jornet, NNormal’s Name & Origin Story, & Company Principles (Ep.356)
Jonathan talks with Sito Luis Salas, the CEO of NNormal, about NNormal founder, Kilian Jornet, plus the NNormal name, its origin story, and its well-defined principles. NNormal is a company you’ll be hearing about more & more in the coming years, and today, you’ll see why.
Schwalbe Albert Radial
Schwalbe claims to have made a real leap forward in MTB tire construction with their new radial casings — but how does it actually pan out on the trail? And what about the new Albert tread pattern? We’ve spent a lot of time on the radial-casing Albert in a huge range of conditions and are ready to weigh in.
Bosch CX-R Motor & Software Upgrade for CX Drive Systems
Update 7.16.25: We’ve been putting a few more miles on our Santa Cruz Bullit now that we’ve installed Bosch’s new Performance Software Upgrade, and it makes an impressive difference in both power and torque, and adds some other compelling features.
Reviewer Reports: Enduro Bikes, Italian Suspension, & More (Ep.283)
David and Simon sat down to chat about a sampling of the stuff they’re currently testing, from the new Pivot Firebird to the EXT Vecta, Bosch’s higher-output software for their CX drive system, and a whole lot more.
What is ‘Amaro’ & Why is Bitter Better? Sennza Finne on a Spirit You Should Know (Ep.78)
Amaro is bitter, complex, and a little mysterious, and most people have no idea what it actually is. But you should, and in this conversation with the folks at Sennza Finne, a Seattle-based amaro producer, you’ll find out why.
Flash Review: Pivot Firebird V5
Update 7.16.25: We’ve got some more thoughts on the latest iteration of Pivot’s Enduro bike after spending some more time experimenting with the wheel size and geometry options.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Cannondale Moterra
Cannondale just launched the latest version of their Moterra eMTB in alloy frame options, featuring Bosch’s Performance Line CX drive system, a range of build kits that accommodate a variety of budgets, and more. Check out our First Look for all the info.
‘Inception’ w/ Ian McIntosh, Todd Ligare, & Jonathan Ellsworth (Ep.45)
Pro skier, Ian McIntosh, was Leonardo DiCaprio’s stunt double for the ski scenes in ‘Inception’, and he’s got a bunch of fantastic behind-the-scenes stories to share. And pro skier, Todd Ligare, brings his own great questions for Ian and excellent answers for our film awards for this movie.
Flash Review: Propain Tyee 6.1 CF
Propain gave the Tyee some tweaks that look good on paper, but has our take on their Enduro bike changed much? Here’s the early version.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Flash Review: Revel Ritual
Revel has been through a lot since launching their Ritual Enduro bike. But they’re back, and the Ritual is available — so how does it ride? We’ve been spending time on it to find out. Check out our initial on-trail 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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‘The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy’ w/ McKenna Peterson & Jed Yeiser, Blister Book Club (Ep.365)
Back in 2022 on a ski-testing trip, K2 ski designer, Jed Yeiser; K2 skier, McKenna Peterson; and I agreed that we would one do have a conversation about ‘The Hitchhiker’s Guide’. And this strange little book seems to only be gaining more relevance with each passing year.