BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Win MTB Gear from Race Face
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get a handlebar, grips, a hip pack, & a hat from Race Face!
2021-2022 Volkl Blaze 106
We’re always skeptical when brands claim that their lightweight skis offers “no compromises on the down,” but after spending time on it this past season, the new Volkl Blaze 106 clearly stood out as a lightweight ski that’s still lots of fun on the descent. Check out our full review & Deep Dive comparisons.
Voormi: How a ‘Textile Technology’ Company Does Outdoor Apparel (Ep.110)
Voormi is not interested in being just another outdoor apparel company. They develop their own textiles inhouse; they manufacture in the United States; and they’ve got some big plans. So we sat down in Blister HQ with Timm Smith, their head of materials development, to learn more about the Voormi story and where the brand is heading.
Deep Dive: Volkl Blaze 106
We compare the Blaze 106 to the Line Sick Day 104, Volkl BMT 109, Faction Agent 3.0, Folsom Cash 106 Carbon, Moment Wildcat Tour 108, Moment Deathwish Tour, WNDR Alpine Intention 110, 4FRNT Raven, Atomic Backland 107, Blizzard Zero G 105, Black Diamond Helio 105, & Line Vision 108.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Paul Basagoitia on His Emmy-Winning Film, Any One of Us (Ep.35)
Any One of Us, the film about Paul Basagoitia and spinal cord injuries, just won an Emmy! So we are reposting the conversation we had with Paul, who was the first back-to-back winner of Crankworx Slopestyle; participated in Red Bull Rampage numerous times; and was one of the top riders in the game. But one tiny mishap led to a crash that left him paralyzed, and Paul’s life was changed in an instant. But that’s not the end of the story — Paul is currently making an absolutely incredible comeback.
What We’re Watching — August, 2020
Update 8.12.20: Check out our latest video roundup for super-fast raw biking, footage from one of the steepest races in the world, seriously steep skiing & snowboarding, and more.
2021-2022 Atomic Hawx Prime XTD 130
This spring and summer, we used the new Atomic Hawx Prime XTD 130 for everything from steep, icy couloirs to pow laps to backcountry booter sessions, and think many people should have this AT boot on their radar. Check out our full review and Deep Dive comparisons.
Camille Herron on Rocky Balboa, Training, & More World Records (Ep. 62)
What do Taco Bell, the Harlem Globetrotters, a twisted femur, & Rocky Balboa have in common? They’ve all played a role in the journey of Camille Herron to become a world champion runner and multiple world record holder — and Camille still has some very big plans. So Brendan and Jonathan talk with Camille about all of the above, including her unusual path to trail running, and what her sights are set on next.
Current State of the Camping Industry (Ep. 139)
“Camping” is a massive industry, and a lot goes on under that single name. So on our latest Blister Podcast, we discuss who’s doing it; what the different segments of camping are; the most important trends; some of the current problems and challenges in the space; and some of the potential solutions.
WNDR Alpine’s 20/21 Lineup with Matt Sterbenz, Pep Fujas, & Xan Marshland (Ep.109)
Matt Sterbenz, Pep Fujas, and Xan Marshland came to Crested Butte and sat down with us in Blister HQ to fill us in on WNDR Alpine’s new materials, new updates to the Intention 110, and their brand new ski, the Vital 100. And you’ll also hear some stories about Matt and Pep competing in slopestyle events against each other back in the day, and more.
Win a YETI Cooler
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get YETI’s Roadie 24 hard cooler!
Blister Brand Guide: Salomon Running Shoe Lineup, 2020
Salomon recently added even more new models to their 2020 running lineup. Check out our Brand Guide to learn more about the new additions and where they slot into the rest of the brand’s collection.
Anneke Beerten on Racing, ‘Badass’ Books, & Big Ideas (Ep. 34)
Anneke Beerten was born in the Netherlands, started racing BMX when she was 4, then became a 2 x world champion in BMX, a 3-time Four-cross world champion, the Queen of Crankworx, and she’s won, podiumed, and top 5’d many enduro, DH, DS races. She also just won the So Cal Enduro and Snow Summit DH. So Blister reviewer Dylan Wood and Jonathan Ellsworth caught up with Anneke to talk about racing; what she’s up to these days; ‘badass’ books; business ideas; and you’ll get to hear ‘the story of Dylan and Anneke.’
2020 Speedgoat 50K Winner, Noah Brautigam (Ep. 61)
Noah Brautigam just won the Speedgoat 50K, and a few days after winning, he sat down with us in Blister HQ to provide a very fresh and fun recap of the race, and describe what tweaks were made to allow the event to happen. We also discuss his background and a surprising discovery that has him feeling great, performing at a high level, and recovering really well.
2021-2022 K2 Reckoner 122
Last season we got to ski a lot of very deep snow on the very wide K2 Reckoner 122. Check out our Full Review and Deep Dive comparisons for more on this new playful pow ski.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Reviewer Reports: Cannondale Jekyll, We Are One Arrival, Nicolai G1, & More (Ep.95)
We’ve been testing a ton of bikes, and have a whole lot of updates to share, including high-pivot Enduro bike comparisons (with some surprising conclusions), an ultra-efficient long-travel Trail bike, and our Bike Editor’s current frontrunner for his favorite bike of 2021.
Fox Rampage Pro Carbon MIPS
Fox’s Rampage Pro Carbon MIPS is a nicely made, well designed DH helmet. Just check the sizing before you buy one.
3-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (21/22)
Check out Part Two of our reviewers’ 3-ski quiver picks, with additions from Jonathan Ellsworth, Kristin Sinnott, Eric Freson, Drew Kelly, Sascha Anastas, & Paul Forward.
Flash Review: 21/22 Shaggy’s Brockway 90
Here are some of our initial thoughts about Shaggy’s wide-ish, piste-oriented 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.
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.)
2022 Canyon Torque
Canyon’s Enduro / Freeride bike, the Torque, just got a big update — including all the wheel size options. Check out our First Look for all the details.
Blister’s Holiday Gift Guide 2021 — Under The Tree
Next up in our 2021 Gift Guide are the items that our reviewers think will make an awesome addition beneath the tree this holiday season.
Reviewing the News w/ Cody Townsend (Nov 2021) (Ep.193)
Cody and Jonathan debate the greatest ski edit of all time; the definition of “ski mountaineering”; whether humans will visit earth as a tourist destination; Alex Honnold & the Fifty Project; and more.
We Are One Arrival
We’ve now spent a lot of time on the We Are One Arrival and it’s one of the most impressive bikes we’ve been on this year — at least for the right rider.
Jonathan’s Sleep Experiment
Our founder has historically been downright terrible in terms of sleeping enough, but he’s now trying to change that. In this ongoing series, he’s documenting the things he’s been reading and listening to to help with the process, and some of the tips, tricks, habits, and products he’s been using.
What We’re Watching — December 2021
This month’s iteration of What We’re Watching includes a whole bunch of skiing and mountain biking videos from a huge range of athletes — and a physics video thrown in, for good measure.
The Pro’s Gear: Hadley Hammer (Ep.173)
We talk to professional skier, Hadley Hammer, about the gear she’s most & least picky about; her own gear preferences; and we fight about The Queen’s Gambit.
Win Any Head Kore Ski
Enter for a chance to win some new lightweight freeride skis!