BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Win Men’s & Women’s Jackets from Strafe
The TWO winners this week will each get Strafe’s versatile Alpha Hooded Insulator!
2021-2022 K2 Disruption MTi, 78C, 78Ti, & 82Ti
We’ve spent the last two weeks testing four of K2’s new Disruption skis back-to-back. Check out our review to see how the Disruption MTi, 78C, 78Ti, & 82Ti compare.
Hunt All-Mountain Carbon H_Impact Wheelset
Can a product that costs half as much as the competition perform just as well? That’s basically what Hunt is claiming about their Carbon H-Impact wheelset, and after 5 months of testing, we actually don’t think they’re far off. Check out our review of this impressive wheelset.
Nathan VaporSwift 4L Race Vest
While many aspects of running are less expensive than other, more gear-intensive sports, running vests can be quite pricey. But the VaporSwift 4L is Nathan’s take on a more affordable, yet still race-ready running vest — check out our review to see how it compares to its higher-end competition.
Peter Bromka on Running & Writing (Ep.76)
Brendan Leonard and Jonathan Ellsworth talk with Peter Bromka, a runner that grew up in Portland, ran at Tufts University, and now is back in Portland where he runs for the Bowerman Track Club Elite Program. But in addition to training hard and running fast, Peter is focused on writing about running itself. And in this conversation, you’ll hear more about how he is currently pursuing both.
Blister’s Holiday Gift Guide 2020 — Under the Tree
Next up in our gift guide are those items that we think would be great under the tree — check out our reviewers’ top picks.
2021 Pivot Mach 6
Pivot just announced a brand-new bike — the latest generation of their 27.5″ Trail / Enduro bike, the Mach 6. Check out our First Look to learn more about the bike that Pivot says offers “eye-watering speed, telepathic handling, & unflappable stability.”
Inclusivity & Innovation in the Outdoor Industry: Moosejaw CEO, Eoin Comerford (Ep.153)
We talk with Moosejaw’s CEO, Eoin Comerford, about how to increase diversity and inclusivity in the outdoor industry; the Moosejaw Outdoor Accelerator; what Moosejaw’s aims are today, and how those aims are informed by Moosejaw’s parent company, Walmart; and more.
Canfield Bikes’ Lance Canfield (Ep.45)
We talk to Lance Canfield about Canfield’s new Tilt and Lithium bikes and the rest of their 20/21 lineup; the origins story of Canfield; the evolution of Rampage and competing in the first Rampage comps; the mountain bike industry today; and more.
Blister Brand Guide: Topo Athletic Running Shoe Lineup, 2020
Topo Athletic continues to expand their line of low-drop, wide-toebox running shoes — check out our Brand Guide for the full rundown on their 2020 lineup and which model might make the most sense for how and where you run.
Ski Quivers for Garden Gnomes, 1-Year-Olds, & Heli Guides (Ep.125)
We talk to Blister reviewers Sascha Anastas & Paul Forward about their ski quivers; binding preferences; coffee in AK; your questions; and more.
Win Men’s & Women’s Kits from Le Bent
The TWO winners this week will each get kitted out head-to-toe by Le Bent!
2-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (20/21)
Check out Part Two of our reviewers’ 2-ski quiver selections, with additions from Kristin Sinnott, Jonathan Ellsworth, Sascha Anastas, Eric Freson, & Sam Shaheen.
Protect Your Phone: Survivor Endurance Case
We talk about protecting our brains with a helmet, and our bank accounts with injury insurance. Time to talk about protecting the pocket supercomputers we all carry when we’re skiing, riding, running, and wrecking.
On Guide Books & Decision Making in the Backcountry (Ep.152)
Sales of backcountry guide books are up, and more and more people are venturing out. So we talked with Beacon Guide Books founder, Andy Sovick about how he got into publishing guide books; why he actually dislikes the term “guide books”; whether or not backcountry guide books should even exist; the responsibilities that come with publishing them; why Andy is an advocate of the “ATES” system (Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale); and more.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
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.
Search And Rescue: What You Need to Know, and How / Why You Should Get Involved (Ep.203)
When things go wrong in the backcountry, your local Search And Rescue organization becomes crucial. But what do you know about how Search And Rescue actually works? We talk with our friend, Cy Whitling, about how and why he got involved in Search And Rescue, why we all need to understand how SAR units operate, and why you should consider getting involved.
Debatable: You Should Try Flat Pedals (Again)
Flat pedals have essentially disappeared from the upper echelons of bike racing, but there’s a lot more to life than just going fast, and our Bike Editor makes the case why even the most staunch clipless acolytes should learn to ride flat pedals, too.
Reviewer Reports: Custom Insoles, Skis Boots, & Skis (Ep.184)
Kara Williard spells out the case for custom insoles in your ski boots, and we discuss everything from the Volkl Secret 96, Salomon Stance 88W, WNDR Alpine Reason 120, 4FRNT Renegade, the Lange RX 130 LV, Salomon Shift Pro 130, the new Line Blade Optic 96, Shaggy’s Ahmeek 95, and Moment Deathwish 104 with Kara, Luke Koppa, and Eric Freson.
Win Men’s & Women’s Picture Organic Jackets
This week the TWO winners will each get one of Picture Organic’s ski / snowboard jackets!
2022-2023 Volkl Secret 96
The Secret 96 is a particularly impressive women’s all-mountain ski for those who prioritize stability, suspension, and precision. Check out our full review for more.
Flash Review: 21/22 Stereo Lynx MK 4
We’ve been spending time on Stereo’s do-everything 100mm-wide ski, the Lynx, and there have been lots of surprises so far.
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.)
Rossignol Announces 22/23 Sender & Rallybird Skis & HI-SPEED Boots
Rossignol is tweaking several of their freeride skis for 22/23, as well as launching an entirely new collection of alpine boots. Check out the details here.
Ed Masters on Racing DH & Enduro at the Top Level (Ep.104)
We’ve got Ed Masters on Bikes & Big Ideas this week to talk about the incredible end to the 2021 World Cup season (and get hyped for racing to fire back up in 2022); catch up on his injury-laden 2021 season and how he’s doing these days; the similarities and differences between Enduro and DH, and the challenges of racing both; and a whole lot more.
Flash Review: 21/22 Atomic Hawx Ultra 130 Professional
Update 2.9.22: Luke Koppa adds his thoughts on the Atomic Mimic Professional liner (used with a non-Atomic shell) and Atomic Professional Dual Strap (vs. a Booster strap).
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.)