BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Reviewing the News w/ Cody Townsend (Nov 2020) (Ep.150)
Today we are launching a new segment on the Blister Podcast. Each month, Cody Townsend and Jonathan Ellsworth discuss some of the biggest stories and most interesting news headlines from the world of outdoor sports, and on occasion, the broader world, too. We also share some of the best things we’ve watched, read, or listened to.
Blister Brand Guide: Nike Trail Running Shoe Lineup, 2020
Nike continues to expand their trail-running lineup, and in our Brand Guide we cover every shoe in their 2020 Trail lineup to help you figure out how each shoe differs and which might make the most sense for you.
Reviewer Reports: Shoulder Season MTB Gear + Forks Roundup (Ep.43)
For many of us, it’s shoulder season, where the riding conditions are wet, muddy, and / or cold. And some of us live in places where we regularly encounter those conditions. So on our latest Bikes & Big Ideas podcast, we discuss why some of the apparel that’s intended for wet/muddy riding sucks; which products have worked the best for us; and then we shift to a conversation about forks from Fox, RockShox, and Manitou.
Bending the Paradigm: Polartec’s Approach to “Waterproofness” & Comfort (Ep.122)
What does “waterproof” really mean, and when should you worry (and not worry) about a 10k or 20k rating on the jacket or pants you are thinking of buying? Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ellsworth spoke with Michael Cattanach, the product design director at Polartec, about the “ingredients” used to make your favorite apparel; Polartec’s history; and what Polartec is up to today.
Win any Moment Ski
The winner this week will get to pick any pair of skis they want from Moment’s 20/21 lineup!
Hayes Dominion A4 Brakes
After 6 months of testing, the Hayes Dominion A4 has become one of our all-time favorite brakes for aggressive trail and DH riding.
5-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (20/21)
It’s once again that time of year where we spend way too much time thinking about ski quivers, so we’re kicking off our reviewers’ personal quiver selections with the big ones: 5-ski quivers.
Billy Yang on Running, Filmmaking, Media, Moving (??), & More (Ep.72)
Billy Yang is (among other things) a runner, filmmaker (Billy Yang Films), podcast host (Billy Yang Podcast), and someone who has been chronicling the sport of running in a fashion that is often beautiful, and always inspiring. So Brendan Leonard and Jonathan Ellsworth talked to Billy about everything from cigarette brands to the need for more compassionate critical thinking in our world.
Adaptive Sports & Recreation: Past, Present, & Future (Ep.149)
Did you know that 1 out of 5 people in the United States have a disability? That is just one reason why you ought to know about the world of adaptive sports. So to get an overview of the past, present, and future of adaptive sports and recreation, we sat down with Chris Read and Betty Philbin of the Adaptive Sports Center of Crested Butte.
20/21 Blister Buyer’s Guide + Your Questions (Ep.121)
Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ellsworth discuss some of the highlights and big takeaways from our new Winter Buyer’s Guide; our Best Of award winners; whether or not the 20/21 crop of ski gear represents a step forward; and we then answer a lot of the questions you submitted.
Win any Liberty Ski
The winner this week will get to pick any pair of skis they want from Liberty’s 20/21 lineup!
Smith Forefront 2 Helmet & Attack MAG MTB Glasses
Smith recently updated their highest-end Trail helmet, the Forefront 2, and we’ve been testing the new version along with their Attack MAG MTB Glasses to see how the two work together and how they compare to the competition.
How to Care for Your Waterproof Outerwear & Down Jackets
Ok, people, our outwear nerds / gurus want you to start properly taking care of and cleaning your waterproof jackets & pants, down jackets & mid layers, and other technical apparel to keep them performing at their best. So they’ll tell you how, and recommend several products to use.
Altra Superior 4.5
The Superior remains Altra’s most minimally cushioned, all-round trail shoe, but how different is the latest Superior 4.5 compared to prior iterations, and who should be considering the new shoe? Check out our review.
2020 Guerrilla Gravity Gnarvana
Enduro racer? Long-legged Trail bike? Both? After 3 months of riding, we’ve updated our full review of Guerrilla Gravity’s longest-travel bike, the Gnarvana, and provide our take on where it slots into the market.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Katy Winton on 2021, Life as an EWS Pro, & Signing With GT (Ep.103)
We sat down with Katy Winton to get the full story on her whirlwind 2021 season — including having to start her own team at the 11th hour — as well as her recent signing with GT. And along the way she sheds a ton of light on life as a professional racer, and everything that goes into training, mental preparation, race-day focus, managing a career and team contracts, and a whole lot more.
2022-2023 Salomon S/Lab MTN Summit
After a brief hiatus, Salomon is back in the lightweight touring boot game, and the MTN Summit boots are an interesting addition to this growing — and diversifying — category. Check out our First Look & Flash Review for more info.
Salomon’s Mike Ambrose on Shoe Design; Trail Culture(s); & How He Got to Where He Is (Ep.105)
We talk to Salomon’s Mike Ambrose about running shoe design; taking a shoe from concept to production; his life in running and the running industry; European vs. North American markets; & what’s next in running shoes.
Nordica Announces New 22/23 Unleashed Skis
Today Nordica announced their new Unleashed collection skis — the more playful, off-piste-oriented counterparts to the Enforcer & Santa Ana skis. Learn more about the new line here.
Flash Review: 22/23 Line Blade Optic 96
We’ve been spending time on Line’s new freeride skis and our initial impressions have been very interesting. Check out our thoughts on the Blade Optic 96.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Blister Summit 2022: What, When, & How to Join
Our Blister Summit is coming back in February 2022, and registration is currently open for Blister Members. Learn all about it here.
2023 Santa Cruz Heckler
Santa Cruz’s Heckler e-bike just got a big update — including more suspension travel, bigger wheels, and more. Check out our First Look for all the details.
On Our Blister ‘Crash Course’ Telemark Video & Future Crash Course Videos (Ep.201)
Last week, we released our Blister ‘Crash Course’ Telemark video, and today, Jonathan Ellsworth, Luke Koppa, and Dylan Wood talk about their experience tele’ing for the first time. We’re also joined by the star of the video, Kristin Sinnott, to learn why she was a million times better than the rest of us. Then we discuss ideas for future Blister Crash Course videos, so check the conversation, then let us know what you think we ought to do for our next Crash Course videos.
Stuff We Like: January 2022
Our latest Stuff We Like roundup features everything from shovels to boots, jackets, MTB shoes, and more. Check it out to see all the miscellaneous products our reviewers have been digging.
Flash Review — Öhlins RXF38 m.2
We’ve just started testing the new Ohlins RXF38 — their competitor to the Fox 38 and RockShox ZEB. Check out our Flash Review for our early 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.
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.)
Topic of the Week: Get Lights, Go Night Riding
Our Bike Editor has been re-discovering the joy of night riding recently and thinks you should, too.
New 2022/2023 Ski Gear (Ep.182)
Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ellsworth discuss a ton of next season’s new products, and some of the most intriguing product categories.