BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Salomon Sense Ride 3
Now in its 3rd iteration, the Salomon Sense Ride is a shoe that stands out not because it’s exceptional at one particular thing, but because of how well it performs across such a wide spectrum of trails and distances. Check out our full review.
Kelly Roberts on How to Start Running, Keep Running, & Her Badass Lady Gang (Ep.65)
Ever feel like you aren’t — or couldn’t ever possibly be — a “real” runner? Most of us have, which is why most of us need to meet Kelly Roberts. Kelly is good at making us feel fine about the fact that we sometimes hate running. And she’s equally good at helping us continue to run — or walk, or bike, or just keep moving. So we talk to Kelly about her moving (and hilarious) entrance into running; her Badass Lady Gang; angel ghosts; and more.
2020 Rocky Mountain Instinct BC Edition
We’ve now had 3 reviewers on Rocky Mountain’s “aggressive trail” bike, the Instinct BC. Check out our updated review for each of their takes, and how the bike compares to several other options in its class.
Paul Forward on Hunting, Climate Advocacy, & Conservation (Ep.141)
Blister reviewer, Paul Forward, is a lifelong hunter. Jonathan Ellsworth has been a vegetarian for over 20 years. So how much common ground do they share? We discuss that plus Paul’s latest solo hunt; why he only hunts with a bow; what the broader hunting community might learn from skiers & mtn bikers in terms of climate advocacy; and what skiers & mtn bikers could stand to learn from the hunting community about conservation.
What Makes a Face Mask More or Less Effective? (Ep.112)
Not all bikes or skis are equally good at all things — and the same goes for protective face masks. So we talked with Alex Lauver and Kat Schoewe of Outdoor Research about what type of masks are the most & least effective; how Outdoor Research’s work on medical-grade PPE has influenced their commercially available Essential Face Mask; we make some predictions about the upcoming ski season; and more.
We Got Reviewed: Our Podcasts, Buyer’s Guide, & Blister Membership
Someone recently listened to *every single* episode of our Blister Podcast — plus a bunch of episodes from our other podcasts — then posted his thoughts on them as well as our Buyer’s Guide and Blister Membership. It’s a pretty fun and interesting read, so check it out.
Win a Midlayer from Cortazu
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get an active-insulation midlayer!
2021-2022 Rossignol BLACKOPS Sender
The new Rossignol BLACKOPS Sender fills an interesting role. It essentially serves as a replacement for the exceptionally popular Soul 7, it’s also positioned as the easier alternative to the new BLACKOPS Sender Ti, and now we’re chiming in on how it compares to both of those skis, and who we think will like it the most. Check out our full review & Deep Dive comparisons.
Deep Dive: Rossignol BLACKOPS Sender
We compare the BLACKOPS Sender to the BLACKOPS Sender Ti, Rossignol Soul 7, Line Sick Day 104, Liberty Origin 106, Head Kore 105, Salomon QST 106, Fischer Ranger 102 FR, Nordica Enforcer 104 Free, Nordica Enforcer 100, Fischer Ranger 99 Ti, Blizzard Rustler 10, Volkl Mantra 102, 4FRNT MSP 99, Kastle FX106 HP, & Icelantic Nomad 105.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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2021 Fox Float X2 Shock
The Float X2 is Fox’s most downhill-oriented air shock, and they made a lot of changes to it for 2021. Do those changes actually make a difference? We’d say yes, and also think they make it one of the standout air-shocks on the market today — whether you’re racing DH or just want better downhill performance out of your Trail bike.
La Sportiva Jackal
La Sportiva has become known for making rugged, stable shoes for running in mountainous terrain. But with their new Jackal, they’re targeting runners who want all-day comfort for longer outings, and we think they’ve done a good job of accomplishing that goal.
Olympian Simi Hamilton on XC Skiing & Running (Ep.64)
We talk to 3-time Olympian, Simi Hamilton, about XC skiing and running; competition & competitive drive; his recent win of the Audi Power of 4; and Jonathan Ellsworth tries to instigate a battle between Simi and a previous Off The Couch guest.
2021 Fox Transfer Dropper Post
The Fox Transfer dropper post has been one of the more reliable options on the market in the past, and they made some notable updates for 2021 that we think make the newest iteration even more appealing. Check out our full review.
Moment Skis 20/21 Lineup (Ep.111)
Moment Skis CEO, Luke Jacobson, is back on the show to talk with Jonathan Ellsworth about the 20/21 lineup. Come to learn what’s new, stay for all their arguments and tangents.
Win a Pack, Shoes, & Apparel from Mystery Ranch, Oboz, Duckworth, & Jelt
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get a pair of shoes or boots, a backpack, a merino-wool T-shirt, a merino sweater, & a belt!
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Flash Review: 21/22 Head Kore 103 W
Here are some of our initial thoughts on the widest ski in the women’s Head Kore series, including comparisons to the Nordica Santa Ana 104.
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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Guerrilla Gravity on 10 Years of US-Made Bikes (Ep.98)
Guerrilla Gravity just celebrated their 10th anniversary, so we figured it was a good time to check in with co-founders Will Montague and Matt Giaraffa and get some stories from their first decade, hear what’s next for the not-so-little-anymore brand, get their predictions for the future of the bike industry, and a whole lot more.
Flash Review: 21/22 RMU North Shore YLE 110
Here are our initial impressions of RMU’s big-mountain pow ski, including comparisons to the RMU Apostle 3.0 106 & Head Kore 111.
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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Flash Review: 21/22 Head Kore 111
With all the snow here in Crested Butte, we’ve been spending more time on Head’s new Kore ski. Check out Dylan Wood’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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2021-2022 4FRNT Renegade
We’ve now been able to get several reviewers on both lengths of 4FRNT / Eric Hjorleifson’s pow ski. Check out our Full Review & Deep Dive comparisons.
Deep Dive: 4FRNT Renegade
We compare the Renegade to the 4FRNT Inthayne, Moment Chipotle Banana, Folsom Rapture, Dynastar M-Free 118, DPS Foundation Koala 118, Volkl Revolt 121, K2 Reckoner 122, Atomic Bent Chetler 120, Kye Shapes Numinous, Line Pescado, Rossignol Blackops Gamer, and Line Outline.
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.
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Cascade Components Full Guide
Cascade Components’ new chain guide promises great chain retention, low weight, and easy setup — i.e., all the things we look for in a chain guide. But does it deliver? And are there any downsides?
The Current Storm, Backcountry Travel, & Best Practices (Ep.196)
Many areas are currently getting hammered with snow, and the consequences of backcountry travel are high. So we asked Zach Guy, lead forecaster for the CBAC, to come back on the podcast to discuss some best practices and important reminders for anyone venturing out.
Reviewer Reports: Backcountry Ski Touring Gear (Ep.176)
We discuss some of the backcountry gear that Paul Forward has been testing around Girdwood, Alaska, including skis from Moonlight and Movement; bindings from Moment and Dynafit; skins from G3 and Pomoca; and Scarpa boots. We also discuss current trends (fads?) in ski poles, and the underrated value of a good snow saw.
Win SPY Goggles & Helmets
This week TWO winners will each get a Marauder Elite Goggle and Astronomic MIPS Helmet from SPY. Enter for your chance to win!
2021-2022 Black Crows Serpo
The new 93mm-wide Serpo isn’t like most skis in its class, yet we’ve found it to be a very versatile ski that could work for a wide variety of skiers. Check out our Full Review and Deep Dive comparisons.
Deep Dive: Black Crows Serpo
We compare the Serpo to the Atomic Maverick 95 Ti, Armada Declivity 92 Ti, Volkl M6 Mantra, Nordica Enforcer 94, Blizzard Rustler 9, Black Crows Camox, Salomon QST 98, Salomon Stance 96, 4FRNT MSP 99, Blizzard Bonafide 97, Moment Commander 98, Fischer Ranger 94 FR, Dynastar M-Pro 99, K2 Mindbender 99Ti, Liberty Origin 96, Shaggy’s Ahmeek 95, and DPS Pagoda Piste 94 C2.
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.)