BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Salomon S/Lab Sense 8
The Salomon S/Lab Sense 8 is an example of a product that’s designed to do a pretty specific thing, and that does that exceptionally well. But what about using it outside of racing and fast runs? Check out our review.
2020-2021 Salomon Stance 90
New for 20/21, the Salomon Stance 90 is a metal-laminate all-mountain ski with a design that has us excited about its potential versatility. Check out our First Look to see why.
ON3P Skis 20/21 Lineup with Scott Andrus (Ep.102)
We talk to the founder of ON3P Skis, Scott Andrus, about the ON3P lineup for the upcoming season. There is a lot of new and interesting stuff going on at ON3P, and we break quite a bit of news in this conversation. Check it out.
Win Shorts & Vests from Ultimate Direction
Enter for a chance to win Ultimate Direction’s hydration-integrated Hydro Shorts + pick any of their vests!
Deep Dive: Alpine Touring Bindings, 2020
We directly compare several of the current, more downhill-oriented touring bindings, including the Salomon / Atomic Shift MNC 13, Marker Duke PT 16, CAST Freetour, Fritschi Tecton, Marker Kingpin, G3 ION 12, Fritschi Vipec EVO, & Dynafit ST Rotation 10. We also discuss what you tend to gain and give up by going to much lighter touring bindings, and in what scenarios that lighter category might make more sense for you.
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.)
Bikes, Bike Shops, & Crack Waffles (Ep. 27)
We sit down with bike-industry veterans Simon Stewart and Joe Parkin to announce their brand-new shop name; talk about what it’s like to own and operate a bike shop in these times; and finally, we discuss Joe’s wildly addictive creation that our editor-in-chief calls, the “Crack Waffle.”
Five Ten Kestrel Pro Boa
Five Ten’s Kestrel Pro Boa clipless mtb shoe combines elements from stiff & light XC shoes and much burlier, hike-friendly options, and the result is a very versatile shoe. Check out our review for more.
Running Shorts Roundup — 2020
Every year we get more and more running short options, from those that could replace your hydration vest to ultra minimal pairs. We’ve rounded up 8 men’s & women’s options that we’ve been using and detail what sets each apart from the others.
2021-2022 Movement Fly Two 115
Movement’s Fly Two collection is targeted at skiers who like to take a playful approach to the mountain, and their Fly Two 115 in particular has us very excited about its potential to be both playful and stable. Check out our First Look to see why.
How to Recreate Responsibly in the Time of COVID (Ep. 130)
As a number of locations are beginning to relax travel restrictions and are able to welcome visitors back, we wanted to discuss some important reminders and best practices for recreating responsibly in this time of COVID. We’ve also included some important links in the show notes to this episode that you should check out to ensure that you are up-to-date on state and local ordinances. So give this a listen, and let’s all do our best to do things the right way.
2020 Yeti SB130
We’ve had more reviewers spending more time on Yeti’s mid-travel 29er, and have updated our review of the SB130.
Flash Review: 20/21 Majesty Superwolf
Update 5.25.20: we recently got the Superwolf into some truly firm, steep terrain and have updated our thoughts on its performance.
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.)
Flash Review: 20/21 Strafe Cham Jacket & Pants
We just spent a long day in Strafe’s new Cham kit and came away with some extremely positive 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.
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.)
Mojo MORC 40 Offset-Reducing Crowns
Last year we started to see several of the best DH racers in the world using non-standard fork crowns, many of which turned out to be the Mojo MORC 40. They’re now available to the public, and we’ve been testing these offset-reducing crowns to see just how much of an impact they make on trail, and whether or not you need to be a World Cup racer to appreciate them.
Zach Bitter on His New 100-Mile Treadmill World Record (Ep.52)
Not only does Zach Bitter hold the world record for the fastest time that a human has run 100 miles, he recently just set the record for fastest 100 miles ever run … on a treadmill?? So we spoke to Zach about when he first got the idea to attempt this; the biggest differences between running 100 miles on a treadmill vs a track; his preparation and strategy; and Mike McKnight’s recent ‘Zero-Calorie 100’ effort.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Running Through the News (Sep / Oct 2021) (Ep.98)
Sanjay Rawal joins us to discuss the Boston Marathon being held on Indigenous People’s Day; why the sport of long-distance running is particularly well-positioned to create a more equitable situation for indigenous people; the ramifications of having so many high-profile marathons held so close to one another; and the mission of Shalane Flanagan.
Sturtevants
Sturtevants are our Recommended Ski & Bike Shops in the Sun Valley area, and not only do they offer excellent service and products, they also offer tons of ski and bike demos and a full guiding outfit out of their shops.
Willi’s Ski Shops
Willi’s Ski shops are our Recommended Shops in the Pittsburgh area because they offer the vital services that the ski industry is reliant upon for growth, from junior buyback programs to beginner packages and affordable season lease options — in addition to high-end gear and tuning services.
Vertical Playground
Vertical Playground is our recommended shop in Norway because of their widespread expertise on gear and services for everything from ski touring to mountain biking, climbing, hiking, whitewater kayaking, and more.
The GOAT: Greg Minnaar (Ep.87)
We catch up with Greg Minnaar, the greatest DH rider of all time, about this past season and his World Champs victory; keys to his high-level longevity; his mental approach to racing; Tom Brady; and more.
Leatt 5.0 Clipless Shoes
Leatt’s 5.0 Clipless shoe offers downhill-worthy protection in a package that still pedals impressively well — and it’s competitively priced. That sounds great, but is there a catch?
Pon Holdings to Buy Dorel Sports (Cannondale, GT, & More)
Pon Holdings — the Dutch conglomerate that owns Santa Cruz, among other brands — has just agreed to buy Cannondale, GT, and more from Dorel for $810 million.
McKenna Peterson on Ski Movies, Boats, & Hemingway’s Typewriter (Ep.185)
Last Friday, we had a GEAR:30 conversation with McKenna Peterson to discuss her ski gear preferences. Today, we dive into McKenna’s past and present to talk about her segment in the new MSP film; discuss some of the formative events of her life, and learn more about what makes this professional skier (and professional commercial fishing captain) tick.
Flash Review: 2022 Norco Range
The 2022 Norco Range gets a new high-pivot layout, and the results are eye-opening. 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.)
What We’re Watching — October 2021
Our recurring What We’re Watching series is back, and we’ve got a dozen skiing, biking, and fishing videos for your enjoyment. There’s everything from quick shredits to some longer options, and a bit of recent event coverage, too.
The Pro’s Gear: McKenna Peterson (Ep.166)
We sat down with one of the stars of Matchstick Productions’ new film, The Stomping Grounds, to discuss her personal gear preferences; what ski equipment she’d most like to see get made; the topic of women-specific gear; the best ways to get more women involved in skiing; and more.
Win an Outerwear Kit from Outdoor Research
Enter for a chance to win OR’s Skytour Ascentshell Jacket & Bibs!