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:
Gear of the Year, 2021 (Ep.99)
2021 was Blister’s busiest year ever for testing mountain bikes and gear, and there were some real standout products among that crop. So we rounded up a bunch of our reviewers to give a rundown of the highlights of the last year, and we make some predictions for the year to come and talk about a bunch of the bikes and gear that we’re most excited to spend time on soon, too.
Reviewing the News w/ Cody Townsend (Dec 2021) (Ep.197)
Cody and Jonathan discuss the current situation of under-staffed & overcrowded ski areas; national parks and Native American tribes; the looming shortage of lithium batteries for electric vehicles; whether or not to ski the backcountry with your dog; what we’re watching; and more.
Ion Rascal Amp
The Ion Rascal Amp doesn’t try to be the techiest, most gadget-laden shoe on the market. Instead, it tries to take a tried-and-true design and execute it well. So did Ion succeed?
Flash Review: 21/22 J Skis Masterblaster
Update 1.4.22: With all the recent snow, we’ve been able to see how the new Masterblaster handles softer and steeper off-piste conditions, and have some more thoughts on the 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.)
2021-2022 Nordica Santa Ana 104 Free
We’ve now had multiple reviewers on the Nordica Santa Ana 104 Free, and in this update, Kara Williard adds her thoughts on this metal-laminate women’s all-mountain ski.
2022 Norco Range
Even by the standards of ~170mm travel Enduro bikes, the Norco Range is quite the bruiser — both on the way down, and on the climb back up. But for the right rider, that makes it something special.
What We’re Watching — January 2022
Kick off the new year (or ride out the post-NYE hangover?) with this month’s installation of What We’re Watching, which includes everything from quick edits to a couple of feature-length ski, bike and climbing films.
Over The Edge
Over The Edge has more than 25 years of experience as a core mountain bike shop, dedicated to serving their customers with top notch sales and service, as well as leading trail building efforts in their communities.
ON3P Skis 22/23 Lineup with Scott Andrus (Ep.177)
We talk with ON3P Skis founder, Scott Andrus, about what’s been going on at ON3P, and we walk through the brand’s 22/23 lineup of skis.
Win Season Skis or Boards
Enter for a chance to win any Season snowboard or pair of skis you want!
Deep Dive: Lange Ski Boots Brand Lineup, 21/22
Second in our new Deep Dive series on ski boot lines is the 21/22 Lange ski boot collection, which includes everything from racing to free-touring boots, and we discuss all notable specs, features, most similar boots from other brands, and more. Become a Deep Dive subscriber or Blister Member to check it out.
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.)
Michele Graglia on Success & Struggle (Ep.102)
Michele Graglia has racked up a number of major victories in his career, including wins at the Badwater 135, Yukon Arctic Ultra, the Moab 240, and more. But in this conversation, we focus on some of Michele’s recent struggles, disappointments, and difficulties, and Michele talks about what he’s learned along the way — and what he’s still learning.