BLISTER — Outdoor Gear Reviews, Podcasts, Buyer’s Guides, Giveaways

BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles

Jonathan Ellsworth and Luke Koppa review the Black Crows Atris for Blister in Crested Butte, Colorado.

2021-2022 Black Crows Atris

This past season we had two reviewers spending time on the latest iteration of the playful “big-mountain” ski in the Black Crows lineup, the Atris, and you can now check out our full review & Deep Dive comparisons.

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Jonathan Ellsworth and Luke Koppa review the Black Crows Atris for Blister in Crested Butte, Colorado.

Deep Dive: Black Crows Atris

We compare the Atris to the Black Crows Corvus, Rossignol Soul 7 HD, Kastle FX106 HP, Head Kore 105, DPS Alchemist Wailer 106 C2, ON3P Woodsman 108, ON3P Jeffrey 108, Rossignol BLACKOPS Sender Ti, Fischer Ranger 102 FR, Fischer Ranger 107 Ti, Line Sick Day 104, Dynastar M-Free 108, K2 Reckoner 112, Line Sir Francis Bacon, Moment Wildcat 108, Icelantic Nomad 105, 4FRNT MSP 107, Blizzard Rustler 10, Liberty Origin 106, Nordica Enforcer 104 Free, Salomon QST 106, & K2 Mindbender 108Ti.

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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Kingswood Skis founder, Alex Herbert, goes on Blister's GEAR:30 podcast to discuss ski design, the 2020 Southern Hemisphere ski season, and more

Kingswood Skis founder, Alex Herbert (Ep.104)

Kingswood Skis is a custom indie ski manufacturer based on the South Island of New Zealand, and we caught up with Kingswood founder, Alex Herbert, to talk about ski materials, sidewalls, cosmetics & ski repairs, base material thickness, Kingswood’s rather unconventional Race Department.

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Noah Bodman reviews the Tannus Armour Tire Inserts for Blister

Tannus Armour Tire Inserts

We’ve had more reviewers using the Tannus Armour tire inserts, and have updated our review with thoughts on long-term durability; how the inserts perform when primarily used in a rear tire; and how noticeable the different ride quality will feel to beginners and intermediates.

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Gordon Gianniny reviews the Hoka One One Evo Jawz for Blister in Crested Butte, Colorado.

Hoka One One EVO Jawz

Most brands now make at least one mud-oriented shoe for very technical terrain, and most of them are very niche. However, Hoka’s aptly named EVO Jawz has proven to be surprisingly versatile, and seems particularly appealing to those looking for maximum grip and stability — even on longer runs.

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Tyler Jones goes on the Blister podcast to discuss BlackAFinSTEM, Black Birders Week, her master's work on bees, & more

BlackAFinSTEM, Birders, & Bees (Ep.133)

BlackAFinSTEM was started to encourage and support Black individuals who are working in — or who are just passionate about — the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, and also to encourage, support, and increase the visibility of Black naturalists and Black people who recreate and work outdoors. So we talk to Tyler Jones, the co-organizer of Black Birders Week, about all of the above, plus the difference between a bird and a trash bag; Taco Bell & STEM; her graduate work on bees (!!!); and more.

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Blister Brand guide

Blister Brand Guide: Cannondale Mountain Bike Lineup, 2020

Cannondale has become known for coming up with some unique designs, and while their current MTB lineup features some of their proprietary tech, it also spans everything from budget hardtails to XC race rigs to longer-travel Trail bikes. Check out our Brand Guide to see which of their bikes might make sense for you.

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Ben Sims reviews the Revel Ranger for Blister

2021 Revel Ranger

Revel just released their 3rd bike, the Ranger, which blends the signature CBF suspension design with an XC-friendly 115 mm of rear travel. Check out our First Look for more on how the Ranger’s design compares to Revel’s other bikes and the broader short-travel, 29er market.

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Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ellsworth review the Dynastar M-Pro 99 for Blister in Crested Butte, Colorado.

2021-2022 Dynastar M-Pro 99

The M-Pro 99 follows a long line of Dynastar’s directional freeride skis, and we think this new ski represents both an interesting departure and an interesting addition to the lineup. Check out our full review and Deep Dive comparisons.

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Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ellsworth review the Dynastar M-Pro 99 for Blister in Crested Butte, Colorado.

Deep Dive: Dynastar M-Pro 99

We compare the M-Pro 99 to the Dynastar M-Pro 105 / Pro Rider, Dynastar M-Free 108, Dynastar Legend X96, Salomon QST 99, Moment Commander 98, Nordica Enforcer 100, Blizzard Bonafide, Volkl Mantra M5, 4FRNT MSP 99, Fischer Ranger 99 Ti, Volkl Mantra 102, Fischer Ranger 102 FR, Liberty Origin 96, K2 Mindbender 99Ti, J Skis Masterblaster, & Blizzard Rustler 9.

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.)

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BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:

Luke Koppa & Dylan Wood review the DPS Pagoda Tour 100 RP for BLISTER

2021-2022 DPS Pagoda Tour 100 RP

The Pagoda Tour 100 RP is an easy, intuitive touring ski that we think would work very well for the backcountry skiing that most people do. Check out our full review & Deep Dive comparisons.

Luke Koppa & Dylan Wood review the DPS Pagoda Tour 100 RP for BLISTER

Deep Dive: DPS Pagoda Tour 100 RP

We compare the Pagoda Tour 100 RP to the DPS Pagoda 100 RP, Line Vision 98, Salomon MTN Explore 95, Movement Alp Tracks 106, 4FRNT Raven, Fauna Pioneer, Blizzard Zero G 105, Scott Superguide Freetour, K2 Wayback 96, K2 Wayback 106, Nordica Enforcer Unlimited 104, Weston Summit, Armada Tracer 98, WNDR Alpine Vital 100, G3 FINDr 102, Wagner Summit 105, & Renoun Citadel 106.

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.)

Luke Koppa reviews the Nordica Enforcer Unlimited 104 for Blister

Flash Review: 22/23 Nordica Enforcer Unlimited 104

We just spent a day skiing the new Enforcer Unlimited 104 — check out our initial impressions of this new touring 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.)

On our Blister Podcast, we talk to Adrien Grabinski, who Mark Abma calls, “the most responsible 21-year-old I have ever met.” Adrien is the ski patrol director (plus a lot of other things) at Shames Mountain in BC, and he’s a surprise star of Matchstick Productions’ film, The Stomping Grounds.

Ski Patroller & Surprise Ski-Movie Star, Adrien Grabinski (Ep.190)

Adrien Grabinski lives to ski, and Mark Abma calls him, “the most responsible 21-year-old I have ever met.” Adrien is the ski patrol director (plus a lot of other things) at Shames Mountain in BC, and he’s a surprise star of Matchstick Productions’ film, The Stomping Grounds.

Noah Bodman Blister mountain bike review on the Shimano ME5 Shoes

Shimano ME5 Clipless Shoes

Shimano’s ME5 isn’t just a less expensive version of the ME7, it’s a different shoe altogether. And depending on what you’re looking for, that’s actually a really good thing.

Dylan Wood & Luke Koppa Blister mountain bike review on the Hustle Bike Labs Avery REMtech magnetic pedals

Hustle Avery REMTech Magnetic Clipless Pedals

Hustle’s Avery REMtech pedal is the latest take on a magnetic MTB pedal that aims to bring you the best of both the clipless and flat-pedal worlds. Two of our reviewers — one clipless fan, one flats fan — spent several months using the Avery to see where it shines, how it compares to traditional options, how much metal debris is actually on their local trails, and more. Check out their full review.