BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Deep Dive: Armada Tracer 108
We compare the Tracer 108 to the Line Sick Day 104, Salomon QST 106, Rossignol Soul 7 HD, Atomic Backland FR 109, Liberty Origin 106, Faction Candide 3.0, Blizzard Rustler 10, Sego Condor Ti, and more…
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Petzl Boreo Helmet
Climbing helmet standards have typically been focused on protecting against impacts from above (e.g. rockfall). But Petzl’s new Boreo helmet is also tested against the front, side, and rear impacts that are common in actual falls. The idea certainly makes sense, but how well is that idea executed here? Check out our review.
2018-2019 Armada Tracer 108
After skiing it in the resort and touring on it in the backcountry, the redesigned Armada Tracer 108 has proven to be a versatile, predictable, and playful 50/50 ski. Check out our full review.
Moment Blister Pro: the History
You’ve been asking, and now we can confirm: the Blister Pro is coming back. And we figured now would be a good time to detail the history of how this ski came to be, and when you’ll be able to get yours. Check it out.
Kristin van der Kloot
Age: 29 | Vitals: 5’2”, ~100 lbs. | Years Climbing: 9 | Current Residence: Stamford, CT I’ve always had a passion for the outdoors. I grew up skiing, climbing, backpacking, surfing…you name it; as long as it was outside, I loved it. Last year I
Hoka One One Clifton 5
Hoka’s Clifton has garnered a loyal following over the years due to its generous cushioning and plush ride. But the shoe has also evolved over the years, and the new Clifton 5 continues to push the shoe in new directions. Check out our review, with comparisons to the Hoka Stinson ATR 4, Altra Duo, and Altra Olympus 3.0.
Five Ten Hellcat Pro
The Five Ten Hellcat Pro is a burly, downhill-oriented clipless shoe that’s designed to offer lots of protection and comfort while maintaining pedaling efficiency. And for that use, it’s one of the best options we’ve tried.
Deep Dive: Rossignol Experience 94 Ti
We compare the Experience 94 Ti to the Nordica Enforcer 93, DPS Foundation Cassiar 94, Atomic Vantage 97 Ti, Blizzard Brahma & Bonafide, J Skis Masterblaster, Volkl Mantra M5, and more…
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 a member, please log in.
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Kenda Hellkat Pro Tire
The gravity / DH tire category has been dominated by a few specific options for years, but Kenda aims to change that with their Hellkat Pro. So we spent a few months riding on the Hellkat Pro to see how it compares to options like the Maxxis Minion DHF, Maxxis High Roller II, and WTB Convict.
Win Men’s & Women’s Sunglasses from Smith
Need new shades? Enter now for your chance to win a pair from Smith.
2018-2019 K2 Pinnacle 95 Ti
Light, but pretty stable. Surfy, but can hold an edge. Forgiving, but supportive. The newest iteration of the K2 Pinnacle 95 Ti feels like a bit of a contradiction, but the result is a pretty versatile ski that we think a lot of skiers may enjoy. Check out our full review.
Alex Honnold & Maury Birdwell on the Honnold Foundation and filming Free Solo (Ep.15)
Alex Honnold is arguably the best and certainly the boldest climber in a generation, with a mind-bending free solo ascent of El Cap, and an unbelievable speed record on The Nose in under two hours. In this episode, we sat down with Alex and Maury Birdwell to talk about what may be an even more impressive accomplishment: the Honnold Foundation. (And, of course, we sneak in some talk about climbing, too.)
Race Face Next R Cranks
The Next R sits in the middle of Race Face’s high-end crank lineup, slotted between their burly DH cranks and lighter XC options. So how does the Next R differentiate itself from the many other options out there? Short answer: a lot of ways. Check out our full review.
2019-2020 ON3P Wrenegade 96
The brand-new ON3P Wrenegade 96 is the narrowest directional ski in ON3P’s lineup, but it definitely doesn’t look like some corduroy cruiser. So how does it compare to the Wren 98 it replaced, as well as other skis in its class? Check out our measured specs, rocker pics, initial impressions, and Flash Review.
18/19 ON3P Wrenegade 96
We spent a couple days on the brand-new Wren 96, and here you can check out our initial on-snow impressions and comparisons to the old Wren 98, and the Nordica Enforcer 100.
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 a 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.)
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Trail Sisters founder, Gina Lucrezi (Ep.35)
Trail Sisters is a trail running community for women and an online journal that offer lots of great resources — including articles and stories, grants, retreats, directories for female coaches, trail locations, and races that meet the trail sisters standards for gender equity. So we spoke to Gina Lucrezi, the founder of Trail Sisters, about the unusual way in which Gina got into running; her impressive accomplishments as a runner; the remarkable things happening at Trail Sisters; the ways you can get involved with and support Trail Sisters; and more.
2021-2022 Åsnes Voss Z’N
Åsnes is a Norwegian brand that has been making skis for 95 years, and this year we’re testing their big-mountain-touring ski, the Voss Z’N. Check out our video First Look & writeup.
Thor Verdonk: A Life in Ski & Ski Boot Design (Ep.117)
In the world of ski and ski boot design, Thor Verdonk is well known and very well respected. So we talked to Thor about his background, his 25+ year career with the Rossignol Group and how he became the Global Brand Director for Lange, then we talk about the history of ski design and ski boot design; developing the Rossi S7; and we get his predictions about what the ski industry will look like 10 years from now.
Armada Announces New Declivity Skis
Armada just announced a completely new line of directional, metal-laminate skis that features some interesting technology. Check out our writeup to learn more about the new 20/21 Armada Declivity Series.
Winter Baby Outerwear Roundup
If you’re looking for ways to let your little one comfortably enjoy the (cold) fresh air this winter, check out our baby outerwear roundup where we cover a variety of pieces from one-pieces to jackets to overalls.
Win a 2-Night Stay at Elevation in Crested Butte
Enter for your chance to come ride with us in Crested Butte!
The Future of Lange & the New XT3 Ski Boot (Ep.83)
On our latest episode of GEAR:30, we talk to Lange’s Global Brand Director, Thor Verdonk, about Lange’s use of “dual core” technology; why “ski boots should be alive”; the brand-new, 3rd generation, Lange “XT3”; heat-moldable shells; 3d printed boots; the future of Lange; and more.
2021-2022 Atomic Backland 107
We’ve had two reviewers skiing Atomic’s Backland 107 on everything from July suncups to deep mid-winter pow. Check out our Full Review & Deep Dive comparisons of this freeride touring ski.
Deep Dive: Atomic Backland 107
We compare the Backland 107 to the Black Diamond Helio 105, Blizzard Zero G 105, K2 Wayback 106, Line Vision 108, Ampler Facelift 108, G3 FINDr 102, 4FRNT Raven, & Moment Wildcat Tour 108.
Bike Industry Predictions for the Next Decade (Ep.14)
What will the mountain biking industry look like 10 years from now? What current product categories have the most room for improvement, and where will the actual advancements in bike tech take place by the end of 2029? What categories of riding will have grown, and which will have shrunk? We discuss all of this and more, including our wildest predictions for this next decade.
2021-2022 Parlor Cardinal Pro
Boston-based Parlor Skis recently added a metal-laminate ski to their lineup, the Cardinal Pro, which is designed to be a stable and versatile all-mountain ski. Check out our First Look video & writeup.
Blizzard Announces New All-Mountain Freeride Skis
Update: in addition to their new Black Pearl 88 & 97, Brahma 88, & Bonafide 97, Blizzard is also updating the Cochise. Learn more about the new Cochise 106 here.