BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Black Diamond Vector Helmet
Once upon a time, climbing helmets were pretty much all the same. Not anymore. There are ultralight helmets on one end, and durable but heavy options on the other. The Black Diamond Vector falls in between, making it a versatile option. Check out our full review, with comparisons to several helmets from Black Diamond, Petzl, and Mammut.
Suspension 101: Designs
Trying to figure out bike suspension designs – how they work and the pros & cons of each – can feel like you need an engineering degree. So we put together this article to clarify the differences between the various suspension designs on the market. Check it out.
Bikes vs. Skis, 1st Edition (2018): Part 2 (Ep.23)
We’re back with round 2 of Bikes vs. Skis, where we ask the question, “Which particular bike company is most like which particular ski company?”
Win Men’s & Women’s Shoes or Boots from Keen
The two winners of this week’s Giveaway will each win a pair of shoes or boots from Keen’s Targhee or Terradora lines. The revamped men’s Targhee and new women’s Terradora each come in a variety of styles and colors, from breathable low-cut shoes to waterproof boots. So whether you’re planning a short hike after work or a weekend backpacking trip, you can pick a model that’s right for you.
Altra Boston Escalante Racer
The Boston Escalante Racer is supposed to be a “faster, higher-performance” version of their original Escalante. Check out what they changed, what they didn’t, and our initial impressions.
Evolv Agro
While many high-performance bouldering and sport-climbing climbing shoes have been moving in the “soft and sensitive” direction, the Evolv Agro takes a different approach. Check out our review, with comparisons to the La Sportiva Solution, Five Ten Hiangle, and Evolv Shaman.
Matchstick Productions — Hoji
Matchstick Productions just dropped the full trailer for the new Hoji movie, and to say we’re excited would be a pretty serious understatement. Check out the trailer
Deep Dive: Elan Ripstick 106
We compare the Ripstick 106 to the Rossignol Soul 7 HD, Line Sick Day 104, Salomon QST 106, Atomic Bent Chetler 100, Blizzard Rustler 10, Renoun Citadel 106, and Liberty Origin 106.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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2019-2020 Elan Ripstick 106
We got two reviewers on two lengths of the Elan Ripstick 106 this past season, and now it’s time for us to weigh in on this lightweight all-mountain ski. Check out our full review and Deep Dive comparisons.
7 Generations Film — Kickstarter Campaign
The management of public lands has been a very hot topic lately, and in northern Minnesota, two proposed sulfide-ore copper mines have people questioning their impact on the massive nearby wilderness areas. Now, two filmmakers are hoping to shed more light on the issue. Learn more here.
Mountain Equipment Tupilak 37+ Pack
The new Mountain Equipment Tupilak 37+ is one of the best climbing packs we’ve used. Check out our review, including comparisons to the Patagonia Ascensionist and Osprey Variant 37.
Bolt Restrictions, Hardware Committees, and Threatened Access (Ep.14)
Climbing is growing — really fast. At some crags around the country, that means that our impact has also been growing, which has forced the critical question of how best to manage the increased traffic on public lands. So today we’re talking about best practices, controversial approaches, and how climbing culture could be affected if oversight from outside of the climbing community becomes the new norm.
Hoka One One Torrent
Hoka is known for their max-cushioned shoes, but their brand-new Torrent is different. So how does this more moderately-cushioned trail shoe perform, and how does it compare to Hoka’s other trail shoes like the Speedgoat 2 and Evo Mafate? Check out our review.
Mountain Biking 101: DIY Tubeless Tire Sealant
Tubeless tire sealant can get expensive, especially when you’re swapping out tires often, so our bike editor gives the rundown on mixing up your own sealant at home.
Win Men’s & Women’s Sandals from Teva
Enter to win new sandals from Teva.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Unit 1 Helmet System
The Unit 1 Helmet System both protects your head and lets you listen to & control your favorite tunes via its integrated headphones. We’ve been using it this season and have come away quite impressed — check out our full review.
20/21 Blizzard Bonafide 97
Check out our initial on-snow impressions of the new Bonafide 97.
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.)
The Evolution of Grayson Murphy (Ep.34)
In 2019, Grayson Murphy won the US Mountain Running Championship; the World Mountain Running Championship; and the Xterra Trail Run World Championship. But there were many twists and turns along the way in getting there, and perhaps even more impressive and instructive than her wins is her willingness to experiment, adjust, and explore new ideas and practices, which we discuss in this conversation.
Geoff McFetridge: Artist, Designer, Skater, Skier (Ep.116)
Geoff McFetridge is an iconic designer and visual artist who’s worked with the Beastie Boys, Pharrell Williams, Spike Jonez and Rick Rubin, and companies ranging from Patagonia, Nike, the New York Times, Oreo, and many more. Geoff is also a passionate skateboarder and skier, and a big fan of … BLISTER??? So we talk to Geoff about going from being a sponsored skater to starting a skateboard company to designing for some of the biggest companies, bands, musicians, and directors in the world. We discuss skate vs. ski vs. snowboard culture; being a “conflicted” telemarker; and a whole lot more.
2021-2022 Whitedot Ragnarok ASYM
Asymmetrical, plenty of girth, lots of rocker, and a surprisingly low weight — the Whitedot Ragnarok ASYM is a unique-looking ski, and you can check out our First Look for more.
2020-2021 Fischer Ranger 107 Ti
We’ve been spending time on the big gun in Fischer’s all-mountain lineup, the Ranger 107 Ti, and you can now check out our full review.
Best Ski Gear of the Past Decade
We asked more of our reviewers to provide their nominations for the best and most influential skis, ski boots, and ski bindings from the past decade. Check out their selections, then let us know yours.
Win a Helmet & Goggles From Glade
Enter for your chance to win Glade’s new photochromic Adapt Goggle & Tenmile Helmet!
Ski Gear Predictions for the Next Decade (Ep.82)
What will ski gear look like 10 years from now? What gear has the most room for improvement? What gear will *actually* change the most, and what will change the least? And what are our wildest gear predictions for where gear could be in 10 years? We discuss all of this and more.
The North Face Freethinker Futurelight Jacket & Pants
The North Face’s new “Futurelight” fabric has been the mysterious buzzword of the industry this season, and we’ve now spent some time in their Freethinker Futurelight Jacket & Pants. Check out our initial review of this new outwear kit.
Best Mtn Bike Gear of the Past Decade (Ep.13)
Of the entire past decade, what was the most influential bike or bike part? What were the best bikes or bike parts? What were the biggest gear trends? And what was our selection for the Best Product of the Decade? We cover all of this and more.
2021-2022 4FRNT Inthayne
Update: reviewer Cy Whitling has been spending time on 4FRNT’s playful pow ski, the Inthayne, and he now adds his take on the ski.