BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Flash Review: 20/21 Lange XT3 130 LV
Update 3.27.20: We’ve spent a bit more time in Lange’s new AT boot and have updated our Flash Review.
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2021-2022 Parlor McFellon Pro
The Parlor McFellon Pro & Mountain Jay make for a great example of how you can take the same shape and come up with two very different skis that work for very different skiers. Check out our full review & Deep Dive comparisons of the McFellon Pro.
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Deep Dive: Parlor McFellon Pro
We compare the McFellon Pro to the Parlor Mountain Jay, Folsom Primary, Moment Meridian 107, 4FRNT Devastator, Liberty Origin 112, Icelantic Nomad 105, Blizzard Rustler 11, Nordica Enforcer 110 Free, K2 Mindbender 108Ti, Prior Northwest 110, ON3P Jeffrey 108, ON3P Woodsman 108, Moment Wildcat 108, Moment Deathwish, Kye Shapes Metamorph, K2 Reckoner 112, Whitedot Altum 114, Faction Prodigy 4.0, & Black Crows Atris.
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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What You’re Wearing, Part 5: Bison Fibers? (Ep.93)
Bison Wool? Bison Down? That’s a thing? Well it’s being used by United By Blue,
who started salvaging otherwise wasted bison fibers, and is now incorporating them into a growing range of products. So we talked with Brendan Raugh at United By Blue about how the company was founded as a waterway cleanup company; how they went on to develop an entire line of apparel around salvaged bison coat fibers; how bison fibers compare to sheep’s wool and goose down; and more.
Blister Brand Guide: Kona Mountain Bike Lineup, 2020
Kona has been making bikes since 1988 and they now make everything from budget-priced hardtails to plenty of versatile Trail bikes and long-travel Enduro & DH rigs. Check out our Brand Guide to see which Kona bike might be best for you.
Dustin Adams on Racing, Manufacturing, & We Are One’s Next Big Thing (Ep.19)
We talk to We Are One founder, Dustin Adams, about being a composites manufacturer in Kamloops, BC; Dustin’s path from racing DH to starting We Are One; what it’s like being a manufacturer in the time of COVID-19; and we talk about the big new thing they’re currently working on.
Flash Review: 20/21 Marker Duke PT 16
Update 3.25.20: Jonathan Ellsworth now adds his initial impressions of the Duke PT binding.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Flash Review: 20/21 Volkl Blaze 106
Check out our initial on-snow impressions of Volkl’s new lightweight freeride ski.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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2019-2020 WNDR Alpine Intention 110
WNDR Alpine’s Intention 110 may sound weird on paper (it incorporates algae), but it’s been anything but weird on snow. Check out our full review & Deep Dive comparisons to see why.
Deep Dive: WNDR Alpine Intention 110
We compare the Intention 110 to the Atomic Backland 107, Blizzard Zero G 105, Black Diamond Helio 105, K2 Wayback 106, Line Vision 108, Moment Wildcat Tour 108, Amplid Facelift 108, 4FRNT Raven, Renoun Citadel 106, Moment Wildcat 108, Salomon QST 106, Line Sick Day 104, Rossignol Soul 7 HD, & Liberty Origin 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.
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Flylow Domino Jacket & Siren Bib
Flylow’s Domino Jacket & Siren Bib are designed with the backcountry in mind, and while we think they perform really well there, this kit has proven to be surprisingly versatile. Check out our review.
Up & Coming? FWT World Champion, Isaac Freeland (Ep.123)
Before this FWT season, Isaac Freeland, was a very good skier who was definitely on his way up. But then Isaac not only was named the 2020 Freeride World Tour Rookie of the Year, he also became the FTW World Champion. So we had Isaac take us through his first season on the FWT, and walk us through each stop. We also discuss what it was like competing against some of the biggest names in skiing; how he approached each particular comp; the rather surreal — and abrupt — end to this comp season, and more.
Flash Review: 02/03 Volant Spatula
Reviewer Paul Forward has been spending some time on Shane McConkey’s revolutionary idea, the Volant Spatula. Check out his initial thoughts.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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2021-2022 Line Vision 98
Back when we first took a look at Line’s ultralight Vision 98, we said it didn’t look like anything else on the market. And after skiing it throughout the past year, we’d also say it doesn’t ski like anything else out there, either. Check out our full review & Deep Dive comparisons.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Reviewer Reports: DW-link Head-to-Head; Forbidden Dreadnought; Shimano vs. Sram; & Category-Defying Pedals
David Golay talks to Dylan Wood about two short-travel, DW-link bikes at opposite ends of the price spectrum; a range of longer-travel Enduro bikes from fairly conventional to quite unusual; some category-defying pedals; thoughts on the importance (or lack thereof) of bike weight; & the current state of the Shimano vs. SRAM drivetrain wars.
Nathan Pinnacle 12L Race Vest
We thought the Nathan VaporKrar 2.0 running vest was “really close to being an awesome pack.” Now Nathan has released its successor, the Pinnacle 12L, so does it address some of the downsides of the previous one while maintaining the upsides? Check out our review.
Flash Review — Ibis Ripley AF
Update 8.3.21: Luke Koppa adds his thoughts on Ibis’s budget-friendly, shorter-travel Trail bike.
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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2021 Pivot Trail 429
Pivot’s longstanding Trail 429 recently got a major update, but how true to the original recipe is the new, V3 version? We’ve now had two reviewers spending a lot of time on the new bike, and you can check out our full review for their thoughts on the new bike and how it compares to the rest of the market.
Reviewing the News w/ Cody Townsend (July 2021) (Ep.176)
Cody and Jonathan discuss athletes & mental health; the affordable housing issues facing mountain towns; Pit Viper vs. far-right extremists (??); the ongoing consolidation of outdoor media; and more.
Stuff We Like: July 2021
In this edition of our “Stuff We Like” series, we’ve got a mix of products we’ve grown to love even more after posting our reviews, some daily essentials, camping gear, and more.
Andrew Alexander King’s Denali Expedition & the Gear He Used (Ep.156)
Andrew Alexander King tells us about his experience on Denali and some of the most important gear he used.
Win Women’s & Men’s Kits from Club Ride
This week TWO people will get a shirt, short, & chamois from Club Ride!
2021-2022 Sego Comp 110
The Sego Comp 110 seems like a pretty niche ski — it was designed for freeride skiers who need to ski fast and go big, and also throw tricks. But after a season on it, we think its rare blend of traits could be appealing to many skiers — not just those on the competition circuit. Check out our full review & Deep Dive comparisons.
Deep Dive: Sego Comp 110
We compare the Comp 110 to the Sego Big Horn 106, Dynastar M-Free 108, J Skis Hotshot, Volkl Katana 108, Moment Commander 108, Blizzard Cochise 106, Nordica Enforcer 110 Free, K2 Mindbender 108Ti, Prior Northwest 110, ON3P Woodsman 108, Folsom Blister Pro 104, Black Crows Corvus, Prior Husume, Icelantic Nomad 105, Black Crows Atris, 4FRNT MSP 107, Moment Wildcat 108, & Faction Dictator 3.0.
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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Little Bellas / Sabra Davison (Ep.76)
Sabra Davison grew up ski racing and running, but when she got into mountain biking, she saw girls participating at far lower rates — so she decided to do something about it. Sabra (along with her sister, World Cup XC racer and two-time Olympian, Lea) founded Little Bellas to get girls into riding bikes, and develop the confidence to keep with it. We sat down with Sabra to talk about Little Bellas; how to make skill building fun; removing barriers to participation in what is an expensive sport; and a whole lot more.
Nobl TR37 Wheels
Carbon wheels have become fairly commonplace but Nobl’s TR37s are quite different from most of the market, with front- and rear-specific rims and an unusual “Sine Wave” rim profile. That’s well and good, but how do they compare to the competition on the trail? Check out our full review to find out.