BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Hoka One One Speedgoat 2
After running a few hundred miles more in it, we have a long-term update on Hoka One One’s aggressive trail shoe, the Speedgoat 2.
Deep Dive: Blizzard Brahma
We compare the Brahma to the Nordica Enforcer 93, Blizzard Bonafide, Salomon XDR 88 Ti, Head Kore 93, K2 Ikonic 84 Ti, J Skis Masterblaster, Renoun Z-Line 90, and a few other skis.
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Win Men’s & Women’s 5.10 MTB Shoes
We’re giving away and men’s and women’s pari of MTB shoes from 5.10 — and the winners get to decide which model the want.
Spring Skiing & Biking in AK (Ep.17)
We talk to Eric Helmbrecht, owner of Powder Hound in Girdwood, Alaska, about spring skiing in AK, what gear works well in AK’s snowpack and terrain, what new gear he’s most intrigued by, and the growing mountain bike scene around Girdwood and Anchorage.
18/19 Armada ARV 106
We’ve now spent a few days on the new ARV 106, and you can check out here our initial on-snow impressions and some comparisons to skis like the ON3P Kartel 108 and K2 Marksman.
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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Sego Skis Founders: Tim & Peter Wells (Ep.69)
We talk to Sego Skis’ founders – brothers Tim and Peter Wells – about the backstory of Sego; manufacturing in Victor, Idaho; their 18/19 skis, women’s line, and working with Lynsey Dyer; and Sego snowblades.
How to Choose the Right Mountain Bike
“What mountain bike should I get?” Good question, but most of the articles on the topic are too simplistic to be helpful. So we created our own “How to Choose the Right Mountain Bike” guide.
2020-2021 Scott Scrapper 115
We’ve now spent time on the Scrapper 115 both inside and outside the resort. Check out our thoughts on how it stacks up against a number of other ~115mm-wide skis, and how well it works as a touring ski, inbounds ski, and 50/50 ski.
Patagonia R1 TechFace Hoody
When we asked our outerwear editor what he thought of the new Patagonia R1 TechFace Hoody, he started saying things like “perfect,” “dialed,” and “my new favorite piece of apparel.” Check out his review to find out why.
Ski Terms (What We Talk about When We Talk about Skiing)
Talking about skiing and snowboarding can sometimes feel like a foreign language. So in this new piece, we’ve clarified a few terms, and we want to know what terms, concepts, or expressions you might be wondering about?
18/19 Sego Condor Ti
After a few days skiing it inside and outside the resort, here are our initial on-snow impressions of the Condor Ti, with some comparisons to the Atomic Backland FR 109, Armada Tracer 108, and Line Sick Day 104 & 114.
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.)
2018-2019 Sego Condor Ti
New for 18/19, the Sego Condor Ti is a big-mountain ski with some intriguing design elements — and an avocado on its topsheet. Check out our measured specs, rocker pics, initial impressions, and Flash Review.
Sram GX Eagle Long-Term Follow-Up
After over 1,000 miles and more than 175,000 ft of climbing, we have a long-term update on Sram’s GX Eagle Drivetrain.
Deep Dive: Blizzard Rustler 11
Blizzard Rustler 11 vs. Moment Bibby / Blister Pro, Nordica Enforcer 110, Line Sick Day 114, Icelantic Nomad 115, Rossignol Super 7 RD, Liberty Origin 112, 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.
(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.)
Touring Bindings & the New G3 Zed (Ep.16)
G3 is introducing a new touring binding — the Zed — that they’re calling the lightest fully-featured AT binding on the market. So we talk to G3’s engineers about their design philosophy and development process, current trends in AT bindings, and the compromises inherent in any AT binding.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Blister Speaker Series 2.1: Claudio Caluori (Ep.101)
Last week, we kicked off season #2 of our monthly Blister Speaker Series at Western Colorado University, where we invite influential figures to come talk about how they are shaping the outdoor industry. Our first guest of the new season was Claudio Caluori, the announcer for the World Cup Downhill series, a former pro XC and DH racer, the founder of Velosolutions, and the initiator of #pumpforpeace. We touch on all of these things in our conversation, and get Claudio’s perspective on a wide range of topics and questions.
VIDEO: Claudio Caluori on the World Cup DH Season
We’ll be rolling out videos of many of our podcasts, and the first one is our conversation with Claudio Caluori, where he recaps the extremely exciting season and finale of the World Cup Downhill series. Watch it here.
Our Upcoming Trip to Moab with 57 Hours
We’re heading to Moab for a multi-sport trip, and we’re linking up with a 57 Hours guide to do it. Learn more about our trip, the backstory, and more.
2019 Specialized Enduro 27.5
Specialized recently released a new Enduro, but whether you’re looking at the resale market, don’t love the new Enduro’s geometry or 29er-only design, or are just looking for a versatile Enduro / Trail bike, we think the Enduro 27.5 still deserves strong consideration. Check out Eric Freson’s full review, and Luke Koppa also adds his thoughts from the perspective of a newcomer to the sport.
CushCore Pro Tire Inserts
We recently published Noah Bodman’s take on CushCore’s Pro tire inserts, and now David Golay adds his thoughts. Check them out here.
Biking 101: Bike Fit & Geometry — Part 1
Selecting the “right” bike means selecting the right *size* bike — and understanding how a bike’s “geometry” affects that. So check out our Bike Fit & Geometry 101 article to learn more about a bike’s geometry and how it affects both fit and performance.
What You’re Wearing, Part 4: Hemp (Ep.65)
Shooting hemp t-shirts with guns; eating hemp seeds; building houses with hemp; and industrial hemp legalization in the US — Part 4 of our “What You’re Wearing” series tackles the complex history, misconceptions, and many uses of hemp.
Claudio Caluori on the World Cup DH Season (Ep.9)
Coming straight to Crested Butte after the amazing World Cup season finale, Claudio Caluori sits down with Jonathan Ellsworth in BLISTER HQ to discuss whether this was the best WC DH season ever; Loic Bruni & Amaury Pierron’s epic battle; his biggest takeaways from the men’s and women’s seasons; and what, if anything, could be done to make the series even better.
Win a G3 ZED Touring Binding
We have 2 big announcements this week: (1) you can win a pair of G3 ZED bindings and (2) Blister Members now get 10% off & free shipping on everything from G3. Learn more here.
Blister Brand Guide: Altra Lineup, 2019
Timp 1.5 vs. Lone Peak 4. Paradigm 4.5 vs. Duo 1.5. What sets Altra’s shoes apart from one another, and which is the best shoe for you? Check out our Brand Guide for an overview of their entire road and trail lineup.
Blister Brand Guide: Specialized Mountain Bike Lineup, 2020
In our new “Blister Brand Guide” series, we go over the entire product lineup of a brand, highlight how each product stands out from the rest of the lineup, and help you figure out quickly and easily which one might be best for you. First up on the MTB side: Specialized.
2020 Ibis Ripmo AF
Today Ibis announced the brand-new Ripmo AF, as in “aluminum frame.” As in, the first all-aluminum Ibis bike since they reopened shop in 2005. But there’s a whole lot more to this new Trail / Enduro bike than just being made of metal — check out our First Look for more info.