BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
2020 Guerrilla Gravity Smash
We’ve now had two reviewers convert Guerrilla Gravity’s 120mm-travel Trail Pistol to their 145mm-travel Smash (an option that’s noteworthy in itself) and they both think the Smash is one of the more versatile and easy-to-recommend bikes in the Trail category. Check out our full review of the Smash.
Flash Review: 20/21 Volkl Katana 108
Check out our initial impressions of the new Katana 108.
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Crash Course: Telemark Ski Gear, Part 1 (Ep.95)
Since we have to learn how to tele ski and shoot a tele video, we’re crowdsourcing a crash course in telemark technique (see Blister Podcast episode 125) and in telemark gear. So here in Tele Gear Part 1, we’re talking again with the artist, Geoff McFetridge; Flylow Gear co-founder and president, Dan Abrams; and Blister reviewers Paul Forward and Kristin Sinnott.
Win Sunglasses from SPY
This week TWO people will each get a pair of sunglasses from SPY — enter for your chance to win!
2021-2022 Dynafit Hoji Free
This year we spent time in the Dynafit Hoji Free, the stiffest boot in the Hoji series, and think its blend of uphill mobility and downhill power may be unrivaled. But there’s more to it than that — check out our Full Review & Deep Dive comparisons.
Deep Dive: 130-Flex Touring Boots
We directly compare several 130-flex alpine touring boots, including the Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD 130, Atomic Hawx Prime XTD 130, Tecnica Zero G Tour Pro, Dynafit Hoji Free, Scarpa Maestrale XT, Lange XT3 130, K2 Mindbender 130, Fischer Ranger Free 130, Dalbello Lupo Factory, & Dalbello Lupo Pro HD.
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.)
What We’re Watching — April, 2020
Looking for more isolation entertainment? We just updated our video roundup with 13 more of our favorite MTB and snowsports videos, from goofy to gnarly.
2021-2022 J Skis Slacker
J Skis has set out to make the “least nerdy touring ski on the market,” and the result is their brand-new Slacker. Check out our First Look & Flash Review to find out how their non-nerdy touring ski design compares to the rest of the market.
Altra King MT 2
Altra recently revised their most minimal trail shoe, the King MT, and after running a couple hundred miles in it, we think the new King MT 2 is a very nice upgrade from previous versions.
Topo Athletic Founder, Tony Post (Ep.45)
We talk to Topo Athletic founder, Tony Post, about serving as the CEO of Vibram USA; founding Topo Athletic; minimalist and maximalist shoes; Topo’s design philosophy and process; and more.
Fauna Pioneer
This season we spent a good chunk of time skiing Fauna’s lightweight (and beautiful) freeride ski, the Pioneer. Check out our full review & Deep Dive comparisons to see how this new ski performed.
Deep Dive: Fauna Pioneer
We compare the Pioneer to the Moment PB&J, Line Sir Francis Bacon, Sego Big Horn 106, Rossignol Soul 7 HD, Line Sick Day 104, WNDR Intention 110, Moment Wildcat 108, Salomon QST 106, Liberty Origin 106, Moment Wildcat Tour 108, Line Vision 108, Amplid Facelift 108, 4FRNT Raven, Renoun Citadel 106, Atomic Backland 107, Blizzard Zero G 105, & Black Diamond Helio 105.
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.)
Crash Course: How to Telemark Ski, Part 1 (Ep.125)
Baby giraffes? Organic bamboo scissors? Superman? Since we now have to learn how to tele ski (we’ll explain), we’re crowdsourcing a crash course in what we need to know to avoid embarrassing and / or killing ourselves. So here in Part 1, we solicited the best tips and advice from artist and telemarker, Geoff McFetridge; Flylow Gear president, Dan Abrams; and Blister reviewers, Paul Forward and Kristin Sinnott.
Blister Brand Guide: Rocky Mountain’s Mountain Bike Lineup, 2020
Rocky Mountain has been making bikes since 1981 and, like many brands these days, they make a very wide assortment of mountain bikes. Check out our Brand Guide to see how each of their bikes differ and which might be the best fit for you.
2020-2021 Folsom Cash 106 Carbon
This year we’re reviewing the carbon-laminate, touring-friendly version of Folsom’s Cash 106 shape. Check out our First Look & Flash Review for more on this ski and how its design compares to the other Folsom shapes we’ve reviewed, and the rest of the market.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
2022 Fox 34 Fork
We’ve now tested Fox’s new 34 fork on both a hardtail and a modern short-travel Trail bike. Check out our full review of the fork for our thoughts on it, including how it compares to the alternatives from both Fox & RockShox.
Xero Mesa Trail
All of Xero’s shoes are designed to offer a barefoot-like feel, and the Mesa Trail is their take on a general-purpose trail running shoe. So how versatile is this minimalist shoe, and where could it fit into your running and training routine? Check out our review for our thoughts.
Gear Talk, Mic Drops, & Zen Koans with Flylow’s Dan Abrams (Ep.162)
Flylow founder (and certified gear nerd) Dan Abrams is back to talk about the skis and ski boots he’s interested in for the coming season; Flylow’s mountain bike apparel; and what’s new in the Flylow lineup for Winter 21/22.
Would You Rather: Old Parts or Old Geometry?
Dated parts, or an ancient frame? That’s the question we’re tackling this week in our “Would You Rather?” series. Check out our reviewers’ individual takes on the site, and let us know what you’d do in the comments.
Win a Sleep System from Zenbivy
This week the winner will get Zenbivy’s MotoBed — a super comfortable & convenient car-camping sleep system!
2022 Trek Session
The latest Trek Session is a much more race-focused DH bike than the previous iteration, but in the right terrain and with the right approach from the rider, it is an excellent one. Check out our full review for more info.
Reviewer Reports: Race Recaps and Fox Suspension (Ep.82)
The last few weeks have been packed with outstanding DH racing, so Noah Bodman and David Golay sat down to talk about all the action at World Championships and the Lenzerheide World Cup. They also discuss a whole bunch of new suspension that we’ve been testing from Fox, including the updated 34 fork and both the new DHX and Float X rear shocks.
Dean Karnazes on Longevity, Reading, & Writing (Ep.94)
Dean Karnazes is an ultra running legend. But beyond his impressive endurance exploits, Dean is an incredibly thoughtful and generous person who just so happens to love running. It was a real honor and a true pleasure to talk to Dean about running, his life-long interest in reading, his approach to writing, and what he is currently passionate about outside of the world of running.
Flash Review: Hustle Magnetic REMpedals
Luke Koppa has spent the past several weeks riding Hustle’s magnetic REMpedals, and the experience has been very interesting. Check out his thoughts so far.
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.)
Reviewing the News w/ Cody Townsend (Aug 2021) (Ep.181)
Cody and Jonathan discuss wildfire management; athlete sponsorships and why the current model needs to be fixed; emerging technologies designed to capture CO2; having to pay to ski uphill; the prospects of Airbnb returning to its roots; and they also fight about coffee, share what they’re reading and watching, and more.
What We’re Watching — September, 2021
What We’re Watching is back, this time with some recent event coverage, several new edits, and a couple of throwbacks for good measure.
Your Questions, Our Buyer’s Guide, & Luke’s Cry for Help (Ep.161)
Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ellsworth answer listener gear questions; share some info about our new winter buyer’s guide; and Luke shares with us some good news, but also presents new reasons for us to worry about him.