BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
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.
Sanjay Rawal on Running Dumb, Training Slow, & Finding Joy through Exertion (Ep.33)
We talk to Sanjay Rawal about his rather spectacular performance — and even more spectacular meltdown — near the end of the California International Marathon, and discuss the concepts of running dumb; training slow; finding joy through exertion; whether it is possible to run a great time by not caring about running a great time; and more.
Spyder Turret GTX Shell Pants
Spyder recently brought back their “Freeski” collection, designed specifically for freeride and freestyle skiers. Their Turret GTX Pants package proven, high-end materials into a design and style that we haven’t seen from the brand in a long time, and you can check out our review for more.
Ski & Snowboard Industry Predictions for the New Decade (Ep.115)
What will the ski & snowboard industry look like 10 years from now? Will backcountry skiing and splitboarding keep growing? Will indoor ski areas become more common? Will there be fewer or more ski companies in existence 10 years from now? We offer our predictions on all of these questions and more.
La Sportiva Lycan
La Sportiva has made a name for themselves by making shoes specifically designed for technical, mountainous terrain. But their Lycan looks to fill a void in their lineup — a softer, wider, and more comfortable option for moderate terrain and longer distances. Check out our full review.
Flash Review: 19/20 Moment Commander 98
Check out our initial on-snow impressions of the new Moment Commander 98.
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Best Ski Gear of the Past Decade (Ep.81)
Of the entire past decade, what was the most influential ski, ski boot, and ski binding? What was the best ski? What were the biggest trends? And what was our selection for the Best Product of the Decade? We cover all of this and more.
Flash Review: 19/20 WNDR Alpine Intention 110
Check out our initial on-snow impressions of the cambered version of the WNDR Alpine Intention 110.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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2021-2022 Icelantic Nomad 105
We’ve been skiing Icelantic’s best-selling ski, the Nomad 105, and we now understand why it holds that title. Check out our full review & Deep Dive comparisons.
Deep Dive: Icelantic Nomad 105
We compare the Nomad 105 to the Shaggy’s Ahmeek 105, Moment Deathwish, Moment Wildcat 108, Salomon Qst 106, K2 Mindbender 108Ti, 4FRNT MSP 107, Liberty Origin 106, Blizzard Rustler 10, ON3P Woodsman 108, Nordica Enforcer Free 104, Armada ARV 106Ti, Rossignol Soul 7 HD, Line Sick Day 104, & J Skis Metal.
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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Blister Brand Guide: Giant / Liv Mountain Bike Lineup, 2020
Giant is the largest bike manufacturer in the world, so it makes sense that Giant and its sister brand, Liv, make a wide range of mountain bikes. Check out our Brand Guide to quickly figure out how each Giant & Liv bike differs, and which one might work best for you.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Ski Touring Gear & Listener Questions (Ep.146)
Which tech bindings feel the most like alpine bindings? What “very light” skis offer the best suspension and damping? In this episode, Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ellsworth talk about a bunch of ski touring gear they’ve been reviewing and answer a number of your touring-related questions.
Win a Sleep System from HEST
This week the winner will get HEST’s high-end, memory-foam mobile sleep system!
Flash Review: 21/22 Elan Ripstick 106 Black Edition
Elan is once again offering a special “Black Edition” of their Ripstick 106 for 21/22 — check out our initial thoughts on how it compares to the standard version.
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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2021-2022 Folsom Rapture
“One of the most versatile powder skis I have ever used” — that’s what reviewer and heli-ski guide Paul Forward said about the Folsom Rapture. Check out his full review & Deep Dive comparisons for more on how the ski has performed during a full season of heli skiing and during days at the resort.
Mojo Suspension & Geometron Bikes founder, Chris Porter (Ep.64)
Chris Porter has long been known as one of the earliest and most vocal proponents of the longer/lower/slacker trends in mountain bike geometry, and his Geometron bikes have pushed the envelope further than just about anything else out there. Chris has opinions on a whole lot more than just bike geometry, though, and in our recent conversation we got his takes on wheel sizes, eBikes, suspension tuning, Vladimir Putin(?), and a whole lot more.
Giro Source MIPS & Giro Manifest Spherical
It’s not hard to spend several hundred dollars on a mountain bike helmet, but should you? And what do you give up, in opting for a less-expensive option? We’ve been doing some head-to-head testing of Giro’s moderately-priced Source and high-end Manifest Spherical helmets to find out, and you can now read our full review to see how they compare.
2021 Marin El Roy
Marin calls the El Roy “the ultimate aggressive steel hardtail,” and its geometry numbers are certainly eye-popping, even in our current world of longer, lower, and slacker. But who should be interested in a hardtail that’s so emphatically oriented towards descending? And does the El Roy really deliver on what looks like a promising recipe? Check out our full review to find out.
Blister Summit Brand Lineups: Black Crows Skis 21/22
We talk to Tristan Droppert about the entire 21/22 Black Crows lineup, several new skis (including the Mirus Cor and Serpo); their “Birdie” lineup for women — or anyone; and how to correctly pronounce the names of all of these skis!
Flash Review: 21/22 Prior Northwest 116
Twin tip, hefty weight, progressive mount point, & a strong flex pattern — Prior’s Northwest 116 has the makings of a playful charger. Check out our initial thoughts.
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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2021-2022 Atomic Maven 93 C
Atomic is overhauling their all-mountain lineup for 21/22, and we spent a lot of time on one of the new women’s skis in the line, the Maven 93 C. Check out our full review to see where this new ski sits in the market.
Öhlins RXF36 m.2 Air
Öhlins has long been known for their motorsports suspension, but have more recently branched out into the mountain bike world, and we’ve been testing their RXF36 m.2 Air Enduro fork. It’s an impressive offering, but who does it make the most sense for, and how does it stack up to the competition from Fox, RockShox, and Manitou? Check out our full review to find out.
Spring Running Apparel Roundup
Spring can be a tricky time when it comes to figuring out what to wear while heading out for a run, so we’ve put together a roundup of pieces that we’ve found to work well for spring’s ever-changing temperatures and weather.