BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Hayden Hawks on the Black Canyon 100K & Western States (Ep.41)
When a 15-year-old Hayden Hawks first learned about the Western States 100, he knew that he would someday get into running ultras, and it became his dream to race Western States. Fast forward 14 years later, and the now-29-year-old Hayden Hawks is a world-class runner, he’s just won the Black Canyon 100k, and he’s qualified to race Western States this June. So we talked to Hayden about his Black Canyon 100 win and the specific lessons he learned there. And we discuss his trajectory from running track in high school to where he is today, and more.
Blister Speaker Series 2.5: Tommy Caldwell (Ep.120)
Last week at Western Colorado University, we talked to Tommy Caldwell about speed climbing & setting the speed record on the Nose with Alex Honnold; strength vs. experience; how he focuses on climbing projects while also having more disparate responsibilities than ever; and how and why he’s become increasingly involved with environmental causes; and more.
2021-2022 Prior Northwest 110
Last year Prior’s Northwest 110, a fairly heavy, strong, yet playful-looking ski, earned our “Dying to Try It” award, and now having spent a good chunk of time on it, we’re very glad we did, in fact, get to try it. Check out our full review & Deep Dive comparisons.
Deep Dive: Prior Northwest 110
We compare the Northwest 110 to the Prior CBC, ON3P Jeffrey 108, K2 Reckoner 112, ON3P Woodsman 108, Moment Wildcat 108, Icelantic Nomad 105, Moment Deathwish, Blizzard Rustler 11, Kye Shapes Metamorph, Nordica Enforcer 110, K2 Mindbender 108Ti, Black Crows Atris, & Faction Prodigy 4.0.
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La Sportiva Bushido II
The La Sportiva Bushido II is designed for fast running on the most technical of terrain, but it’s also supposed to be more versatile and comfortable than the previous iteration. So … is it? Check out our full review.
Flash Review: 20/21 Blizzard Cochise 106
Update 3.2.20: we have a very exciting update on the new Cochise 106.
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 Dynastar M-Pro 99
Check out our initial on-snow impressions of the new M-Pro 99.
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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Win any Insulated Jacket from Strafe
Enter for your chance to win any insulated jacket from Strafe!
2021-2022 Kye Shapes Metamorph
The Metamorph is the “all-mountain” ski in Kye Shapes lineup, and we think it could really appeal to the right skiers. Check out our full review & Deep Dive comparisons.
Voormi Merino Wool Layer Roundup
We’ve been using several of Voormi’s merino wool layers this year, for everything from winter running to ski touring to around town, and have come away impressed by their versatility and overall performance.
Ski Wax & Waxing Skis: What You Need to Know (Ep.89)
We talk with Graham Lonetto, the Alpine Director for the USA at Swix — the company that invented color-coded waxes, and one of the largest manufacturers of ski wax in the world — about different types of waxes and application methods; the most common mistake made when ski waxing; the FIS’s ban on fluorocarbons in waxes; and more.
Deep Dive: Kye Shapes Metamorph
We compare the Metamorph to the Prior CBC, Icelantic Nomad 105, Icelantic Nomad 115, Moment Deathwish, Moment Wildcat, Blizzard Rustler 11, Faction Prodigy 4.0, Nordica Enforcer 115 Free, Nordica Enforcer 110 Free, DPS Foundation Koala 119, Rossignol BLACKOPS Gamer, Dynastar M-Free 118, Volkl Revolt 121, Faction Candide 4.0.
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.
If you’re already an active member, please log in.
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2021-2022 Nordica Enforcer 94
As many companies seem to be doing for 20/21, Nordica is updating many of their popular skis. The new Enforcer 94 takes much of the old Enforcer 93’s design and adds a few interesting changes — check out our First Look and Flash Review for more.
Flash Review: 20/21 Nordica Enforcer 94
Check out our initial on-snow impressions of the new Enforcer 94.
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.
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Drilling for Oil under Moab’s Slickrock Trail? (Ep.16)
Recently, a preliminary proposal from the Bureau of Land Management was put forward to auction the right to drill for oil and natural gas under Moab’s Slickrock Trail, one of the most famous mountain bike trails in the world. How is this possible? And what should each of us be doing to protect our trails? For answers to these questions and to learn what exactly happened with Slickrock Trail, we talked to Ashley Korenblat, the founder of Public Land Solutions.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Sam Shaheen’s Denali Expedition & the Gear He Used (Ep.155)
This spring, Sam Shaheen and friends took on the very big challenge of a Denali expedition. So on GEAR:30 we get the debrief from Sam, discuss what he and his crew learned in the process, and go over some of the most important gear he used (including a homemade unicorn nose guard), and of that gear, what worked well and what didn’t.
Win $150 Gift Cards from Arms of Andes
This week TWO people will get $150 to spend on Arms of Andes’ high-end, locally sourced alpaca-wool garments!
Catching Up with Sanjay Rawal + the Importance of “Running Easy” (Ep.89)
Sanjay Rawal is back on the podcast to discuss his latest film project about the American runner, Patti Catalano Dillon; how being coached by Patti has caused him to completely overhaul how he trains; and why we all might benefit by remembering to “run easy.”
Blind Trials Rider & Bike Mechanic, Matt Gilman (Ep.75)
When he was in his 20s Matt Gilman lost his sight due to diabetes, but that hasn’t stopped him from riding trials — and maybe even more remarkably, working as a bike mechanic. His story is an incredible one, so we sat down with Matt to talk about his approach to riding; how he manages to ride by feel; his career as a bike mechanic and how he adapted to doing that blind; and a whole lot more.
Blister Brand Guide: Orbea Mountain Bike Lineup, 2021
From extremely light hardtails to long-travel Enduro bikes, Orbea’s current lineup covers a pretty broad spectrum over just a handful of models. Check out our Brand Guide for a breakdown of what sets each bike apart, what builds are the best bang for the buck, and more.
Dr. Rami Hashish on Optimizing Athletic Performance, Aging Well, & Rethinking Work (Ep.174)
We talk with Dr. Rami Hashish about a whole lot of topics surrounding high-level human performance, injury prevention, and how to age well. Dr. Hashish is the founder of the National Biomechanics Institute, has a Doctorate of Physical Therapy and a PhD in Biomechanics, serves on the review board for various national and international medical and engineering journals, and sits on a global committee for spine and brain injury.
Chromag Minor Threat
Chromag has long been known for making aggressive hardtails, but they’ve just released their first full-suspension model — and it’s a kids’ bike. The Minor Threat (which is the best new product name we’ve seen in a while) is an interesting new direction for the brand and looks like a very promising option for the younger rippers out there. Check out our First Look for all the info.
Win Hip Packs from Dakine
This week TWO people will get Dakine’s recently revised Hot Laps 5L hip pack!
Current State of Helmet Tech, pt. 5: WaveCel (Ep.154)
We talk to the co-founder of WaveCel, and discuss the origins & development of WaveCel; Dr. Madey makes what might be the best case we’ve ever heard about why rotational forces play such a critical role in brain injuries; and we discuss how WaveCel compares to MIPS and Koroyd.
Blister Brand Guide: Santa Cruz / Juliana Mountain Bike Lineup, 2022
Santa Cruz and its sister brand, Juliana, have now released their full model-year 2022 lineup, and in our Brand Guide we provide a rundown on all the bikes, builds, and other specs to help you figure out which bikes you might want to consider.
New Manitou Dorado (Ep.74)
The first-generation Manitou Dorado turned a lot of heads more than 20 years ago, thanks to its inverted layout and wild-looking carbon chassis. The just-released, fourth-generation Dorado is a major update to what Manitou calls “the longest-standing inverted downhill fork” — including a return of the carbon chassis, after more than a decade hiatus. But there’s a whole lot more going on, too, so we sat down with Manitou’s Phil Ott to discuss the past and present of the Dorado; the advantages and disadvantages of inverted forks; fork offset; and a whole bunch more.
WTB Proterra Tough i30 Wheels
WTB says their new Proterra Tough wheels “won’t let you down,” but they’re also relatively affordable and not especially heavy. So has WTB beaten the old “cheap, light, strong; pick two” adage, or is there a catch? Check out our full review to find out.