BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
5-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (19/20)
It’s that time of year — we’re fantasizing about skiing and our ideal ski quivers. We’ll be rolling out a bunch of our reviewers’ personal selections, and we’re kicking it off with our 5-ski quivers.
What is The North Face Futurelight? (Ep.74)
The North Face is attempting to do something that many have tried, but few have succeeded: compete head-to-head with Gore-Tex in the waterproof / breathable fabric category. So we talked with Scott Mellin, the Global General Manager of Mountain Sports at The North Face, about their new fabric technology, Futurelight, the ideas behind it; what sets it apart in the waterproof / breathable fabric market; sustainability practices related to Futurelight; some stories from athlete testing, and much more.
Win an Avalanche Safety Course with 57hours
Win a 3-day AIARE Level 1 or Level 2 avalanche safety course!
Insulated Skirt Roundup
An insulated skirt may seem like a niche product, but after using several of them this fall, many of our reviewers now consider them an essential piece. Check out our roundup for a bunch of skirts that can take you from your morning run, bike, or ski tour all the way to après.
Blister Brand Guide: Topo Athletic Running Shoe Lineup, 2019
Topo Athletic takes a different approach than many brands when it comes to running shoes. They specialize in lower-drop shoes with wider, foot-shaped toe boxes, and their lineup covers a wide range of road and trail shoes. Check out our Brand Guide to figure out which Topo shoe might be best for you.
DPS Skis founder, Stephan Drake, no longer with DPS
UPDATE: We now have a statement from Stephan Drake regarding his departure from the company he founded.
Is Cappuccino Cowboys Ruining Ultrarunning? (Ep.25)
What is Cappuccino Cowboys, and who is the person behind it? Is he an evil genius hell-bent on ruining ultrarunning? A provocateur shaking up the stodgy state of running media? Or is he just a giant pain in the ass of Jim Walmsley, Eric Senseman, Jared Hazen, Cody Reed, Tommy Rivs and a few other unfortunate souls? We spoke to Mr. Cappuccino himself to find out.
Blister Speaker Series 2.3: Moment Skis CEO, Luke Jacobson (Ep.108)
In our latest BLISTER Speaker Series at Western Colorado University, Moment Skis CEO, Luke Jacobson, talks about managing the significant growth of this indie brand; manufacturing in Sparks, Nevada; crucial decisions he’s had to make; how he would assess those decisions in hindsight; and more.
2019-2020 Renoun Citadel 114
Renoun is currently working on adding a wider ski to their lineup, and we recently received a prototype of their new Citadel 114. Check out our First Look for our measured specs, rocker pics, and initial impressions of this lightweight, uniquely constructed ski.
Reviewing the Reviewer: David Golay (Ep.73)
On our latest “Reviewing the Reviewer” episode of GEAR:30, Jonathan Ellsworth talks to our mountain bike reviewer, David Golay, about how he went from playing sports in upstate New York, to researching metal alloys in Australia, to reviewing for BLISTER, and he shares a great story starring Jed Yeiser (of previous Blister podcast episodes fame).
Casual Jacket Roundup — Fall 2019
It’s that time of year when you really never know what the weather is going to throw at you. A foot of snow? Maybe. 70°F and sunny? Also totally possible. We’ve been using a bunch of casual jackets for women and men that can keep you comfortable in a variety of temps, and do so in style.
Win any Moment Skis You Want
Pick any pair of skis you want from Moment’s 19/20 lineup!
Boycott Backcountry.com?
For some time now, backcountry.com has been involved in business practices that the outdoor community needs to stand against. So we explain why; we offer a detailed response to the statement put out by their CEO; and we lay out what we think needs to happen next.
High Above Lookout Hip Pack
Fanny / hip packs have been making a resurgence, and are no longer limited to 90’s throwback parties or dads on vacation. We’ve been using the High Above Lookout pack, made with modern, technical materials in Bellingham, Washington, and you can check out our full review for more.
ON3P — “ON3P 5”
ON3P just dropped their fifth team movie, and this time around they traded urban rails and thrift-store clothes for Gore-Tex, cliffs, and pillow lines around British Columbia. Watch it here.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Flash Review: 21/22 Liberty Origin 101
Liberty is updating their Origin & Genesis skis for 21/22, and launching two new models. Check out our initial thoughts on the new Origin 101.
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.)
Blister Brand Guide: Specialized Mountain Bike Lineup, 2021
The 2021 model year brought with it a bunch of new and revised bikes from one of the biggest brands in the world. Check out our Brand Guide for Specialized’s 2021 lineup for more info on the bikes, how they compare, and which ones you might want to consider.
Ski Boot Liners: Zipfit & Atomic Mimic Professional (Ep.140)
Sascha Anastas and Jonathan Ellsworth discuss a couple of new liners they’re reviewing: the Zipfit World Cup liner and the Atomic Mimic Professional liner.
Flash Review: 21/22 DPS Pagoda 100 RP
DPS is launching a whole new collection of skis for 21/22. Check out our initial thoughts on the 100mm-wide option in the new Pagoda series.
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.)
Win Women’s & Men’s Fjallraven Jackets & Packs
The TWO winners this week will each get a rain jacket + totepack from Fjallraven!
Kera Linn is Coming Up Fast (Ep.58)
We talk to Kera Linn about her rather meteoric rise in the mountain biking world — from her first time on a mountain bike, to her recent signing with Cannondale. We also talk about her equally interesting backstory (which includes playing all of the sports and going to all of the colleges) in this really fun conversation.
Blister Summit Athlete Panel: Elyse Saugstad, Sage Cattabriga-Alosa, & Pep Fujas
At our Blister Summit, we talked to Elyse Saugstad, Sage Cattabriga-Alosa, and Pep Fujas about this unusual ski season; the evolution of the ski industry; their best advice to aspiring pros; thoughts on ski gear; and more.
Strafe Castle Jacket
With a sleek look that’s paired with high-end materials and insulation, the Strafe Castle Jacket warrants strong consideration if you’re in the market for an insulated ski / snowboard jacket that doesn’t look out of place away from the slopes.
Flash Review: 21/22 Elan Ripstick 116
Check out some of our initial answers to the questions we posed when we first got our hands on Elan’s widest ski.
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.)
Daryl Murphy on Miles for Justice (Ep.83)
Brendan Leonard and Jonathan Ellsworth talk to Daryl Murphy about his Miles For Justice project; why he’s been running 5k or more every single day for over 300 days; his running background; his ideas about the future of Miles For Justice; and more.
Deep Dive: Elan Wingman 86 CTi
We compare the Wingman 86 CTi to the Blizzard Brahma 88, Nordica Enforcer 88, Salomon Stance 90, Armada Declivity 92 Ti, Liberty Evolv 90, Renoun Endurance 88, Salomon S/Force Bold, Folsom Spar 88, Black Crows Orb, K2 Disruption 82Ti, Fischer Ranger 94 FR, Volkl M6 Mantra, & Elan Ripstick 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.
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.)
2021-2022 Elan Wingman 86 CTi
If your definition of an “all-mountain” ski is one that’s a blast to carve on groomers but that can also handle occasional laps off piste, the Wingman 86 CTi should be on your list. Check out our Full Review & Deep Dive comparisons.