BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
2021-2022 Fischer Ranger 99 Ti
If the words “precision,” “quickness,” and “energy” come to mind when describing your ideal all-mountain ski, the Fischer Ranger 99 Ti should be on your radar. Check out our full review & Deep Dive comparisons.
Deep Dive: Fischer Ranger 99 Ti
We compare the Ranger 99 Ti to the Fischer Ranger 102 FR, Salomon QST 99, K2 Mindbender 99 Ti, Volkl Mantra M5, Volkl Mantra 102, Blizzard Bonafide, Nordica Enforcer 100, J Skis Masterblaster, Blizzard Rustler 9 & 10, ON3P Wrenegade 96, Atomic Vantage 97 Ti, Liberty Origin 96, Renoun Endurance 98, Moment Commander 98, and Dynastar Legend X96.
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Beringia Altai Over Hoody
When it comes to stop-and-start activities like ski touring, a big puffy jacket can not only be nice, but also extremely important if things go wrong in the backcountry. We’ve been using the Beringia (the North American branch of Teton Bros) Altai Over Hoody a lot this season, and think it makes for a great insulation layer. Check out our full review.
Flash Review: 19/20 Moment Wildcat Tour 108
Check out our initial on-snow impressions of the Wildcat Tour 108.
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Flash Review: 19/20 Fauna Pioneer
Check out our initial on-snow impressions of the Fauna Pioneer.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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2019-2020 Folsom Blister Pro 104
This season we’ve been spending a lot of time on the ski we’ve been working on with Folsom, the Blister Pro 104, and you can now check out our full review & Deep Dive comparisons.
Deep Dive: Folsom Blister Pro 104
We compare the Blister Pro 104 to the Nordica Enforcer 104 Free, Nordica Enforcer 100, Fischer Ranger 102 FR, Volkl Mantra 102, ON3P Woodsman 108, ON3P Wrenegade 108, Moment Wildcat 108, Blizzard Cochise, K2 Mindbender 99 Ti, K2 Mindbender 108Ti, Salomon QST 106, Armada ARV 106Ti, Blizzard Rustler 10, 4FRNT MSP 107, and 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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Eric Walker on Running 5k a Day for 365 Days (Ep.39)
By some measures, Eric Walker is a pretty normal guy. He lives in Minnesota, he’s not a professional runner, he’s 38 years old, and he’s a husband and a dad. But at some point in 2018, Eric found himself committed to the goal of running 5 kilometers every day for 365 days … and a year later, he’d done it. So Brendan Leonard and Jonathan Ellsworth talked to Eric to find out what motivated him to do this? How he actually pulled it off? What he learned in the process? And whether this something he thinks the rest of us should try?
Mtn Guide Rob Coppolillo on Backcountry Travel, Education, & Gear (Ep.119)
We talk to IFMGA / AMGA mountain guide, Rob Coppolillo (author of The Mountain Guide Manual and the new book, The Ski Guide Manual) about how he got into guiding; the current state of backcountry and avalanche education; his take on the pros and cons of avalanche airbag packs; the fundamental question of the most effective way to travel in the backcountry; and more.
Spyder Sanction GTX Pro Shell Jacket
The Sanction GTX Pro Shell Jacket is one of Spyder’s top-of-the-line shells, and we’ve had three reviewers testing it this season. Check out our full review.
Flash Review: 20/21 Black Crows Atris
Check out our initial on-snow impressions of the Atris.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Win any Shaggy’s Ski
Enter for your chance to win any ski from Shaggy’s 2020 lineup!
From Courmayeur to Chamonix: Testing new SCOTT Skis (Ep.87)
Sam Shaheen was recently testing the new SCOTT Superguide Freetour in the Italian Alps, so in our latest GEAR:30, he talks with SCOTT about their new ski, their new touring boot, the history of SCOTT, and more.
2021-2022 Whitedot Altum 104
We’ve now spent a good chunk of time on the Whitedot Altum 104, and have come away quite impressed by the versatility of this playful, all-mountain ski. Check out our full review & Deep Dive comparisons.
Deep Dive: Whitedot Altum 104
We compare the Altum 104 to the Moment PB&J, Dynastar M-Free 108, K2 Reckoner 112, Prior Northwest 110, Faction Prodigy 3.0, Icelantic Nomad 105, Shaggy’s Ahmeek 105, Moment Deathwish, Blizzard Rustler 10, ON3P Woodsman 108, Line Sir Francis Bacon, Sego Big Horn 106, Moment Wildcat 108, K2 Mindbender 108Ti, Nordica Enforcer 104 Free, Armada ARV 106Ti, Liberty Origin 106, Rossignol Soul 7 HD, Line Sick Day 104, Fischer Ranger 102 FR, and 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 Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
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.
2021 Santa Cruz Nomad
The original Santa Cruz Nomad was one of the first bikes to shape the mold for the modern Enduro bike, way back in 2005. Now in its fifth generation, the new bike stands out from the rest of the market in some interesting ways. We’ve been spending a ton of time on this 27.5”-wheeled bike, and it makes a compelling case for why smaller wheels should stick around. Check out our full review for more.
Flash Review — Forbidden Dreadnought
High-pivot bikes might be even trendier than mullets right now, and we’ve now been spending time on the Forbidden Dreadnought. Check out our Flash Review for our early impressions of this very interesting offering.
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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Men’s Mountain Bike Jersey Roundup — 2021
We’ve been testing 11 different MTB jerseys, from standard options to casual-looking ones to some that you could even wear to a pretty nice dinner. Check out our roundup to see how they all compare.
Ultimate Direction Fastpack 40
Ultimate Direction’s Fastpack 40 is designed for, well, fastpacking, but we’ve also found it to be great for longer day hikes and runs where you need to carry lots of gear but also want to move quickly through all sorts of terrain.
The Mt. Rushmore of “Poppy” Skis (Ep.153)
Previously on GEAR:30 we laid out our Mt. Rushmore of Ski Suspension. Now, we’re moving to the opposite end of the spectrum. We define some terms, talk about some of the characteristics that can help make a ski more poppy; and work our way through a bunch of skis. Check it out, and let us know what skis you think are most deserving.
Win Any Sunglasses from SPY
This week TWO people will get to pick any sunglasses they want from SPY’s updated lineup!
The Rise — and Rise — of Brad Simms (Ep.73)
Few (if any) riders have the power, balance, & creativity of Brad Simms. So you might assume it’s been a pretty quick and easy path to prominence for someone this unique. But it hasn’t been an easy road, and in this conversation, Brad spells it all out; talks about how close he came to calling it quits; his new partnership with Canyon bikes; his interest in all types of riding; and more.
WNDR Alpine Launches New Pow Ski: The Reason 120
Today WNDR Alpine released their third ski, the Reason 120, and we sat down with WNDR’s Matt Sterbenz to get the backstory on the new ski; why it was actually the first ski he wanted to make; how it compares to their Vital 100 & Intention 110; and more.
New Balance Fresh Foam More Trail v1
New Balance made their name in the trail running world with their super minimal shoes, but their Fresh Foam More Trail is basically the opposite — a plush, maximal shoe designed for long distances. And after our first ~85 miles in it, we think it’s an excellent execution of that design.