BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Nordica Announces New Enforcer Skis & HF Boots
Today, Nordica announced that they’re changing one of our favorite skis, the Enforcer 100; they’re releasing a new Enforcer 94; and they’re launching an entire collection of new ski boots. Learn more here.
Winter Baby Accessories Roundup
Keeping your little one warm and dry during the winter can be tricky, so we’ve rounded up some of our favorite cold-weather accessories for babies & infants.
FW Manifest 3L Jacket & Pants
The Manifest 3L Jacket & Pants from FW, a brand-new apparel company, have tons of features, a modern “freeride” fit, and offer skiers & snowboarders a unique aesthetic. But how do they perform as both an inbounds and backcountry kit? Check out our review.
2021-2022 Blizzard Rustler 10
The updated Rustler 10 looks similar to the old version on paper, but there are some key differences between the two that we think could make the new version a more appealing option for many resort skiers. Check out our full review & Deep Dive comparisons.
Deep Dive: Blizzard Rustler 10
We compare the new Rustler 10 to the previous Rustler 10, ON3P Woodsman 108, Moment Wildcat 108, Salomon QST 106, K2 Mindbender 108Ti, Nordica Enforcer Free 104, Fischer Ranger 102 FR, Line Sick Day 104, Rossignol Soul 7 HD, J Skis Metal, Armada ARV 106Ti, Liberty Origin 106, 4FRNT MSP 107, Black Crows Corvus, Sego Big Horn 106, Faction Prodigy 3.0, Elan Ripstick 106, & Blizzard Cochise.
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Brendan Leonard on Running 52 Marathons in 52 Weeks (Ep.30)
For 2019, Brendan Leonard (semi-rad.com) set a goal for himself: run 52 marathons in 52 weeks. He told very few people about this goal, and we are proud to report that Brendan accomplished his goal with several weeks to spare. So we talked to Brendan about what prompted him to create this plan; why he decided to tell very few people about it; exactly what the parameters were for these ‘marathons’; how he handled the logistics; what he learned along the way; and more.
Strafe Wildcat Pant
Insulated ski / snowboard pants may seem unnecessary to those who have their layering systems dialed, but our reviewer was very surprised by the versatility of Strafe’s insulated Wildcat Pants. Check out her full review.
What We’re Watching — December, 2019
More ski videos! We’ve just updated our ski video roundup with 11 new videos, including Chris Benchetler’s visually stunning night-riding project, edits from FWT athletes, crazy FPV drone footage, and much more.
Ski Quiver Questions, Part 2 (Ep.78)
Last week on GEAR:30, Sam Shaheen, Luke Koppa, and I addressed some of the questions you have been asking us about ski quivers, and we also discussed the topic of the one-boot quiver. And now, we are running part 2 of this conversation with our reviewers Kristin Sinnott, Sascha Anastas, and Kara Williard.
Win a Helmet & Headphone Combo from Unit 1
Enter to win Unit 1’s helmet with integrated headphones!
2020-2021 Moment Wildcat 108
After spending 15 days on it, you can now check out our full review and Deep Dive comparisons of the 184 cm Wildcat 108.
Deep Dive: Moment Wildcat 108
We compare the 184 cm Wildcat 108 to the Moment Wildcat, Moment Meridian, Moment Deathwish, ON3P Woodsman 108, ON3P Jeffrey 108, Sego Big Horn 106, Fischer Ranger 102 FR, Faction Prodigy 3.0, Line Sir Francis Bacon, Salomon QST 106, K2 Mindbender 108Ti, Nordica Enforcer Free 104, Armada ARV 106Ti, Liberty Origin 106, Rossignol Soul 7 HD, Line Sick Day 104, Elan Ripstick 106, 4FRNT MSP 107, Black Crows Corvus, J Skis Metal, Prior Husume, and Blizzard Cochise.
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: Yeti Mountain Bike Lineup, 2020
Yeti has been making mountain bikes since 1985, but their lineup has changed a lot since then and now includes a pretty wide range of options. Check out our Brand Guide to quickly & easily figure out what sets each Yeti bike apart from the other and which one might be best for you.
Altra Timp 1.5
When we reviewed the original Altra Timp, we found it to be a unique shoe in the more heavily cushioned category. With all the updates made to the Timp 1.5, is that still the case? Check out our review.
Blister’s Holiday Gift Guide 2019 — In the Garage
Next up in our Holiday Gift Guide are the big-ticket items, whether those are actual items themselves, or new experiences. Check out our picks.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Jean-Luc Diard on the Deckers X Lab Design Philosophy & Products (Ep.85)
We’re talking again with one of the most influential product designers in the outdoor industry, Jean-Luc Diard, about the design philosophy of Deckers X Lab, a number of the models in the Deckers Lab lineup, and why they are trying to rethink everything from the standard flip flop to the casual sneaker to the suspension systems of high-end, performance shoes.
Blister Summit Panel on Ski Design
We talk to ski designers from Blizzard, Folsom, Rossignol, Dynastar, & Wagner Skis about their respective design philosophies; current trends in ski design; whether skis are being dumbed down today; whether stated sidecut radius numbers are fake; current consumer interests; and more.
Flash Review: 21/22 Atomic Hawx Ultra 130
Dylan Wood spent some time in the revised version of Atomic’s lightweight alpine boot, and here he shares his initial thoughts on its overall performance and how it differs from the previous 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 Rocky Mountain Altitude
The Altitude has been in the Rocky Mountain lineup for more than a decade now, but what, exactly, the Altitude is has changed a lot over the years, and the bike got a dramatic overhaul for 2021. We’ve been riding the latest iteration, and have found it to be surprisingly versatile for a 160 / 170 mm travel Enduro bike.
Reviewing the News w/ Cody Townsend (April 2021) (Ep.167)
Cody and Jonathan discuss some recent criticism of REI; spraying vs. not spraying the locations of your outdoor adventures; Mt. Bohemia’s plan to incentivize vaccinations; gear libraries & outdoor accessibility; sex and ski touring; & more.
TRP TR12 Drivetrain
TRP’s TR12 drivetrain is marketed as a high-end option at a high-end price, but can it compete with the likes of Shimano XTR and SRAM X01? Check out our full review to find out.
Deep Dive: Folsom Rapture
We compare the Rapture to the Volkl Shiro, DPS Alchemist Lotus 124, 4FRNT Renegade, Kye Shapes Numinous, Praxis Protest, Moment Chipotle Banana, DPS Foundation Koala 119, Volkl Revolt 121, Faction La Machine, Blizzard Spur, Blizzard Rustler 11, & Whitedot Ragnarok ASYM.
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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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.