BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Blister Speaker Series 2.1: Claudio Caluori (Ep.101)
Last week, we kicked off season #2 of our monthly Blister Speaker Series at Western Colorado University, where we invite influential figures to come talk about how they are shaping the outdoor industry. Our first guest of the new season was Claudio Caluori, the announcer for the World Cup Downhill series, a former pro XC and DH racer, the founder of Velosolutions, and the initiator of #pumpforpeace. We touch on all of these things in our conversation, and get Claudio’s perspective on a wide range of topics and questions.
VIDEO: Claudio Caluori on the World Cup DH Season
We’ll be rolling out videos of many of our podcasts, and the first one is our conversation with Claudio Caluori, where he recaps the extremely exciting season and finale of the World Cup Downhill series. Watch it here.
Our Upcoming Trip to Moab with 57 Hours
We’re heading to Moab for a multi-sport trip, and we’re linking up with a 57 Hours guide to do it. Learn more about our trip, the backstory, and more.
2019 Specialized Enduro 27.5
Specialized recently released a new Enduro, but whether you’re looking at the resale market, don’t love the new Enduro’s geometry or 29er-only design, or are just looking for a versatile Enduro / Trail bike, we think the Enduro 27.5 still deserves strong consideration. Check out Eric Freson’s full review, and Luke Koppa also adds his thoughts from the perspective of a newcomer to the sport.
CushCore Pro Tire Inserts
We recently published Noah Bodman’s take on CushCore’s Pro tire inserts, and now David Golay adds his thoughts. Check them out here.
Biking 101: Bike Fit & Geometry — Part 1
Selecting the “right” bike means selecting the right *size* bike — and understanding how a bike’s “geometry” affects that. So check out our Bike Fit & Geometry 101 article to learn more about a bike’s geometry and how it affects both fit and performance.
What You’re Wearing, Part 4: Hemp (Ep.65)
Shooting hemp t-shirts with guns; eating hemp seeds; building houses with hemp; and industrial hemp legalization in the US — Part 4 of our “What You’re Wearing” series tackles the complex history, misconceptions, and many uses of hemp.
Claudio Caluori on the World Cup DH Season (Ep.9)
Coming straight to Crested Butte after the amazing World Cup season finale, Claudio Caluori sits down with Jonathan Ellsworth in BLISTER HQ to discuss whether this was the best WC DH season ever; Loic Bruni & Amaury Pierron’s epic battle; his biggest takeaways from the men’s and women’s seasons; and what, if anything, could be done to make the series even better.
Win a G3 ZED Touring Binding
We have 2 big announcements this week: (1) you can win a pair of G3 ZED bindings and (2) Blister Members now get 10% off & free shipping on everything from G3. Learn more here.
Blister Brand Guide: Altra Lineup, 2019
Timp 1.5 vs. Lone Peak 4. Paradigm 4.5 vs. Duo 1.5. What sets Altra’s shoes apart from one another, and which is the best shoe for you? Check out our Brand Guide for an overview of their entire road and trail lineup.
Blister Brand Guide: Specialized Mountain Bike Lineup, 2020
In our new “Blister Brand Guide” series, we go over the entire product lineup of a brand, highlight how each product stands out from the rest of the lineup, and help you figure out quickly and easily which one might be best for you. First up on the MTB side: Specialized.
2020 Ibis Ripmo AF
Today Ibis announced the brand-new Ripmo AF, as in “aluminum frame.” As in, the first all-aluminum Ibis bike since they reopened shop in 2005. But there’s a whole lot more to this new Trail / Enduro bike than just being made of metal — check out our First Look for more info.
Jackson Brill: Full-Time Student, Full-Time Runner (Ep.16)
Salomon athlete, Jackson Brill, is a 21-year old senior in college at CU Boulder, but given his approach to running, the way he talks about the sport, and his race results, you’d be forgiven for assuming that he was twice as old as he is. So we talked to Jackson about his studies and his work in CU’s Locomotion Lab; being teammates with Kilian Jornet; his experience with the Golden Trail Series; and his strong interest in coaching.
Pep Fujas: from the Farm to K2 to WNDR (Ep.100)
Pep Fujas has always been at the forefront of freeskiing, and he is now looking to move things forward once again. So we talk to Pep about growing up on his family farm in Oregon; his remarkable film career; his favorite Seth Morrison story; his long relationship with K2 and his favorite K2 skis; his decision to go back to school; and his even bigger decision to join the team at WNDR Alpine.
Blister Brand Guide: Hoka One One Lineup, 2019
There are so many products and options available from so many different companies, it can be difficult to know where to even begin, or to figure out the differences between products in a brand’s own lineup. So we’re introducing our new “Blister Brand Guide” series, where we’ll go over the entire product lineup of a brand, highlight how each product stands out from the rest of the lineup, and help you quickly and easily figure out which one might be best for you. First up: Hoka.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Deep Dive: Season Forma Ski
We compare the Forma to the Line Pescado, Dynastar M-Free 118, Line Vision 118, Volkl Revolt 121, Line Outline, 4FRNT Renegade, DPS Koala 118, Blizzard Rustler 11, K2 Reckoner 122, Black Crows Anima, Volkl Revolt 121, J Skis Friend, Moment Wildcat, Salomon QST Blank, Icelantic Nomad 115, & K2 Mindbender 116C.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Blister Brand Guide: Rocky Mountain’s Mountain Bike Lineup, 2021
For model-year 2021, Rocky Mountain’s lineup saw some significant changes, including the all-new Instinct and Altitude. Check out our Brand Guide to learn more about the current line and which bike might work best for you.
Flash Review: 21/22 Salomon QST 98
We just got a day on the new QST 98 — 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 Line Vision 118
Lightweight and playful, the Line Vision 118 should be on your list if you’re looking for a pow ski that you’ll use in the backcountry, the resort, or a mix of both.
Shop Talk: Escape Route, Whistler & Squamish (Ep.138)
We talk to Escape Route director, James Retty, about the shop’s backcountry-only focus; the ski culture(s) of the Sea-to-Sky Corridor; elephant snot; the new Dynafit Radical Pro boot; the Fritschi Tecton; avy pack comparisons, and more.
Win any Season Ski or Board
Whether you ride on one plank or two, you should definitely enter this week’s giveaway!
Deep Dive: Line Vision 118
Dylan Wood on the Line Vision 118, Mt. Crested Butte, Colorado. If you haven’t already, check out our Full Review of the Vision 118 for more on that ski in particular. Here, we’re comparing it to several other skis in its class. Line Vision 118, 183 cm (20/21–21/22) Measured Dimensions: 151.0-117.5-137.4 mm Stated Radius: 19.5 … Read more
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.)
Rémy Métailler on Doing Stupid Stuff, Responsibly (Ep.56)
Rémy Métailler has described himself as someone who is “just trying to be as responsible as he can while doing stupid stuff.” So we spoke with him about his approach to riding super steep, gnarly lines, as well as his background, filming, Rampage, mullet bikes, and a whole lot more.
Flash Review: 20/21 Kye Shapes Numinous
Here are some of our thoughts on Kye Petersen’s big, burly, signature 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.
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TRP Slate T4 Brakes
TRP’s Slate T4 brakes are an affordable option for a four-piston Trail bike brake. But how do they stack up against some of the more expensive options in that space, as well as bigger, downhill-focused options?
2021-2022 Blizzard Bonafide 97
The Blizzard Bonafide has long been a reference point in the all-mountain category, but these days, it might stand out more than ever before. Check out our Full Review & Deep Dive comparisons of the overhauled Bonafide 97.
Deep Dive: Blizzard Bonafide 97
We compare the Bonafide 97 to the previous Bonafide, Head Monster 98, Blizzard Cochise 106, Salomon Stance 96, Nordica Enforcer 100, Nordica Enforcer 94, Volkl M5 Mantra, J Skis Masterblaster, Fischer Ranger 102 FR, Fischer Ranger 99 Ti, Dynastar M-Pro 99, K2 Mindbender 99Ti, Salomon QST 99, Blizzard Rustler 9, & 4FRNT MSP 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.
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.)