BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
2019 Transition Smuggler Carbon
Transition says their Smuggler is a bike that “defies categorization.” So, where does it actually fit in the Trail / All-Mountain category? Check out our full review.
2019-2020 Moment Blister Pro / Wildcat
We’ve had three reviewers spending a lot of time on two lengths of the current Blister Pro / Wildcat, and you can now check out our full review.
Introducing: Bikes & Big Ideas
We’re pleased to announce our newest addition to the BLISTER Podcast Network: BIKES & BIG IDEAS, hosted by Jonathan Ellsworth and co-hosted by Claudio Caluori. Check out our trailer to learn more about what we’re up to and why.
Win Men’s or Women’s Apparel from Kavu
Ready for those hot summer days? Enter to win a full apparel kit from Kavu!
Ultrarunner, Writer, Coach: Sarah Lavender Smith (Ep.3)
Brendan Leonard & Jonathan Ellsworth talk to ultrarunner, Sarah Lavender Smith, about what inspired her to start running; “mommy guilt;” the importance of being process oriented; running marathons with horses; competitiveness; and how she went from smoking and partying to running ultras.
Avalanche Airbags, Close Calls, & Backcountry Safety (Ep.45)
Near-death experiences, avalanche airbags, and changing risk tolerance — this week on GEAR:30 we talk to mountain guide and Mammut’s safety expert, Doug Workman, about life and survival in the mountains.
Deep Dive: Moment Blister Pro / Wildcat
We compare the Blister Pro / Wildcat to the Rossignol Black Ops 118, Dynastar PR-OTO Factory, Prior CBC, Icelantic Nomad 115, Folsom Trophy Carbon, Blizzard Spur, Line Outline, Atomic Bent Chetler 120, Nordica Enforcer Pro, Line Sick Day 114, Rossignol Super 7 RD, Rossignol Super 7 HD, and Blizzard Rustler 11.
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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2020-2021 Amplid Creamer
If you’re someone who loves riding hard and fast through nasty conditions and who wants an exceptionally damp and stable board to keep up with you, the new Amplid Creamer is worth a look. Check out our full review.
19/20 Volkl Mantra 102
We just spent a day on Volkl’s new Mantra 102 — check out our initial on-snow impressions.
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.)
Banks Kriz
Banks Kriz, Crested Butte, CO. Age: 24 | Vitals: 5’’7”, 145 lbs. | Years biking: 8 | Current Residence: Crested Butte, Colorado Background It all started back in Atlanta, Georgia, when I received my first bike: my sister’s pink, 16” Diamondback with a coaster brake.
2021-2022 Armada BDOG
Phil Casabon is one of the best freestyle skiers out there, and for 19/20, Armada is overhauling his signature ski. Check out our measured specs, rocker pics, and initial impressions of the new BDOG ski.
“Call of the Wild” — Eric Larsen
In honor of Earth Day, polar adventurer and expedition guide, Eric Larsen, put together a beautiful video that gets at why we love to explore wild places, how we can help to preserve those places. Check it out here.
Enve M7 Bar & M7 Stem
If you’re looking for a bar & stem that offer an excellent balance of low weight, stiffness, and enough vibration damping for long days on the trail, Enve’s M7 Bar & Stem are worth a very good look.
Win Men’s & Women’s MTB Packs from Deuter
Itching to get out on some spring MTB rides? Enter to win a pack from Deuter that’ll let you spend long days on the trail.
2020-2021 Dynastar Menace 98
Whether under its old “Slicer” name or its new one, the Dynastar Menace 98 has been around for a long time. And after getting two reviewers on it, we think there’s good reason for that. Check out our full review.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
20/21 Blister Buyer’s Guide + Your Questions (Ep.121)
Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ellsworth discuss some of the highlights and big takeaways from our new Winter Buyer’s Guide; our Best Of award winners; whether or not the 20/21 crop of ski gear represents a step forward; and we then answer a lot of the questions you submitted.
Win any Liberty Ski
The winner this week will get to pick any pair of skis they want from Liberty’s 20/21 lineup!
Smith Forefront 2 Helmet & Attack MAG MTB Glasses
Smith recently updated their highest-end Trail helmet, the Forefront 2, and we’ve been testing the new version along with their Attack MAG MTB Glasses to see how the two work together and how they compare to the competition.
How to Care for Your Waterproof Outerwear & Down Jackets
Ok, people, our outwear nerds / gurus want you to start properly taking care of and cleaning your waterproof jackets & pants, down jackets & mid layers, and other technical apparel to keep them performing at their best. So they’ll tell you how, and recommend several products to use.
Altra Superior 4.5
The Superior remains Altra’s most minimally cushioned, all-round trail shoe, but how different is the latest Superior 4.5 compared to prior iterations, and who should be considering the new shoe? Check out our review.
2020 Guerrilla Gravity Gnarvana
Enduro racer? Long-legged Trail bike? Both? After 3 months of riding, we’ve updated our full review of Guerrilla Gravity’s longest-travel bike, the Gnarvana, and provide our take on where it slots into the market.
Mali Noyes & Lani Bruntz ski The Wurl (Ep.148)
The Wurl — The Wasatch Ultimate Ridge Linkup — has gained a lot of attention in the trail running and climbing worlds, but it had never been done in the winter, and Mali Noyes and Lani Bruntz set out to ski it. So we talked with Mali and Lani about the origins of this idea to ski The Wurl, and the planning, logistics, and scouting that happened behind the scenes.
In Defense of Indoor Trainers (Ep.42)
Trainers? Trainers?? Roadies have been using them forever, but many mountain bikers dismiss them (like we did). But Simon Stewart (aka, Mr. Tank Driver / co-owner of BV Bike Company) lays out a compelling case for why all cyclists — including mountain bikers — should reconsider their stance on the modern, indoor trainer.
Shop Talk: John Weir, Bentgate (Ep.120)
We talk to John Weir from Bentgate in Golden, Colorado, about fitting AT boots; the rise of splitboarding; John’s predictions for this upcoming season; some of the precautions and protocols that Bentgate is taking and putting in place this winter; a lasting (positive) effect that COVID may have on the bootfitting process; and more.
2021-2022 Sego Condor 108
Sego’s Condor 108 was one of the more surprising skis we got on last season, and we think it is a reliable, predictable, and versatile tool that will work for a lot of skiers – whether you take a more directional or more playful approach to the mountain. Check out our Full Review & Deep Dive Comparisons.
Deep Dive: Sego Condor 108
We compare the Condor 108 to the 4FRNT Raven, Volkl Blaze 106, Volkl BMT 109, Line Sick Day 104, Armada Tracer 108, Faction Agent 3.0, Folsom Cash 106 Carbon, Elan Ripstick 106, RMU North Shore 108, J Skis Slacker, Moment Wildcat Tour 108, Moment Wildcat 108, Moment Deathwish Tour, G3 ROAMr 108, WNDR Alpine Intention 110, Atomic Backland 107, Blizzard Zero G 105, & Line Vision 108.
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 the LINE Blade
The winner this week will get Line’s new “fun carver,” the Blade!