BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Petzl Meteor Helmet
The Meteor has served as Petzl’s lightweight climbing helmet for more than 20 years. This year, they made their most significant update yet — making it dual-certified for both climbing and ski touring. Check out our full review of this versatile helmet.
GPS Devices & Backcountry Safety with Bivy (Ep.51)
GPS communication devices can be the difference between life and death in remote places. So we talk with Bivy’s Pitt Grewe about the different types of technology and devices on the market; how these devices can affect decision making; satellite networks; complicated payment plans; and … Pitt’s impressive skills as a DJ.
Deep Dive: 4FRNT Inthayne
We compare the Inthayne to the Moment Deathwish, Faction Candide 4.0, Armada ARV 116 JJ, Moment Wildcat / Blister Pro, Blizzard Rustler 11, Atomic Bent Chetler 120, Dynastar PR-OTO Factory, Rossignol Black Ops 118, Line Outline, Prior CBC, Icelantic Nomad 115, Folsom Trophy Carbon, Blizzard Spur, and Line Sick Day 114.
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Win Norrona’s Men’s or Women’s MTB Shorts
Need a new pair of MTB shorts? If so, you’re in luck…
2020-2021 Armada Tracer 98
Armada is tweaking their Tracer 98 for 19/20 in order to be more competitive with the growing class of ~100mm-wide backcountry and 50/50 skis. Check out our measured specs, rocker pics, and initial impressions to see what they changed.
Strafe Sunnyside Alpha Anorak
If you’re looking for a good-looking and versatile midlayer that you can use for a bit of everything, we highly recommend giving the Strafe Sunnyside Alpha Anorak a look. Check out our full review.
2021-2022 Fischer Ranger 94 FR
When Fischer announced a narrower version of their excellent Ranger 102 FR, we were instantly intrigued. Now you can check out our full review to see how the new Ranger 94 FR performs, and what type of skier will like it most.
Deep Dive: Fischer Ranger 94 FR
We compare the Ranger 94 FR to the Fischer Ranger 102 FR, Fischer Ranger 99Ti, Moment Commander 98, J Skis Masterblaster, Nordica Enforcer 100, Renoun Endurance 98, Armada ARV 96Ti, Rossignol Black Ops 98, Dynastar Menace 98, Liberty Origin 96, 4FRNT MSP 99, Blizzard Rustler 9, Atomic Bent Chetler 100, ON3P Wrenegade 96, and Blizzard Brahma.
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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James Buehler on Riding the Ribbon, Devil’s Castle (Ep.90)
You may have seen last week some pretty mind-blowing (and terrifying) footage of a snowboarder negotiating the Ribbon on Devil’s Castle at Alta. So we talked to James Buehler about his apparent first descent with Alex Gavic of the Ribbon on a snowboard, and James walks us through the technical aspects of the route; his preparation for the line; the mental and physical demands it imposes; encountering multiple cruxes; the “Ronald McDonald Grin”; and what’s next on his list.
Arc’teryx Rush LT Jacket
Arc’teryx’s Rush LT Jacket brings lightweight protection to a snowsports-oriented design, but we think it’s worth a look for a wide range of people, not just those who like to slide down snow. Check out our full review.
Gearing Up for Big Days in the Mountains (Ep.50)
Last Saturday, Sam Shaheen skied three different lines in one day on the Colorado 14er, Torrey’s Peak. Jonathan Ellsworth sits down with Sam to discuss the details of this “Torrey’s Peak Triple Crown”; the ‘D-Scale’ of rating ski descents; the gear, apparel, and food he used on the mountain; and the safety and decision-making process throughout the day.
19/20 ON3P Woodsman 108
Check out our initial on-snow impressions of ON3P’s new Woodsman 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.
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Win a Men’s or Women’s MTB Kit from Giro
Win a helmet, jersey, shorts, and gloves from Giro!
2020-2021 Liberty evolv 100
Compared to the current crop of 100mm-wide skis out there, Liberty is going in a different direction with their new evolv 100. Check out our measured specs, rocker pics, and initial impressions.
Patagonia SnowDrifter Jacket
If you split your time between the resort and the backcountry — or just want an incredibly comfortable ski / snowboard shell — the brand-new Patagonia SnowDrifter Jacket should be on your list. Check out our full review.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Hoka One One Torrent 2
Many people were fans of the original Hoka Torrent for its combination of comfort and lightweight efficiency for fast-paced trail runs. So, how does the updated Torrent 2 compare, and who should have this new trail shoe on their list?
Gear of the Year, 2020 (Ep.129)
Luke Koppa & Jonathan Ellsworth talk about some of the skis they’ve recently been testing; name some of the most surprising products of 2020 and some of the standout products of 2020; offer a few gear predictions for 2021; and end with what they’re celebrating this week.
Win Folsom Skis
This week the winner will get the Folsom Blister Pro 104 + some Folsom gear!
2020-2021 Hinterland Maul 121
Hinterland is a small-batch ski manufacturer out of Utah, and we’ve been impressed by the widest ski in their lineup, the Maul 121. Check out our full review for more on the ski and how it compares to other playful pow skis on the market.
Flash Review: 20/21 Scarpa F1 LT
Check out reviewer Paul Forward’s initial thoughts on the F1 LT and how it compares to the previous Alien RS.
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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Flash Review: 20/21 Elan Wingman 86 CTi
Elan puts the Wingman 86 CTi in the “All-Mountain Versatile” category of their lineup, and we don’t think they’re far off with that description.
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 Spark R&D Arc Pro Splitboard Binding
We spent all of last season using the ultralight “Pro” version of Spark R&D’s Arc binding — plus several of Spark’s in-house accessories — and have come away very impressed.
Blister Brand Guide: Adidas Terrex Trail Running Shoe Lineup, 2020
Adidas continus to expand their off-road-oriented Terrex line of running shoes, with everything from high-cushion, long-distance shoes to minimal, lightweight options. Check out our Brand Guide to get the rundown on all of their 2020 shoes.
Flash Review: 20/21 4FRNT Devastator
Check out our initial impressions of the new Devastator, where we answer some of the questions we first posed in our First Look.
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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Flash Review: 20/21 Movement Fly Two 115
Check out our initial thoughts on Movement’s playful (but also pretty stable) pow 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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Blister Brand Guide: Columbia Montrail Trail Running Shoes ’20
While it doesn’t include a huge number of shoes, Columbia-Montrail’s 2020 trail running shoe lineup offers runners a few different options to suit specific needs, and is particularly appealing for those not looking to drop a ton of money on their next pair of shoes. Check out our Brand Guide to see how each shoe differs and which might be worth a look from you.
Reviewing the News w/ Cody Townsend (Dec 2020) (Ep.156)
Cody Towsend and Jonathan Ellsworth talk about chess & The Queen’s Gambit; savants & skier savants; ski media; political appointees; avalanche accidents; Cody’s new film, The Mountain Why; and more.