BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
2021-2022 Roxa R3 130 T.I.
The Roxa R3 130 was a pretty good AT boot, but we think the updated 19/20 version is a great one. If you’re looking for a boot that you can use inbounds and in the backcountry, the new R3 130 is worth a look.
Zoetica: Solutions to the Global Recycling & Trash Crisis (Ep.82)
Trash is a growing global crisis, and currently, the majority of “recycled” products are still ending up in landfills or being burned. So we discuss the crisis, the myths, and the solutions to these problems with the founders of Zoetica, who are working to help us rethink these issues and take concrete actions to address them.
19/20 Rossignol Black Ops 98
Check out our initial on-snow impressions of Rossignol’s all-mountain-freestyle ski.
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Mammut Alvier Armor Hardshell Jacket
Jackets with reinforced fabrics used to bulky and often uncomfortable. But a few companies have come up with new ways to seamlessly reinforce their garments, and the Mammut Alvier Armor Jacket takes this technology and packages it into a versatile ski shell. Check out our full review.
Prior Snowboards & Skis, with Dominic Morin (Ep.39)
We talk to Prior’s head snowboard and ski shaper, Dominic Morin, about the origins of Prior, their philosophy of ski and snowboard shaping, their craziest designs, their new shapes for 19/20, and the legacy of Chris Prior.
Warm Winter Coat Roundup
For those bitterly cold days, it’s nice to have just one ultra-warm coat that you can toss on no matter what the weather’s doing. So we’ve rounded up a bunch of women’s and men’s coats for frigid days in town and in the backcountry.
2021-2022 K2 Mindbender 108Ti
We’ve now spent a lot of time on K2’s new Mindbender 108Ti, and you can now check out our full review.
Deep Dive: K2 Mindbender 108Ti
We compare the Mindbender 108Ti to the Blizzard Cochise, ON3P Wrenegade 108, Prior Husume, Folsom Hammer, 4FRNT MSP 107, Black Crows Corvus, Faction Dictator 3.0, Head Kore 105, Moment Commander 108, Nordica Enforcer 110, 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.
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.)
Brendan Leonard & Jonathan Ellsworth on Their Running Backgrounds & What Makes Someone a “Runner”? (Ep.1)
In our inaugural episode of Blister’s new running podcast, Off The Couch, Brendan Leonard (semi-rad.com) and Jonathan Ellsworth talk about their running backgrounds; their love / hate relationships with running; and Strava as a modern-day spiritual exercise??
Win an Avalanche Beacon from Black Diamond
Enter to win Black Diamond’s new avalanche beacon!
2020-2021 RMU North Shore 108
RMU’s North Shore 108 seems to combine elements from both the more directional, harder-charging end of the spectrum, as well as the more forgiving and playful side. So what does that actually look like? Check out our measured specs, rocker pics, initial impressions, and Flash Review.
19/20 RMU North Shore 108
Check out our initial on-snow impressions of RMU’s narrower big-mountain 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.
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.)
Colltex Clariden Climbing Skins
Colltex has been making climbing skins for more than 50 years, and it shows. Their Clariden skins’ low weight, great glide, and easy to use adhesive make them an excellent option for a lot of backcountry skiers.
Blister Speaker Series 1.2: Eric Larsen – Polar Adventurer, Expedition Guide, & Educator (Ep.81)
Last week we held our 2nd Blister Speaker Series event at Western Colorado University with Eric Larsen, a North and South Pole adventurer, expedition guide, author, and climate educator. Here is that conversation, where we talk to Eric about the importance of doing difficult things, perseverance, leadership, and more.
Ski Pole Roundup — 2019
Not all ski poles are created equal, so after spending dozens of seasons and hundreds of days using a whole bunch of them, we offer this roundup of a bunch of inbounds and backcountry-oriented options.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Blister Brand Guide: Altra Running Shoe Lineup, 2020
Interested in Altra’s road or trail shoes but not sure where to start? Check out our Brand Guide, where we cover their entire 2020 lineup, highlight what’s changed since last year, and help you differentiate between all of their shoes.
La Sportiva Lycan II
The original La Sportiva Lycan was designed to be a softer, wider, and more cushioned shoe for mellow, smooth trails. But with the new Lycan II, they went in a very different direction, positioning it as a mid-distance shoe for “rocky and highly technical terrain.” So how do the two versions compare, and why should you opt for the Lycan II over Sportiva’s numerous other “mountain running” shoes?
2021 Privateer 141
Today Privateer launched their second bike, the 141, which maintains much of the modern geometry, sensible design, and very competitive price point of their Enduro-oriented 161 bike, but packages it into a shorter-travel, more versatile design for the masses. The result seems very compelling — check out our First Look for more.
Win a Men’s or Women’s Flylow Outerwear Kit
The winner this week will get both a jacket & shell from Flylow’s 20/21 collection!
Men’s Mountain Bike Jersey Roundup — 2020
We’ve rounded up 11 men’s mtb jerseys that our reviewers have been using for the past 1-2 seasons — many of which are currently on sale. Check out our roundup to see how they compare, and which ones might work well for how and where you ride.
Evolving Bike Geometry & the New Trek Slash (Ep.37)
Today, Trek officially released an update of their enduro-focused Slash, so we offer our initial impressions of the new bike and ask what this big new release might be able to tell us about where we are in terms of the evolution of bike geometry. To this end, we also talk about a couple other examples, including the Pivot Switchblade and the Rocky Mountain Instinct BC.
Salomon Sense Ride 3
Now in its 3rd iteration, the Salomon Sense Ride is a shoe that stands out not because it’s exceptional at one particular thing, but because of how well it performs across such a wide spectrum of trails and distances. Check out our full review.
Kelly Roberts on How to Start Running, Keep Running, & Her Badass Lady Gang (Ep.65)
Ever feel like you aren’t — or couldn’t ever possibly be — a “real” runner? Most of us have, which is why most of us need to meet Kelly Roberts. Kelly is good at making us feel fine about the fact that we sometimes hate running. And she’s equally good at helping us continue to run — or walk, or bike, or just keep moving. So we talk to Kelly about her moving (and hilarious) entrance into running; her Badass Lady Gang; angel ghosts; and more.
2020 Rocky Mountain Instinct BC Edition
We’ve now had 3 reviewers on Rocky Mountain’s “aggressive trail” bike, the Instinct BC. Check out our updated review for each of their takes, and how the bike compares to several other options in its class.
Paul Forward on Hunting, Climate Advocacy, & Conservation (Ep.141)
Blister reviewer, Paul Forward, is a lifelong hunter. Jonathan Ellsworth has been a vegetarian for over 20 years. So how much common ground do they share? We discuss that plus Paul’s latest solo hunt; why he only hunts with a bow; what the broader hunting community might learn from skiers & mtn bikers in terms of climate advocacy; and what skiers & mtn bikers could stand to learn from the hunting community about conservation.
What Makes a Face Mask More or Less Effective? (Ep.112)
Not all bikes or skis are equally good at all things — and the same goes for protective face masks. So we talked with Alex Lauver and Kat Schoewe of Outdoor Research about what type of masks are the most & least effective; how Outdoor Research’s work on medical-grade PPE has influenced their commercially available Essential Face Mask; we make some predictions about the upcoming ski season; and more.
We Got Reviewed: Our Podcasts, Buyer’s Guide, & Blister Membership
Someone recently listened to *every single* episode of our Blister Podcast — plus a bunch of episodes from our other podcasts — then posted his thoughts on them as well as our Buyer’s Guide and Blister Membership. It’s a pretty fun and interesting read, so check it out.