BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles

2021-2022 J Skis The Vacation
The J Skis Vacation used to basically be a J Skis Metal without the metal. But this year, the updated Vacation is an entirely different ski … and we’d argue that it is better in virtually every regard. Check out our full review of this playful all-mountain ski.

Cody Townsend on The FIFTY Project (Ep.78)
We talk to Cody Townsend about his massive new undertaking to ski 50 classic North American lines. We discuss his approach to the project; how it’s going so far; dealing with its incredibly tricky logistics; which lines are the most daunting; the line he’d just skied; what gear he is using; and more.

19/20 Line Sir Francis Bacon
Check out our initial on-snow impressions of the redesigned Sir Francis Bacon.
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2020-2021 Head Raptor 110S RS W
If you’re looking for a strong, high-performance women’s alpine ski boot, the Head Raptor 110S RS W is worth a good look. Check out our full review.

2019-2020 Amplid Millisurf
The extremely lightweight, powder-oriented Amplid Millisurf splitboard won a “Best Of” award in our Winter Buyer’s Guide this year, and you can now check out our full review to see why.


2021-2022 Blizzard Zero G 105
Blizzard decided to overhaul their Zero G touring skis for 19/20, so the question (as always) is how similar or different are the new skis? Check out our measured specs, rocker pics, and initial impressions of the brand-new Zero G 105.

9th Annual Blister Awards — Outdoor Retailer Snow Show
Check out Part 3 of our Outdoor Retailer awards, including classics like Good or Bad Industry Trends; Best Graphics; Gear We Were Most Tempted to Steal; and the “WTF is that?” award.

19/20 Nordica Enforcer 104 Free
Update 2.8.19: Check out our updated on-snow impressions of the brand-new Enforcer 104 Free, with comparisons to the Fischer Ranger 102 FR.
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 Lange RX 130 LV
Our reviewer is calling the Lange RX 130 LV the best alpine boot he’s ever used when it comes to downhill performance. Check out our full review to find out why.

2019 Outdoor Retailer / SIA Show Highlights (Ep.36)
We just wrapped up our time at the Outdoor Retailer / SIA trade show, so five of us sat down to discuss the most interesting trends we saw, the products we were most tempted to steal, and more.

18/19 Dynastar PR-OTO Factory
Check out some of our initial on-snow impressions of Dynastar’s big, heavy 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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Win a Helmet from Scott
Win a backcountry skiing / climbing helmet from Scott!

2021-2022 K2 Wayback 106
K2 overhauled their touring skis this year, and after spending a lot of time on it in a wide range of conditions, you can now check out our full review of the widest ski in the series, the Wayback 106.

Rab Sharp Edge Jacket and Pants
There aren’t many kits out there designed specifically for ski mountaineering, but Rab’s Sharp Edge Jacket and Pants are. So how do they perform in big terrain, and should you still be considering them even if you’re not walking around in crampons and hacking your way up steep ice? Check out our full review.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:

WNDR Alpine’s 20/21 Lineup with Matt Sterbenz, Pep Fujas, & Xan Marshland (Ep.109)
Matt Sterbenz, Pep Fujas, and Xan Marshland came to Crested Butte and sat down with us in Blister HQ to fill us in on WNDR Alpine’s new materials, new updates to the Intention 110, and their brand new ski, the Vital 100. And you’ll also hear some stories about Matt and Pep competing in slopestyle events against each other back in the day, and more.

Win a YETI Cooler
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get YETI’s Roadie 24 hard cooler!

Blister Brand Guide: Salomon Running Shoe Lineup, 2020
Salomon recently added even more new models to their 2020 running lineup. Check out our Brand Guide to learn more about the new additions and where they slot into the rest of the brand’s collection.

Anneke Beerten on Racing, ‘Badass’ Books, & Big Ideas (Ep. 34)
Anneke Beerten was born in the Netherlands, started racing BMX when she was 4, then became a 2 x world champion in BMX, a 3-time Four-cross world champion, the Queen of Crankworx, and she’s won, podiumed, and top 5’d many enduro, DH, DS races. She also just won the So Cal Enduro and Snow Summit DH. So Blister reviewer Dylan Wood and Jonathan Ellsworth caught up with Anneke to talk about racing; what she’s up to these days; ‘badass’ books; business ideas; and you’ll get to hear ‘the story of Dylan and Anneke.’

2020 Speedgoat 50K Winner, Noah Brautigam (Ep. 61)
Noah Brautigam just won the Speedgoat 50K, and a few days after winning, he sat down with us in Blister HQ to provide a very fresh and fun recap of the race, and describe what tweaks were made to allow the event to happen. We also discuss his background and a surprising discovery that has him feeling great, performing at a high level, and recovering really well.

2021-2022 K2 Reckoner 122
Last season we got to ski a lot of very deep snow on the very wide K2 Reckoner 122. Check out our Full Review and Deep Dive comparisons for more on this new playful pow ski.

Deep Dive: K2 Reckoner 122
We compare the Reckoner 122 to the Reckoner 112, Volkl Revolt 121, K2 Catamaran, Salomon QST 118, Moment Wildcat, Dynastar M-Free 118, Faction Candide 5.0, 4FRNT Inthayne, J Skis Friend, Line Outline, Atomic Bent Chetler 120, Icelantic Nomad 115, Parlor McFellon Pro, Rossignol BLACKOPS Gamer, Blizzard Rustler 11, K2 Mindbender 116C, ON3P Jeffrey 116, Prior CBC, & Kye Shapes Metamorph.
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.)

Swiftwick Running Sock Roundup
We’ve been running in several of Swiftwick’s socks, including a few new options that they just released today. Check out our roundup to see how the numerous models in their lineup compare.

Jeremy Bloom on Winning, Happiness, & The Weight of Gold (Ep. 138)
Jeremy Bloom is a 3-time world champion mogul skier, a 2-time Olympian, an 11-time World Cup gold medalist, and an All-American football player that was drafted into the NFL. He’s also the executive producer of an important new film, The Weight of Gold, which explores the mental health challenges that Olympic athletes often face. So we talked to Jeremy about his own background; the pursuit of athletic excellence; winning and happiness; brain health; and more.

Pros, Cons, & Potential Solutions to Increased Trail Use (Ep. 33)
Bike sales are through the roof this season, and all around the world, a lot of people are hitting the trails. So we talked to the executive director of the Crested Butte Mountain Bike Association, Dave Ochs, to discuss the implications of — and potential solutions to — increased trail use.

Win a Camping Sleep System from Zenbivy
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get a sleeping bag, sleeping pad, & a pillow from Zenbivy!

Mountain Biking Flat-Pedal Shoe Roundup — 2020
Flat-pedal shoes now vary a lot, from those with ultra-sticky, racing-slick-style outsoles to options that resemble hiking shoes to others that look like any other sneaker. Check out our roundup for in-depth comparisons on 6 shoes that we’ve been using.