BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
2021-2022 Blizzard Rustler 9
This year Blizzard added a narrower ski to their Freeride line, and you can now check out our full review of the Rustler 9.
Win Any Faction Ski You Want
Yep. Any Faction ski you want. Click to enter now.
Ski Mountaineer Greg Hill on “Progress, not Perfection” (Ep.76)
We talk to Greg Hill about the new Canadian chapter of Protect Our Winters, his take on how to address “eco-anxiety”, backcountry ski guiding and safety, and more.
18/19 Folsom Trophy Carbon
Check out our intitial on-snow impressions of Folsom’s lightweight playful pow ski.
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Richard Permin — “Good Morning”
Richard Permin — best rooftop skier of all time?
2020-2021 Moment Meridian 107
We’ve had more days and more reviewers on Moment’s reverse-camber all-mountain ski, the Meridian 107, and you can now check out our updated review.
Black Diamond Expedition 3 Ski Poles
After using it for more than 50 days, Black Diamond’s Expedition 3 pole has proven to be a reliable piece of equipment that’s worth a look for splitboarders, skiers, or anyone who wants a packable and durable pole for year-round use.
Blister’s Holiday Gift Guide 2018 — In the Garage
We’ve now shared our suggestions for stocking stuffers and gifts that’d be great under the tree. Now it’s time for the big items — those that you may just need to hide in the garage.
Strafe Scarlett Bib Pant
Most of us want ski pants to do 2 things: keep us comfortable and look good. Strafe’s Scarlett Bib Pant accomplishes both of those things and more, and you can now check out our full review for more info on this “Best Of” winner.
All That Glitters is Not Gold (Ep.30)
Not all gear is great — or even good. So today we’re discussing a number of intriguing products that turned out to disappoint.
Lightweight Touring Binding Shootout
We’ve now covered several of the most interesting lightweight touring bindings for 18/19 (including the new G3 ZED), and now we’re comparing them to show where, exactly, each binding stands out, which one might make the most sense for you, and how this lightweight category of bindings compares to heavier touring bindings like the Salomon / Atomic Shift, Marker Kingpin, and Fritschi Tecton.
Win Goggles + a Helmet from POC
Win POC’s new Obex SPIN Helmet and Fovea Clarity Goggles!
2020-2021 G3 ZED 12
The new ZED 12 binding is very impressive on paper. But on snow, how does it compare to the other lightweight touring bindings on the market? Check out our review.
2019-2020 Scarpa Alien RS
We gave Scarpa’s Alien RS a “Best Of” award in our 18/19 Winter Buyer’s Guide, saying its performance almost created a new class of boot. Now you can check out our full review for more info on how it compares to several other lightweight touring boots.
Blister’s Holiday Gift Guide 2018 — Under the Tree
Yesterday we asked our reviewers for their top picks for stocking stuffers, and today they’re chiming in with their thoughts on the best gifts to put under the tree.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Win a Dropper Post from OneUp
This week you’ve got a chance to win OneUp’s excellent dropper post & remote!
Your Questions + What We’re Celebrating (Ep.103)
Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ellsworth answer your questions and discuss our preferred gear for skiing funky spring / summer snow; what we’re reading; ski knickers?; mountain bike shoes; ski boot liners & durability; and more.
Altra Lone Peak 4.5
The Lone Peak has been in Altra’s running lineup for many years now, serving as their rugged, moderate-cushion trail shoe. Check out our review of the latest iteration, the Lone Peak 4.5, to see how it compares to the last version, several of Altra’s other trail shoes, and some other options on the market.
Summer Skirt & Skort Roundup — 2020
There are now lots of skirts & skorts that can transition from casual walks around town to running, swimming, and hiking far from the city. We’ve rounded up several of the casual and technical options our reviewers have been using — check out our roundup to see which ones might work for you.
Faith E. Briggs on Growing Up, Running, & Her Film, This Land (Ep. 54)
Faith E. Briggs is a filmmaker, a runner, and an outdoor enthusiast, and Brendan Leonard and Jonathan Ellsworth talk to Faith about her latest film, This Land; growing up and running track & cross country and transitioning into long-distance running & trail running; and our current / not-merely-current circumstances here in America.
2021-2022 K2 Reckoner 102
Many skis on the market are pretty good at a lot of things but consequently don’t really stand out in any particular aspect. Given that, the ultra-playful, yet surprisingly versatile K2 Reckoner 102 is a refreshing change of pace — check out our full review & Deep Dive comparisons.
Deep Dive: K2 Reckoner 102
We compare the Reckoner 102 to the K2 Reckoner 112, K2 Marksman, Line Sir Francis Bacon, Moment PB&J, Prior Northwest 100, ON3P Jeffrey 108, ON3P Magnus 102, Whitedot Altum 104, Fischer Ranger 102 FR, Dynastar M-Free 108, Faction Prodigy 3.0, Sego Big Horn 106, Nordica Soul Rider 97, Fauna Pioneer, Rossignol BLACKOPS Holyshred, Line Sakana, & Blizzard Rustler 10.
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.)
Thoughts on Our Current Situation
Update: some long-overdue policy changes are finally being made.
Bees, Green Lawns, “Perfect” Apples, & the Reinvention of Farming (Ep.132)
Most of us know that bee populations are struggling to survive, but why? And why do bees play such a critical role in the production of food? We talk to Peter Nelson and Sally Roy about their new film, The Pollinators, which tells the story of bees and beekeeping and soil and farming practices and pesticides and the EPA and why we need to change the way we produce food — and what each of us can do to help the cause.
Altra Timp 2.0
Altra made several significant updates to their high-cushion Timp and we think that, for many people, the new Timp 2.0 is a better shoe in most regards. Check out our review to see how this versatile, cushioned shoe compares to the previous Timp 1.5 and several other shoes on the market.
We Are One Union Wheels
There are plenty of ultra-stiff carbon rims on the market, but many of them also tend to feel very harsh and jarring in rough terrain. With their Enduro-oriented Union wheels, We Are One aimed to strike a better balance of stiffness, ride feel, & durability — all while making them in British Columbia and offering a lifetime warranty. After spending a few months riding the Union wheels (on an aggressive hardtail), we think they’d be very appealing to a lot of riders.
Father’s Day Roundup — 2020
Looking for a way to celebrate and appreciate the fathers and father figures in your life? We polled several of our reviewers to get their suggestions for Father’s Day gifts — check out their picks.