BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
‘Ski Party’ w/ Amie Engerbretson & Jonathan Ellsworth (Ep.43)
Today we are talking about a film that just celebrated its 60th anniversary: ’Ski Party’ came out on June 30, 1965; it stars a couple major actors and singers; and when we recently learned of its existence, we immediately knew who we needed to recruit to discuss: Amie Engerbretson.
Training for Outdoor Sports & the Current State of PT w/ Dr. Stephen Burkert (Ep.363)
Today, we are talking about training and outdoor-sports performance with Dr. Steve Burkert of Snow Beast Performance. We discuss best practices for training, the most common summer injuries, and some alarming trends in the physical therapy world that we all need to understand.
Outlier Void and Pendulum Pedals
Outlier’s Void and Pendulum pedals don’t look like anything else out there, so is their performance similarly quirky, just plain good, or somewhere in between? We’ve had multiple reviewers spend a lot of time on both versions and are ready to weigh in.
Stuff We Like: June 2025
In this edition of ‘Stuff We Like,’ our reviewers discuss a bunch of products that have stood out recently — from MTB tires that are dang near perfect for current conditions to a paper-airplane kit loved by kids and adults alike, classic summer apparel, and more.
Our Thoughts on Peak Skis & What Needs to Happen Next (Ep.353)
Jonathan lays out his thoughts about the Peak Skis debacle, Luke Koppa offers his perspective too, and we discuss what we think needs to happen going forward.
Win Apparel From Fjällräven
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get the men’s or women’s Hoja Wool Tee, Hoja Hybrid Shorts, and Rider’s Wind Jacket from Fjällräven!
Flash Review: EXT Vecta
EXT has historically made very high-end suspension, and while their new Vecta coil shock isn’t cheap, it’s a lot more affordable than EXT’s other offerings. But how does it perform? We’ve got some initial thoughts.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Update: Revised Public Land Sale Still a Terrible Idea
The Senate is still trying to sell more than a million acres of our public lands, and their revised proposal is still insultingly disingenuous — both to those who enjoy the outdoors and those seeking affordable housing. Here’s the latest, and why voicing your opinion is so urgent and important.
Portland Design Works’ Erik Olson on Making Products for the Everyday Cyclist (Ep.280)
In today’s conversation, Simon talks with Erik Olson, founder of Portland Design Works, about designing simple, elegant products for everyday riding; bike commuting with his dog; sustainability; speaking Chinese, and more.
Mondraker Level
The new Mondraker Level is still a burly electrified aluminum eMTB, but it gets the Bosch Gen 5 motor treatment, a big 800 Wh battery, mixed wheels, and new geometry. Let’s check it out.
2026 RockShox SID SL & Reba
RockShox’s XC forks are getting an overhaul, and while the standard SID carries on unchanged, both the ultralight SID SL and budget-oriented Reba get new chassis and some other updates. Check out what’s new.
Craft N/A Cocktails & Why They Matter More Than You Think (Ep.75)
Craft N/A Cocktails are on the rise, but there is still much that needs to evolve in this space. Jonathan Ellsworth and our CRAFTED co-host (and professional mixologist) Eli Brown discuss, and you’ll learn why fast-growing whiskey company, Uncle Nearest, is so interested in the N/A space.
‘Unbreakable: The Western States 100’ w/ Cody Townsend & Jonathan Ellsworth (Ep.42)
Cody and Jonathan discuss what many regard as the greatest ultra film of all time, ‘Unbreakable.’ It documents the 2010 running of Western States, and the 2025 race happens this Saturday, June 28.
Flash Review: Fox Podium
The new Fox Podium doesn’t look like much else out there, and its on-trail performance stands out, too. Check out our take so far.
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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Shimano GRX Di2 1 x 12-speed Drivetrain
Shimano’s new wireless derailleur design has been adapted to the 1 x 12 Gravel use case with the new GRX RX827 rear derailleur. Our First Look digs into their first true wireless Gravel setup.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Coffee Gear, Pt. 5: One-Year Update on Jonathan’s Coffee Setup & Journey (Ep.82)
Eli talks with Jonathan Ellsworth about what’s new in his setup; what he’s learned (or rejected) from the depths of coffee forums and online videos; and whether his coffee journey has been a brilliant pursuit of flavor, or just an expensive rabbit hole.
Santa Cruz Hightower 4
The 4th-generation Santa Cruz Hightower isn’t just a mid-travel All-Mountain bike — it’s a confident descender that could have been a true Enduro bike just a few years ago. With stable, versatile geometry and plush suspension, the Hightower 4 stands out as a capable one-bike quiver option.
Deep Dive: Santa Cruz Hightower 4
We compare the Santa Cruz Hightower 4 to the Santa Cruz Hightower 3, Santa Cruz Bronson 5, Santa Cruz Megatower 2, Santa Cruz Tallboy 5, Specialized Stumpjumper 15, Ibis Ripmo V3, Spot Mayhem 140, Cannondale Habit, Pivot Shadowcat, Transition Sentinel V3, and Trek Fuel EX Gen 7.
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.
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‘Chasing The Triple Crown’ w/ Hannah Otto (Ep. 49)
Hannah Otto has been ticking off impressive FKTs, and her latest film documents the highs and lows of her White Rim record-breaking effort, as well as the struggles of riding and filming in very unforgiving terrain.
Spark R&D + ATK Bindings: a New Collab Sparked at the Blister Summit
Today’s episode contains a number of “firsts.” So tune in to learn about a new collab between Spark R&D and ATK bindings, or tune in to hear Jonathan caught completely off guard multiple times.
Mountain In My Mind: When Ski Films Talk About What We Don’t (Ep.370)
Filmmaker John Padilla joins us to talk about his ski film series, Mountain In My Mind, and how he’s opening the conversation about mental health in mountain communities.
Flash Review: Fox 34 SL
Cross-Country race courses have gotten a lot gnarlier in recent years, and bikes and parts have had to adapt. The new Fox 34 SL offers up to 130 mm of travel in a very lightweight package, but how does it ride? We are ready to share first impressions from a few rides with Fox’s new race-oriented XC fork.
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 Apparel From Curious Creatures & Party Shirt International
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get a pair of Bitterroot Bloom or Sun Dog shorts from Curious Creatures and a Sun Hoodie from Party Shirt International!
Formula Selva V
Formula’s latest twist on their single-crown All-Mountain / Enduro fork, the Selva V, defies convention within the category a bit — and will be a great option for the right riders for it.
Casey Brown on Dark Horse, Rampage, Women’s Protective Gear, & More (Ep.287)
Casey Brown is back on Bikes & Big Ideas to talk about the past, present, and future of women’s freeride; the resurrection of Dark Horse; year two of women in Rampage; the state of women’s protective gear & how to improve it; and a whole lot more.
The Cast Iron Comeback: Field Company Co-Founder, Stephen Muscarella (Ep.81)
Eli talks with Stephen Muscarella about how a vintage pan sparked a journey to reimagine cast iron from the ground up. They get into what makes cast iron so special — and so misunderstood; the small design choices that lead to better cooking; and what Field is doing to bring back the use of cast iron in modern cooking.
Tectonic Alibi Flat Pedals
Tectonic has taken the winning formula of their Altar V2 pedal and adapted it to a composite (and much cheaper) version: the Alibi. Does it match the Altar V2’s strong performance, or is the Alibi something else altogether? We’ve been riding them for a few months and have thoughts.