BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles

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.

Andrew Mildenberger — “Strictly Business”
“Strictly Business” recently won the amateur Film of the Year award at IF3, and after watching it, nothing about the film seems “amateur” — the skiing and cinematography are up there with the best in the business. Check out the full film here.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:

Tannus Armour Tire Inserts
We’ve had more reviewers using the Tannus Armour tire inserts, and have updated our review with thoughts on long-term durability; how the inserts perform when primarily used in a rear tire; and how noticeable the different ride quality will feel to beginners and intermediates.

Hoka One One EVO Jawz
Most brands now make at least one mud-oriented shoe for very technical terrain, and most of them are very niche. However, Hoka’s aptly named EVO Jawz has proven to be surprisingly versatile, and seems particularly appealing to those looking for maximum grip and stability — even on longer runs.

Shaun Martin on the Navajo Approach to Running, Coaching, & Community (Ep. 55)
Our guest is Shaun Martin, who we’ve talked about before on this podcast in our conversations with Sanjay Rawal, since Shaun appeared in Sanjay’s film, 3100: Run and Become. But this time we’re talking to the man himself, and Brendan Leonard and Jonathan Ellsworth talk to Shaun about his background, heritage, coaching philosophy, and a whole lot more.

BlackAFinSTEM, Birders, & Bees (Ep.133)
BlackAFinSTEM was started to encourage and support Black individuals who are working in — or who are just passionate about — the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, and also to encourage, support, and increase the visibility of Black naturalists and Black people who recreate and work outdoors. So we talk to Tyler Jones, the co-organizer of Black Birders Week, about all of the above, plus the difference between a bird and a trash bag; Taco Bell & STEM; her graduate work on bees (!!!); and more.

Blister Brand Guide: Cannondale Mountain Bike Lineup, 2020
Cannondale has become known for coming up with some unique designs, and while their current MTB lineup features some of their proprietary tech, it also spans everything from budget hardtails to XC race rigs to longer-travel Trail bikes. Check out our Brand Guide to see which of their bikes might make sense for you.

2021 Revel Ranger
Revel just released their 3rd bike, the Ranger, which blends the signature CBF suspension design with an XC-friendly 115 mm of rear travel. Check out our First Look for more on how the Ranger’s design compares to Revel’s other bikes and the broader short-travel, 29er market.

2021-2022 Dynastar M-Pro 99
The M-Pro 99 follows a long line of Dynastar’s directional freeride skis, and we think this new ski represents both an interesting departure and an interesting addition to the lineup. Check out our full review and Deep Dive comparisons.

Deep Dive: Dynastar M-Pro 99
We compare the M-Pro 99 to the Dynastar M-Pro 105 / Pro Rider, Dynastar M-Free 108, Dynastar Legend X96, Salomon QST 99, Moment Commander 98, Nordica Enforcer 100, Blizzard Bonafide, Volkl Mantra M5, 4FRNT MSP 99, Fischer Ranger 99 Ti, Volkl Mantra 102, Fischer Ranger 102 FR, Liberty Origin 96, K2 Mindbender 99Ti, J Skis Masterblaster, & Blizzard Rustler 9.
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 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.