BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Blister Alpine Ski Bindings Guide
What’s the best ski binding? Which ones are compatible with your ski boots? There’s a lot of misinformation and confusion about the actual differences between bindings, so we’ve updated this guide to help clarify which ones will work best for you.
Open Wear Open One 3L Shell Jacket & Pants
Open Wear is a new Swiss outerwear brand focused on sustainability, transparency, and moderate prices, and we were so impressed with their Open One 3L jacket that it earned one of our “Best Of” awards.
DPS’s The Shadow Campaign — “The Abbey”
DPS just dropped the latest episode of their Shadow Campaign, and you can check out the full video here to get the doctor-recommended dose of beautiful pow-skiing goodness.
2019-2020 Sego Big Horn 106
We’ve now had two reviewers put over 30 days on the Sego Big Horn 106, and you can now check out our update on this playful all-mountain ski.
Edelrid Bulletproof Quickdraw
The Edelrid Bulletproof quickdraw features a unique hybrid construction that’s designed to offer the best of both worlds: steel’s durability and aluminum’s low weight. So does it actually work?
Gregory Endo 15 3D-Hydro
Gregory has been making all sorts of backpacks for years, but how do their new biking packs perform? Check out our review of the Gregory Endo 15 3D-Hydro.
2019-2020 Salomon XDR 88 Ti
The XDR 88 Ti replaced one of our favorite all-mountain skis, the Salomon X-Drive 8.8 FS. So how similar is the XDR 88 Ti, and what type of skiers will most enjoy it?
2021-2022 Blizzard Sheeva 11
Though it’s the widest women’s ski Blizzard makes, we’ve found the Sheeva 11 to be surprisingly versatile, and think it would work well for a wide variety of skiers.
Everyday Backpack Roundup — 2018
We’ve rounded up a few of our favorite backpacks that we use for everything from early-morning trips to the gym, urban commutes, and long day hikes.
2020-2021 Spark R&D Surge Pro Splitboard Binding
We’re big fans of Spark R&D’s simple and reliable splitboard bindings, and they just released an even lighter version of their Surge binding. So what, if any, compromises are made by going with the new, lighter Surge Pro?
Henrik Harlaut — “The Regiment”
Henrik Harlaut’s 2-year video project, The Regiment, showcases why he’s arguably the most passionate skier in the world, and why he’s also one of the all-time best.
Seeking Nirvana 3.2 — “Hard Nose The Highway”
If Wes Anderson made movies about skiing pillows and big-mountain lines, it would look like this. Check out the latest from the Seeking Nirvana crew.
2019-2020 Lange XT Free 130 LV
The previous Lange XT 130 Freetour was one of the best tech-binding-compatible AT ski boots we’ve used in terms of downhill performance, and Lange updated it this year. So how similar or different is the new Lange XT Free 130?
Matt Zia
Age: 26 | Vitals: 5’11”, 165 lbs | Years climbing: 10 | Years skiing: 15 | Current Residence: Bozeman, MT Background I grew up playing in the mountains of New Hampshire where my mother, a former Outward Bound instructor, took me on my first backpacking trip
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Flash Review: 20/21 Majesty / ATK R12
Luke Koppa & Jonathan Ellsworth each add (a lot of) their thoughts on this new lightweight touring binding.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Build Your Dream Bike Shop
Enter for a chance to win a $500 gift card from Feedback Sports and get all the bike repair & maintenance tools you need!
2021-2022 Whitedot Altum 114
The Whitedot Altum 114 is one of those skis that we think a very wide range of skiers will like, from those always looking for natural features to hit, to those who ski with a more directional style. Check out our Full Review & Deep Dive comparisons.
Deep Dive: Whitedot Altum 114
We compare the Altum 114 to the Moment Wildcat, K2 Reckoner 112, Line Outline, Moment Deathwish, Faction Prodigy 4.0, Icelantic Nomad 115, Parlor McFellon Pro, Liberty Origin 112, Nordica Enforcer 115 Free, Blizzard Rustler 11, Rossignol BLACKOPS Gamer, K2 Mindbender 116C, Prior Northwest 110, 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.)
Biking 101: Mtn Bike Fork Offset
What is fork offset — and more importantly — why should you care about it? In our latest Gear 101 article, we answer these questions, how fork offset actually affects your on-trail experience, why more manufacturers are using different offsets, & more.
Revel Bikes & Why Cycles founder, Adam Miller (Ep. 25)
By the time he hit his mid-20s, Adam Miller had already founded three bike companies: Borealis Fat Bikes, Why Cycles, and Revel Bikes. So we talk to Adam (who is now 28 years old) about how and why a kid from Alaska started three bike companies, and what he believes makes Revel bikes different — and better.
What We’re Watching — May, 2020
We’ve just updated our “What We’re Watching” roundup with 10 new films & videos, from hot laps with Candide, to hilarious shorts from Thomas Genon & Katie Burrell, to free films from MSP & Armada, and more.
2021-2022 Majesty Vanguard
New for 20/21, the Majesty Vanguard is a lightweight, twin-tipped, and strong 118mm-wide ski — a combination we don’t see all that often. Check out our First Look & Flash Review for more on this new big-mountain ski.
Georgia Porter on Career Shifts, Strength Training, & the 2020 US Olympic Marathon Trials (Ep.50)
We talk to Georgia Porter about her dislike of running as a kid; her grandma who was running ultras back before running ultras was a thing; how to incorporate apple fritters and beer into your training regimen; competing at the 2020 US Olympic Marathon Trials; her belief that all runners would benefit from learning to love strength training; and more.
Flash Review: 20/21 K2 Reckoner 102
Update 5.12.20: We’ve added some more thoughts on the Reckoner 102 and how it compares to the Line Sir Francis Bacon.
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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2020 Santa Cruz Megatower
We’ve now had two reviewers on Santa Cruz’s 160mm-travel 29er and have updated our review with more thoughts on what kinds of riders will appreciate it and how it compares to its predecessor, the Santa Cruz Hightower LT.
Blister Brand Guide: Transition Mountain Bike Lineup
Transition’s mountain bike lineup has undergone some big changes recently, though their progressive approach to geometry & broad-ranging lineup remains. Check out our Brand Guide to see what sets each of their bikes apart.