BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles

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’s Holiday Gift Guide 2018 — Stocking Stuffers
‘Tis the season to do some nice things, say some nice things, and maybe give one or two nice things to the people you care about, so this week we’re sharing a few of our own favorite gift ideas, starting with our top picks for stocking stuffers.

18/19 Moment Commander 98
Yesterday we posted our initial impressions of the new Moment Commander 108, and now Blister Members can check out our Flash Review of the Commander 98.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Scott Couloir 2 Helmet
For people who like to climb up mountains and ski down them, the Scott Couloir 2 helmet — which passes skiing and mountaineering certifications — is a very compelling option.

2019 Mondraker Foxy 29
The Mondraker Foxy 29 takes a bit of a different approach to traditional Trail-bike geometry, and the result is a correspondingly unique on-trail experience. Check out our review.

18/19 Moment Commander 108
We just spent a few days on the Moment Commander 108, and Blister Members can now check out what is probably one of our longest Flash Reviews to date.
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.)

Climbers’ Environmental Impact with Author J.B. MacKinnon (Ep. 21)
What’s the biggest environmental impact we have as climbers? We talk with award-winning author, J.B. MacKinnon, about the three main environmental impacts from the outdoor industry, how those manifest in climbing, and the path to a more sustainable future.

Jeremy Pancras — “WOULD YOU”
Jeremy Pancras’s new film takes a look at why we choose to ski, telling that story from the perspective of some of the best up-and-comers and established legends in the ski world. It’s one of our editor’s favorite ski films of the year, and is certainly worth a watch.

2020-2021 J Skis Masterblaster
Having gotten more time and more reviewers on the J Skis Masterblaster, we’ve updated our review with comments about the ski’s stability, playfulness, and why it stands out in the all-mountain category.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:

Flash Review: 20/21 Salomon QST 118
Update 7.3.20: Jonathan Ellsworth weighs in on the Salomon QST 118.
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.)

2020 Revel Rail
We’ve now had two reviewers riding Revel’s 165mm-travel bike, the Rail, and they’ve both come away very impressed by its versatility. Check out our full review to see why, and how it compares to some other options in its class.

Our Favorite Kid’s Gear, Part 1 (Ep.105)
Kristin Sinnott and Justin Bobb join Jonathan Ellsworth to talk about some of the kid’s gear they’ve found to be the most game changing. And even if you don’t have kids, you should still listen to learn about a piece of gear that we’ve currently named, “The JBobber.” And there’s another piece of equipment that currently has a unanimous approval rating among our Blister parents, and might be the single greatest piece of kid’s gear of all time? Check it out.

The History & Future of the BC Bike Race with Dean Payne & Simon Stewart (Ep. 29)
We talk with Dean Payne, the president and co-founder of the BC Bike Race, about the origins and evolution of one of the most epic bike races and events in the world. And Simon Stewart (aka, Mr. Tank Driver) is sitting in as co-host to discuss with Dean all things BC Bike Race, the world’s largest hockey stick, drinking with Russell Crowe, and what goes into putting together an event like this.

WTB Verdict & Judge
The Judge & Verdict are two of WTB’s newest, aggressive tire options and we’ve put around 500 miles on them. Check out our review to see what makes them stand out in this crowded category, and how they compare to similar options like the Maxxis Minion DHF & DHRII.

Abby & Cordis Hall on Couple Goals, FKTs, & their Pfiffner Traverse ‘Date Run’ (Ep. 56)
Abby and Cordis Hall are both very good runners who both run for Adidas TERREX and who both recently set FKTs for the Cottonwood Marble Loop in Death Valley. And Abby and Cordis are soon going to both be going after another FKT, this time, on the rather gnarly Pfiffner Traverse. So we discuss all of that, plus the benefits and challenges that arise when your partner is also a competitive runner. And we also talk about a current rule that is in place specifically for women’s FKTs that deserves to be re-considered.

2021 Transition Spur
Transition just announced a new addition to their lineup: the 120mm-travel, 29”-wheeled Spur. Check out our First Look for more on the new “All-Country” bike and how its design compares to the current crop of shorter-travel 29ers.

What You Need to Know – and Do – about the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) (Ep. 134)
You are probably familiar with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), but what do you know about the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)? NEPA is a critical piece of legislation, and each of us needs to understand what it does and why it matters so much — especially since some major changes to NEPA are being proposed that could have extremely serious environmental and human rights consequences. So to help us understand the high stakes of the changes being proposed, we spoke to Hilary Eisen, the policy director for the Winter Wildlands Alliance.

La Sportiva Helios III
When it was first introduced, the Helios was an outlier in the La Sportiva trail running lineup — an ultralight, minimal, flexible shoe for mellower terrain. They recently brought back the Helios and we think the new Helios III is the most refined version yet. Check out our review.

Backcountry Access Announces Software Update for Tracker2 Avalanche Transceivers
BCA just announced a free software update for their popular Tracker2 transceiver. Learn more about how to take advantage of it here.

2021-2022 4FRNT Raven
For the 20/21 season, 4FRNT is offering a new, special edition of their excellent Raven ski. Check out our First Look & Flash Review for more on this collab with Eric Hjorleifson & Pomoca, and how the newest Raven compares to the rest of the market.

Win Hiking Shoes from Tecnica
This week TWO people will each get a pair of Tecnica’s customizable Plasma S shoes!