BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody
We’ve now used the Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody for around 125 days, and we’re still huge fans of this jacket (which is why it received a “Best Of” award in our 18/19 Winter Buyer’s Guide). Check out our updated review.
2020-2021 Renoun Z-Line 90
Renoun’s technology and construction is far from traditional. But what happens when you apply it to a more traditional shape? Check out our full review of the Renoun Z-Line 90.
Marzocchi Transfer Dropper Post
After more than three months of testing, the Marzocchi Transfer dropper post has proven to be just as good, if not better than most of the other posts we’ve used.
Outdoor Research Hemispheres Jacket
Gore-Tex has been around forever, but they just recently released a brand-new fabric. And the backcountry-oriented Outdoor Research Hemispheres Jacket is one of the first pieces to utilize it.
Best Skis for Beginners: Our Top Picks, 2018-2019
Here it is, our list of current skis that we think are the best for beginners, or for anyone looking to get back into skiing.
Parlor Skis x WhistlePig Whiskey: The Boss Hog Package
This week, Boston-based Parlor Skis and Vermont-based WhistlePig distillery announced a collaboration that combines two of our favorite things: skis and whiskey.
Zen & the Art of Creating the World’s Biggest Splitboard Binding Company: Will Ritter, Spark R&D (Ep.27)
We talk to Will Ritter about starting – and running – the largest splitboard binding company in the world, Spark R&D, and Will provides a number of valuable insights for anyone thinking of starting anything.
Deep Dive: 130-Flex Alpine Ski Boots
We directly compare several 130-flex alpine boots, including the Salomon S/Max 130 & S/Max 130 Carbon, Nordica Promachine 130, Head Raptor 140 RS & Nexo LYT 130, Atomic Hawx Ultra 130, and K2 Recon 130.
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Win Goggles + a Helmet from Smith
Enter to win Smith’s new I/O Mag goggle and Code helmet!
Timely Words from Conrad Anker
Yesterday afternoon, the great alpinist, Conrad Anker, posted what he called, “a short essay on being positive.” And they are words worth far more than the time it takes to read them. Check out the full essay here.
Big Agnes Flume UL 30 Sleeping Bag
Picking out the right sleeping bag comes down to a lot of compromises: Light, or durable? Packable, or comfortable? But the Big Agnes Flume UL 30 is one of the best bags we’ve used when it comes to being very light and still maintaining comfort.
Ski Sock Roundup — 2018
The wrong pair of ski socks can screw up your day. So we’ve rounded up 17 pairs — from ultra-thin to thickly cushioned — and noted what sets each apart, and which will likely work best for you.
Blank Collective — “Before Blank”
Blank Collective’s new film “Before Blank” won the Standout Big Mountain Film award at iF3 this year, and now you can watch the whole film for free.
The North Face Morph Vest
Down vests have been around forever, but The North Face Morph Vest brings some interesting new tech to this classic insulation piece.
Phil Powers and Alex Honnold on a Permit System for The Nose? (Ep.19)
Are we moving toward a future where The Nose (or other well-traveled walls) are headed for a permit system? Dave and Luke debate this hypothetical with the help of American Alpine Club CEO Phil Powers, Maury Birdwell, and Alex Honnold.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Win Sunglasses from ROKA
This week TWO people will get to pick any pair of sunglasses they want from ROKA!
2020 Santa Cruz Hightower
For six months now, we’ve had three different reviewers riding the recently overhauled Santa Cruz Hightower. Check out our long-term review to see why we think this 140 mm 29er is so versatile, and how it compares to the previous Hightower, Hightower LT, Megatower, & Yeti SB130.
Hoka One One Carbon X
The Hoka Carbon X is part of a new class of shoes designed with one goal in mind: running as fast as possible. But this carbon-reinforced road shoe doesn’t look like the race shoes of the past, so we were curious to see how it handled a variety of distances and speeds, and how it compared to more “normal” shoes like the Hoka Clifton 6. Check out our review to see what we found.
Flash Review: 20/21 Faction Agent 3.0
Update 6.11.20: Drew Kelly adds his thoughts on the Agent 3.0’s overall performance.
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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2021 Ibis Mojo 4
Shorter-travel, 27.5″ Trail bikes are becoming rare these days, especially if you want more modern geometry. But Ibis is breaking that trend with the introduction of their overhauled Mojo 4 — check out our First Look for more.
Creating Your Own Sport: Buzz Burrell & the Invention of the ‘FKT’ (Ep.53)
A few weeks ago Brendan Leonard and Jonathan Ellsworth talked to the legend, Buzz Burrell, about his first ever long-distance run; starting the first organic farm in Colorado; the time he delivered a baby; inventing the hydration pack; and more. Then we discuss Buzz’s role in establishing the concept of the Fastest Known Time; creativity and FKTs, the process of approving FKT submissions, and some of the trends he’s seeing in the world of FKTs.
Food Sovereignty, Indigenous Rights, & the Film, Gather (Ep.131)
We talk with our friend, Sanjay Rawal, about his new film, Gather. (Sanjay directed the film, Renan Ozturk was the cinematographer, & Jason Momoa produced it.) Gather tells the story of the growing food sovereignty movement among Native American tribes across the U.S., and this film is sure to cause you to re-evaluate your own relationship to food and to land and to a lot of other things.
Nathan VaporKrar 2.0 4L Race Vest
The Nathan VaporKrar 2.0 4L Race Vest is a part of a crowded category of running vests targeted at shorter, self-supported runs and we’ve spent 100 miles comparing it to some of its competition. Check out our review to see how it compares.
Flash Review: 20/21 Blizzard Black Pearl 88
Check out our initial on-snow impressions of the new Black Pearl 88.
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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Biking 101: Hubs
How do mountain bike hubs work, what do you gain with a more expensive hub, and why should you care? In this GEAR 101 article, we dive into those questions and more.
2020-2021 Kastle FX106 HP
The Kastle FX106 HP is a ski that’s quick & lively but that some skiers will still be able to ski quite hard. Check out our Full Review & Deep Dive comparisons to see if it’d be a good fit for you.
Deep Dive: Kastle FX106 HP
We compare the FX106 HP to the Rossignol Soul 7 HD, Head Kore 105, DPS Alchemist Wailer 106 C2, Rossignol BLACKOPS Sender & Sender Ti, Black Crows Corvus, Black Crows Atris, Fischer Ranger 102 FR, Fischer Ranger 107 Ti, Line Sick Day 104, Moment Wildcat 108, 4FRNT MSP 107, Blizzard Rustler 10, Liberty Origin 106, Salomon QST 106, Nordica Enforcer 104 Free, & K2 Mindbender 108Ti.
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.)