BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Flip Flop & Sandals Roundup, 2018
As you may know by now, flip flops and sandals are some of our favorite pieces of gear, and we’re in them year round. So it’s time for an updated roundup of a number of our favorites for men and women — from casual flip-flops, to versatile sandals that could replace your hiking shoes.
Edelrid Tommy Caldwell ProDryDT Rope
While it might initially seem like a heavy workhorse rope, the Edelrid Tommy Caldwell ProDryDT has proven far more versatile than that. Check out our review, with comparisons to the Mammut Infinity and Sterling Evolution Helix.
Eric Pollard — “Burning Sidewall”
The new Line Sakana is a unique ski, one that we said encourages a unique style of skiing. And now Eric Pollard — who designed the ski — just released a short film that perfectly illustrates this.
Black Diamond Camalot Ultralight Cams
Black Diamond’s Camalot Ultralights take their classic Camalot design and trim down the weight significantly, but what about durability and value? We weigh in on how the Ultralights compare to the original Camalots, as well as some other options on the market like the Metolius Ultralight Master Cams.
Parlor Skis 18/19 Lineup & ‘Build Your Own Skis’ Class (Ep.24)
We talk to Boston-based Parlor Skis co-founder, Mark Wallace, about the origins story of Parlor; their “Build Your Own Skis” class; the new models in their 18/19 lineup — including Parlor snowboards and splitboards; and several trends on the East Coast ski scene. (We also talk about lasagna, burritos, and Camaros.)
Win a Tent from Kelty
Enter for your chance to win a new tent from Kelty.
Deep Dive: Armada Tracer 108
We compare the Tracer 108 to the Line Sick Day 104, Salomon QST 106, Rossignol Soul 7 HD, Atomic Backland FR 109, Liberty Origin 106, Faction Candide 3.0, Blizzard Rustler 10, Sego Condor Ti, and more…
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Petzl Boreo Helmet
Climbing helmet standards have typically been focused on protecting against impacts from above (e.g. rockfall). But Petzl’s new Boreo helmet is also tested against the front, side, and rear impacts that are common in actual falls. The idea certainly makes sense, but how well is that idea executed here? Check out our review.
2018-2019 Armada Tracer 108
After skiing it in the resort and touring on it in the backcountry, the redesigned Armada Tracer 108 has proven to be a versatile, predictable, and playful 50/50 ski. Check out our full review.
Moment Blister Pro: the History
You’ve been asking, and now we can confirm: the Blister Pro is coming back. And we figured now would be a good time to detail the history of how this ski came to be, and when you’ll be able to get yours. Check it out.
Kristin van der Kloot
Age: 29 | Vitals: 5’2”, ~100 lbs. | Years Climbing: 9 | Current Residence: Stamford, CT I’ve always had a passion for the outdoors. I grew up skiing, climbing, backpacking, surfing…you name it; as long as it was outside, I loved it. Last year I
Hoka One One Clifton 5
Hoka’s Clifton has garnered a loyal following over the years due to its generous cushioning and plush ride. But the shoe has also evolved over the years, and the new Clifton 5 continues to push the shoe in new directions. Check out our review, with comparisons to the Hoka Stinson ATR 4, Altra Duo, and Altra Olympus 3.0.
Five Ten Hellcat Pro
The Five Ten Hellcat Pro is a burly, downhill-oriented clipless shoe that’s designed to offer lots of protection and comfort while maintaining pedaling efficiency. And for that use, it’s one of the best options we’ve tried.
Deep Dive: Rossignol Experience 94 Ti
We compare the Experience 94 Ti to the Nordica Enforcer 93, DPS Foundation Cassiar 94, Atomic Vantage 97 Ti, Blizzard Brahma & Bonafide, J Skis Masterblaster, Volkl Mantra M5, and more…
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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Kenda Hellkat Pro Tire
The gravity / DH tire category has been dominated by a few specific options for years, but Kenda aims to change that with their Hellkat Pro. So we spent a few months riding on the Hellkat Pro to see how it compares to options like the Maxxis Minion DHF, Maxxis High Roller II, and WTB Convict.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Bikes vs. Skis, 2nd Edition (2020): Part 1 (Ep. 24)
Which bike company is currently most like which ski company? And which bike and ski company do most other bike and ski brands secretly wish they could trade places with? Noah Bodman, Jonathan Ellsworth, David Golay, and Eric Freson make parallels and analogies between these two industries to see if it gives us a better sense of the current position, reputation, and trajectory of a bunch of different brands in these sports.
Your Questions + Our Review of PBR’s ‘Hard Coffee’ (Ep.99)
What outdoor gear is in need of the biggest improvement? How old is too old to try your first backflip?; If you had to opt for skis that are too long or too short, which would you pick? What should I do with my life? How does one start reviewing for Blister? Could you please provide an unbiased review and comparison of the Blister Membership, Deep Dive Subscription, and Blister Premier Membership? Luke Koppa and Jonathan answer these and many more.
Flash Review: 20/21 Atomic Hawx Prime XTD 130
Update 5.8.20: After spending more time in the new Hawx Prime XTD 130, we’ve updated our Flash Review.
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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2021-2022 Moment Wildcat Tour 108
This past year we spent time on the Wildcat Tour 108 in a wide range of conditions, and you can now check out our Full Review & Deep Dive comparisons.
Deep Dive: Moment Wildcat Tour 108
We compare the Wildcat Tour 108 to the Moment Wildcat 108, Moment Deathwish Tour, WNDR Alpine Intention 110, Atomic Backland 107, Blizzard Zero G 105, K2 Wayback 106, Black Diamond Helio 105, Line Vision 108, Amplid Facelift 108, 4FRNT Raven, Renoun Citadel 106, Faction Agent 3.0, & Folsom Cash 106 Carbon.
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.)
Maxxis Assegai
The Maxxis Assegai was created as a blend of several of their most popular tires. In our full review of the Assegai we dive into how it differs from the ubiquitous Minion DHF, and who we think will get along with this very aggressive tire with a totally not-funny name.
Blister Brand Guide: La Sportiva Trail Running Shoe Lineup, 2020
Sportiva has made some updates to their running shoe lineup for 2020, and you can check out our Brand Guide to see what’s new, what’s gone, and which shoes would make the most sense for you.
2019-2020 Moment Commander 118
We like honest and accurate descriptions of gear, and Moment’s note about their Commander 118 being “not for the faint of heart” is accurate. Check out our full review for more details about this big-mountain charger.
Hillary Gerardi, Mountain Scrambler (Ep.49)
Hillary Gerardi won the 2018 Skyrunner Extra World Series Circuit, and yet, she still doesn’t necessarily think of herself as a runner. So Brendan Leonard and Jonathan Ellsworth discuss this with Hillary, and what it is that she enjoys most about being in the mountains. Hillary was born in Vermont, but lives in Chamonix and works at the Research Center for Alpine Ecosystems, so of course, we discuss all of that, too.
Mother’s Day Roundup — 2020
If you have a mom, know a mom, or perhaps are married to a mom, hopefully you’re prepared to celebrate her this coming Sunday. But in case you’re a bit behind on your Mother’s Day gifts, we polled some of our reviewers to see what gift ideas they’d recommend — check out their suggestions.
On the State of Heli Skiing: Henry Munter, Chugach Powder Guides (Ep. 128)
Henry Munter is a lead heli guide and the general manager of Chugach Powder Guides in Girdwood, AK, and we talk with him about making the call to shut down operations right as the heli season was in full swing; the evolution of heli skiing; decision making, memory, and some of the tools and practices Henry uses in forecasting, guiding clients, and handling all types of different aspects of the business; and we discuss environmentalism and heli skiing, and how Henry and others at CPG are thinking about those two things.