BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Win One of Our Favorite MTB Packs
MTB packs are tricky, but Henty seems to have nailed it with their Enduro Backpack. And this week, we’re giving one away.
Petzl Sitta Harness
The Petzl Sitta harness is one of the lightest on the market, but Petzl says it’s still fully featured, comfortable, and durable enough for technical rock and ice climbing. So what (if any) compromises did they make by going so light?
Showers Pass IMBA Shorts and Apex Merino Tech T-Shirt
While they’re best known for their waterproof road-biking jackets, Showers Pass also makes some high-quality, lightweight apparel for the hottest days on the trail. Check out our review.
What’s The Most Painful Sport?
Yesterday, a bunch of runners completed the Tahoe 200, a 205-mile race that a couple participants finished in under 50 hours. Which is insane. So that got us wondering: What’s the most painful sport to be the best at? We came up with a few contenders, and we want to hear yours.
Black Diamond Shadow
Black Diamond entered the climbing-shoe market only a year ago, and the Shadow is their most aggressive offering. So how does it compare to similar shoes like the Scarpa Instinct VS and La Sportiva Testarossa & Kataki? Check out our review.
Hoka One One Evo Mafate
The Hoka Evo Mafate is the newest and most race-oriented version of Hoka’s original trail shoe, and we think many runners could get along well with it — even non-racers. Check out our review, including comparisons to the Hoka Speedgoat 2 and Torrent.
Win Men’s & Women’s Down Jackets from TREW
Summer is officially over, so it’s time to start thinking about staying warm. The two winners of our Gear Giveaway this week will each win a Super Down Shirtweight Jacket from TREW.
2019-2020 Blizzard Brahma 88
The more time we’ve spent on the Blizzard Brahma, the more dialed we think it is. Check out our full review
2018 Pivot Firebird 29
Our reviewer calls the Pivot Firebird 29 the “Firechicken,” because it’s a long-travel 29er that descends like it’s on fire, and has a speed limit that’s primarily defined by how chicken you are. Check out our full review.
Eric Freson
Age: 36 | Vitals: 5’’10” 165 lbs | Years biking: 31 | Current Residence: Gunnison Valley, Colorado Background I grew up in small-town Vermont, and was encouraged to get outside from a very young age. My first bike was a 20” BMX bike that our
Elyse Saugstad, Big Mtn Skier (Ep.74)
We talk with Elyse about filming the new MSP movie, All In; growing up in Alaska; her work with Safe As Clinics; figure skating and fantasy football (?); and the value of repeatedly finding new ways to challenge yourself.
Matt Pincus of TrainingBeta (Ep.16)
Matt Pincus is the head coach/trainer at TrainingBeta, and he has a strong resume both as a coach and a climber. We talk to Matt about balancing his climbing goals with full-time work; the most important lessons he’s learned as a coach and trainer; and some of the key things most of us get wrong when it comes to progressing.
Kenda Nevegal 2 Pro Tire
We thought the old Kenda Nevegal left a lot to be desired. But the Nevegal 2 Pro is far more compelling. Check out our review.
Nathan Williard
Age: 23 | Vitals: 6’’0” 165 lbs | Years (seriously) biking: 7 | Current Residence: Santa Fe, New Mexico Background: I have always been drawn to (or rather, obsessed with) sports, mountains, and exploring. Whether it was hiking, skating, skiing, or backpacking with my dad,
Win a Mystery Ranch Backpack
For a while now, Mystery Ranch has been making some of the best packs out there. And the winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get one of their new packs, the Robo Flip.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Flash Review: 20/21 Strafe Cham Jacket & Pants
We just spent a long day in Strafe’s new Cham kit and came away with some extremely positive initial impressions.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Mojo MORC 40 Offset-Reducing Crowns
Last year we started to see several of the best DH racers in the world using non-standard fork crowns, many of which turned out to be the Mojo MORC 40. They’re now available to the public, and we’ve been testing these offset-reducing crowns to see just how much of an impact they make on trail, and whether or not you need to be a World Cup racer to appreciate them.
Zach Bitter on His New 100-Mile Treadmill World Record (Ep.52)
Not only does Zach Bitter hold the world record for the fastest time that a human has run 100 miles, he recently just set the record for fastest 100 miles ever run … on a treadmill?? So we spoke to Zach about when he first got the idea to attempt this; the biggest differences between running 100 miles on a treadmill vs a track; his preparation and strategy; and Mike McKnight’s recent ‘Zero-Calorie 100’ effort.
Blister Brand Guide: Evil Mountain Bike Lineup
Evil has taken a different approach than many to building both their bikes and their brand. Their current lineup covers a wide range, from shorter-travel 29ers to Enduro sleds, and you can check out our brand guide to see which of their bikes might be right for you.
Strongest Wheels on the Market? Revel Wheels & “Fusion Fiber” Ep.101
We dive deep into the details with Revel Bikes founder, Adam Miller, about Revel’s new wheels — which he claims are the strongest wheels on the market — and this thing they’re using called “fusion fiber.” We talk about what fusion fiber is; their recyclability; the unique production process; other applications of fusion fiber, and more.
2020-2021 Marker Duke PT 16
Marker’s Duke PT is the latest binding that lets you skin uphill in a “tech” toe, but ski down in what’s essentially an alpine binding. Check out our video & written review to see just how it works, and how it compares to the competition.
Flash Review: 20/21 4FRNT Raven
Check out Jonathan Ellsworth’s thoughts on the new Raven.
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.
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Flash Review: 20/21 Kastle FX106 HP
Check out our on-snow impressions of Kastle’s lightweight freeride ski.
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 Men’s & Women’s MTB Kits from Club Ride
Enter for a chance to win a shirt, short, & chamois from Club Ride’s new spring collection!
Hoka One One Clifton 6
The Hoka Clifton is one of the brand’s most popular and iconic shoes, known for its generous cushioning and lightweight design. Check out our review of the Clifton 6 to see how it compares to the previous iteration and the rest of the market.
Bikes vs. Skis, 2nd Edition (2020): Part 2 (Ep. 26)
Which bike company is currently the most like which ski company? Here in part 2, we get into more arguments and offer more parallels and analogies between these two industries to get a better sense of the current position, reputation, and trajectory of a bunch of different brands in these sports.
Gregory Targhee 32
We spent most of this past season skiing with Gregory’s recently revised Targhee 32 backpack and think it’s an excellent option for a do-it-all snowsports pack, and it’s also worth a look for photographers who spend time sliding on snow. Check out our review.