BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
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…
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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.
Win Men’s & Women’s Sunglasses from Smith
Need new shades? Enter now for your chance to win a pair from Smith.
2018-2019 K2 Pinnacle 95 Ti
Light, but pretty stable. Surfy, but can hold an edge. Forgiving, but supportive. The newest iteration of the K2 Pinnacle 95 Ti feels like a bit of a contradiction, but the result is a pretty versatile ski that we think a lot of skiers may enjoy. Check out our full review.
Alex Honnold & Maury Birdwell on the Honnold Foundation and filming Free Solo (Ep.15)
Alex Honnold is arguably the best and certainly the boldest climber in a generation, with a mind-bending free solo ascent of El Cap, and an unbelievable speed record on The Nose in under two hours. In this episode, we sat down with Alex and Maury Birdwell to talk about what may be an even more impressive accomplishment: the Honnold Foundation. (And, of course, we sneak in some talk about climbing, too.)
Race Face Next R Cranks
The Next R sits in the middle of Race Face’s high-end crank lineup, slotted between their burly DH cranks and lighter XC options. So how does the Next R differentiate itself from the many other options out there? Short answer: a lot of ways. Check out our full review.
2019-2020 ON3P Wrenegade 96
The brand-new ON3P Wrenegade 96 is the narrowest directional ski in ON3P’s lineup, but it definitely doesn’t look like some corduroy cruiser. So how does it compare to the Wren 98 it replaced, as well as other skis in its class? Check out our measured specs, rocker pics, initial impressions, and Flash Review.
18/19 ON3P Wrenegade 96
We spent a couple days on the brand-new Wren 96, and here you can check out our initial on-snow impressions and comparisons to the old Wren 98, and the Nordica Enforcer 100.
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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Black Diamond Vector Helmet
Once upon a time, climbing helmets were pretty much all the same. Not anymore. There are ultralight helmets on one end, and durable but heavy options on the other. The Black Diamond Vector falls in between, making it a versatile option. Check out our full review, with comparisons to several helmets from Black Diamond, Petzl, and Mammut.
Suspension 101: Designs
Trying to figure out bike suspension designs – how they work and the pros & cons of each – can feel like you need an engineering degree. So we put together this article to clarify the differences between the various suspension designs on the market. Check it out.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
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.
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 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.
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.