BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Whitney Burton
Age: 25 | Vitals: 5’8”, 150 lbs | Ape index: +1 | Years climbing: 7 | Current residence: Golden, Colorado I grew up in Washington state exploring all that the Pacific Northwest has to offer. I was introduced to climbing in 2011 just before moving
Mad Rock Drone HV
Precise, comfortable, sensitive, and affordable. That’s how we’d describe the Mad Rock Drone HV, and why boulderers and sport climbers looking for an aggressive, precise shoe should take a look.
2018-2019 Scott Scrapper 105
New for 18/19, the Scott Scrapper 105 is a ski that could be placed in either the all-mountain or touring-ski categories, though it really stands out from most of the skis in both. Check out our measured specs, rocker pics, initial impressions, and flash review.
18/19 Scott Scrapper 105
Check out our initial on-snow impressions of the Scrapper 105, with comparisons to a few inbounds and touring skis like the Black Diamond Helio 105, Line Sick Day 104, and Armada Tracer 108.
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27.5” Trail Bikes — A Guide + Comparisons
“Trail Bikes” range from lightweight XC whips to burly enduro machines and it can be confusing to choose from all the options. So we’ve compared thirty-one 27.5” wheeled bikes and ordered them from most climbing-oriented to most downhill-oriented, with some new options for this year.
Silky Pocketboy and Ultra Accel Saws
If you don’t think you need to read a review about saws, think again. Check out our review of the Silky Pocketboy and Ultra Accel to learn more.
18/19 Folsom Skis Primary — “The Hammer” Edition
Here are a number of our initial on-snow impressions of The Hammer.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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2018-2019 Folsom Skis Primary — “The Hammer” Edition
Last year, we started talking to Folsom about creating an all-mountain charger named “The Hammer.” And after much back-and-forth, the ski’s been built, and we’re excited about how it turned out. Check out our measured specs, rocker pics, and initial impressions.
Win Camping & Backpacking Stoves from Primus
Win 2 stoves from Primus — one for your bigger meals at camp, and one for your fast-and-light backcountry missions.
Deep Dive: Fischer Ranger 102 FR
We compare the Ranger 102 FR to the Atomic Bent Chetler 100, Line Sick Day 104, J Skis Masterblaster, Nordica Enforcer 100, ON3P Kartel 108, Faction Candide 3.0, 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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2020-2021 Atomic Vantage 97 Ti
The brand-new Atomic Vantage 97 Ti is one of the strongest, most powerful skis we’ve reviewed. But how versatile is it, and how well does it work when you don’t feel like skiing flat out? Check out our full review.
Salomon Skin Pro 15 Set Pack
We’ve now put over 40 days in the Salomon Skin Pro 15 Set Pack, and have continued to find it to be a surprisingly versatile pack that works well for a variety of activities.
John “Verm” Sherman (Ep.12)
John Sherman, one of the godfathers of modern bouldering, discusses the major ways in which the climbing scene has changed since his day; how and why he became a dedicated conservationist; making peace with the changing ethics and arrival of crowds; and much more.
Mammut Eisfeld Light SO Hoody and Pants
The Mammut Eisfeld Light Hoody and Pants’ new fabric technology makes them stand out from the competition, and when combined with the rest of their design, this makes the Eisfeld Light kit a solid soft shell option for alpine climbing.
2019-2020 ON3P Jeffrey 108
We’ve now had three reviewers on the new ON3P Kartel 108, and we still think it’s one of the most interesting options in the all-mountain freestyle category. See why in our full review.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Ryan Van Duzer on Snakes, YouTube, the Burning Man Ultra, & More (Ep.43)
Ryan Van Duzer has a YouTube series called, Running with Ryan. And last fall, as our Off The Couch co-host, Brendan Leonard, was nearing his goal of running 52 marathons in 52 weeks, Ryan had Brendan as a guest on Running with Ryan. So we thought we’d give Brendan the chance to turn the tables and have him interview Ryan, and that proved to be a good idea. They talk about snakes; biking across the country; starting his YouTube channel; the Burning Man Ultra; and a whole lot more.
Without Precedent: COVID-19, Ski Area Closures, & Ski Towns (Ep.122)
We talk to veteran ski industry reporter, Jason Blevins of the Colorado Sun, about the COVID-19 pandemic and this past weekend’s historic and abrupt mass closure of ski areas. We discuss what, exactly, is going on; what is likely to come next; the impact on ski towns; and what each of us should and shouldn’t be doing right now.
Flash Review: 20/21 Whitedot Altum 114
Check out our initial on-snow impressions of the Altum 114, including comparisons to the Moment Wildcat / Blister Pro.
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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Winter & Spring Baby / Toddler Footwear Roundup
If you have a little one who’s idea of fun is splashing in puddles and slushy spring snow, check out our baby / toddler footwear roundup for plenty of options from cozy slippers to waterproof and insulated boots.
Win Climbing Skins from Montana
Enter for your chance to win any climbing skins from Montana!
2019-2020 Moment Commander 98
We’ve been spending a lot of time on the current iteration of Moment’s Commander 98, and we think this metal-laminate all-mountain ski offers something pretty different from the competition that could make it very appealing to certain skiers. Check out our full review & Deep Dive comparisons.
Deep Dive: Moment Commander 98
We compare the Commander 98 to the Fischer Ranger 99 Ti, Nordica Enforcer 100, Fischer Ranger 102 FR, Salomon QST 99, K2 Mindbender 99Ti, Volkl Mantra M5, Blizzard Bonafide, Volkl Mantra 102, 4FRNT MSP 99, J Skis Masterblaster, Blizzard Rustler 9, Liberty Origin 96, ON3P Wrenegade 96, Atomic Vantage 97 Ti, Renoun Endurance 98, & Dynastar Legend X96.
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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Sugar Cane, Castor Beans, & Poly Bags — Picture Organic Clothing (Ep.91)
Picture Organic Clothing is going way beyond common sustainability practices with things like castor bean oil waterproof membranes and sugar cane waste-derived polyester, and they are attempting to eliminate polybags from their entire supply chain. So we talked to Picture’s co-founder, Julien Durant, and their sustainability manager, Florian Palluel about these ambitious projects — including their new air-permeable membrane, Xpore, that they are putting in direction competition with Gore Pro and TNF Futurelight.
The Basics of Servicing Your Bike, with Simon Stewart (Ep. 18)
For many of us, it will soon be time to dust off our bikes and get back to riding. So what are some of the most important things you can do to your bike if you haven’t been riding it? To answer this, we talked to Simon Stewart, who has a long history in the bike industry, and who currently owns and runs the bike shop, Boneshaker Cycles, in Buena Vista, Colorado.
2020-2021 K2 Disruption 82Ti
K2 is overhauling its frontside lineup for 20/21, and the new Disruption skis feature a construction that has the potential to set them apart from the competition. Check out our First Look of the Disruption 82Ti for more info.
Giro Method Goggle
The Giro Method is far from the most expensive goggle on the market, yet it offers excellent optics and a versatile fit, all of which have made it one of our favorite goggles for those on a budget. Check out our full review.
Flash Review: 20/21 Renoun Citadel 114
Check out our initial on-snow impressions of the Citadel 114.
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.)