BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles

17/18 Faction Dictator 4.0
After spending some time on it in Telluride, here are our initial on-snow impressions of the Faction Dictator 4.0, with comparisons to the Dictator 3.0.
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Testing in Telluride: 18/19 Ski Gear (Ep.11)
Today we’re discussing the 18/19 ski gear we’ve been testing at Telluride, including the Line Sakana, ON3P Wrenegade 114, Faction Dictator 4.0, Rossi Soul 7, the Atomic/Salomon SHIFT binding, and more.

Win a Rossi Soul 7 HD or Soul 7 HD W
We’ve been very impressed (and extremely surprised) by the Soul 7 HD. So for this week’s giveaway, the winner will get to pick either the Soul 7 HD or women’s Soul 7 HD W. Learn more about the Soul 7 HD Here, and then enter for your chance to win.

2020-2021 Volkl Mantra M5
We just spent more time on the new Mantra M5 in Telluride, so now, Jonathan Ellsworth gets to weigh in on this latest iteration of the Mantra.

18/19 Rossignol Soul 7 HD
After a couple days on the new Rossignol Soul 7 HD, we have some surprising initial impressions…
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18/19 Line Sakana
After spending some time on Line’s new swallowtail all-mountain ski, the Sakana, you can now check out our initial on-snow impressions.
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18/19 Faction Candide 4.0
Jonathan Ellsworth and Sam Shaheen spent time this weekend on the Candide 4.0, so here are their initial impressions, and some comparisons to the Blizzard Rustler 11.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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2018-2019 Faction Candide 4.0
Like the man behind the ski, the Faction Candide 4.0 is unique. Check out our measured specs, rocker pics, and initial impressions.

Win a Pair of J Skis
We’ve got another great one here, folks — win any pair of currently-in-stock J Skis you want.

Rethink Everything: Renoun founder, Cyrus Schenck (Ep.67)
Cyrus Schenck is the founder of Renoun, and a ski designer with an award-winning technology that’s used by no other ski manufacturer in the world. Cyrus is thinking big. And definitely outside of the box. And definitely not just about skis…

2019-2020 Nordica Santa Ana 110
We have been very impressed by the Nordica Santa Ana 110, and think many skiers will appreciate both its versatility and its stability.

Jonathan Siegrist, Part 2 (Ep.5)
In part 2 of our conversation with rock climber, Jonathan Siegrist, we discuss his time on the Dawn Wall with Tommy Caldwell, the role “adventure” plays in climbing, and how we can shape the future of the sport in a positive way.

Deep Dive: Atomic Backland FR 109
We compare the Atomic Backland FR 109 to other playful “50/50” skis like the Blizzard Rustler 10, Sego Big Horn 106, Moment Deathwish, J Skis Vacation, and more…
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Norrona Lofoten Alpha Raw Zip Hoodie
The Norrona Lofoten Alpha Raw Zip Hoodie is yet another interesting addition to the active insulation category, and we think it’s definitely worth a look if you’re in the market for a cozy, warm, and light mid layer.

18/19 Icelantic Nomad 115
After a couple days on snow, you can now check out our initial impressions of Icelantic’s playful pow ski.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:

Deep Dive: Blizzard Rustler 10
We compare the new Rustler 10 to the previous Rustler 10, ON3P Woodsman 108, Moment Wildcat 108, Salomon QST 106, K2 Mindbender 108Ti, Nordica Enforcer Free 104, Fischer Ranger 102 FR, Line Sick Day 104, Rossignol Soul 7 HD, J Skis Metal, Armada ARV 106Ti, Liberty Origin 106, 4FRNT MSP 107, Black Crows Corvus, Sego Big Horn 106, Faction Prodigy 3.0, Elan Ripstick 106, & Blizzard Cochise.
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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Brendan Leonard on Running 52 Marathons in 52 Weeks (Ep.30)
For 2019, Brendan Leonard (semi-rad.com) set a goal for himself: run 52 marathons in 52 weeks. He told very few people about this goal, and we are proud to report that Brendan accomplished his goal with several weeks to spare. So we talked to Brendan about what prompted him to create this plan; why he decided to tell very few people about it; exactly what the parameters were for these ‘marathons’; how he handled the logistics; what he learned along the way; and more.

Strafe Wildcat Pant
Insulated ski / snowboard pants may seem unnecessary to those who have their layering systems dialed, but our reviewer was very surprised by the versatility of Strafe’s insulated Wildcat Pants. Check out her full review.

What We’re Watching — December, 2019
More ski videos! We’ve just updated our ski video roundup with 11 new videos, including Chris Benchetler’s visually stunning night-riding project, edits from FWT athletes, crazy FPV drone footage, and much more.

Ski Quiver Questions, Part 2 (Ep.78)
Last week on GEAR:30, Sam Shaheen, Luke Koppa, and I addressed some of the questions you have been asking us about ski quivers, and we also discussed the topic of the one-boot quiver. And now, we are running part 2 of this conversation with our reviewers Kristin Sinnott, Sascha Anastas, and Kara Williard.

Win a Helmet & Headphone Combo from Unit 1
Enter to win Unit 1’s helmet with integrated headphones!

2020-2021 Moment Wildcat 108
After spending 15 days on it, you can now check out our full review and Deep Dive comparisons of the 184 cm Wildcat 108.

Deep Dive: Moment Wildcat 108
We compare the 184 cm Wildcat 108 to the Moment Wildcat, Moment Meridian, Moment Deathwish, ON3P Woodsman 108, ON3P Jeffrey 108, Sego Big Horn 106, Fischer Ranger 102 FR, Faction Prodigy 3.0, Line Sir Francis Bacon, Salomon QST 106, K2 Mindbender 108Ti, Nordica Enforcer Free 104, Armada ARV 106Ti, Liberty Origin 106, Rossignol Soul 7 HD, Line Sick Day 104, Elan Ripstick 106, 4FRNT MSP 107, Black Crows Corvus, J Skis Metal, Prior Husume, and Blizzard Cochise.
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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Blister Brand Guide: Yeti Mountain Bike Lineup, 2020
Yeti has been making mountain bikes since 1985, but their lineup has changed a lot since then and now includes a pretty wide range of options. Check out our Brand Guide to quickly & easily figure out what sets each Yeti bike apart from the other and which one might be best for you.

Altra Timp 1.5
When we reviewed the original Altra Timp, we found it to be a unique shoe in the more heavily cushioned category. With all the updates made to the Timp 1.5, is that still the case? Check out our review.

Blister’s Holiday Gift Guide 2019 — In the Garage
Next up in our Holiday Gift Guide are the big-ticket items, whether those are actual items themselves, or new experiences. Check out our picks.

Winter Boot Roundup — 2019
If you like winter sports, that probably also means you spend a lot of time tromping around in the snow on your way to the mountains, or just the grocery store. We’ve been using several women’s and a couple men’s winter boots, and you can check out our roundup to see which ones might be best for you.