BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
2025 Mondraker Arid Carbon
Mondraker has dropped their first non-motorized Gravel bike — the Arid Carbon. With a clean aesthetic and a feature set designed to please both racers and more casual adventurers, the Arid prioritizes versatility. Let’s see what Mondraker has cooked up.
1-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (24/25)
That’s a wrap — we’ve now had all of our reviewers share which skis they’d pick if they were to ski a whole season on a single setup. Check out what everyone selected this year.
Flash Review — Canyon Spectral:ONfly
The new lightweight light-assist Canyon Spectral:ONFly looks like a smart, well-timed addition to their Trail bike eMTB lineup. We’ve started spending time on the Canyon Spectral:ONFly and are ready to weigh in with some initial thoughts on Canyon’s take on this hot category.
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10 Quick Things: ‘Testing Skis w/ an Olympic Gold Medalist’ Edition (Ep.333)
Jonathan talks about skiing with an Olympic gold medalist on his first day back on snow; Mikaela Shiffrin vs. Santa Claus; the outdoor sports equivalent of Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul; and more. Give it a listen, then let us know your thoughts and ideas.
Bluebird Mountain Sports
Bluebird Mountain Sports is the place to go for ski gear and tuning, bootfitting, and more in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Blister’s Holiday Gift Guide 2024 — In the Garage
In Part Three of our annual Gift Guide series, our reviewers offer some ideas for those looking to splurge a bit on the skier, snowboarder, mountain biker, or other outdoor fan in their lives. Check out their recommendations for bigger gift ideas that you might need to hide in the garage.
Win a Sweet Prize Package From Gregory
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get an Alpaca Gear Box 2 Pack, Alpaca Gear Basket 70, and Alpaca Gear Tote 30 from Gregory Mountain Products!
Good Idea or Bad Idea? Dreams, Doorknobs, & Binding Innovations w/ Austin Smith (Ep.322)
Recently, Austin Smith posted a video of a prototype of a snowboard binding that rotates. So Jonathan talks with Austin about the idea, his prototyping process, the testing process, and his predictions for whether we’ll see a development like this come to market.
Privateer 161 Gen 2
Privateer made a name for themselves making burly, focused go-fast Enduro race bikes at a remarkably good price with the original 161, and while the 161 V2 continues that lineage, it’s a big departure from the original in a lot of other ways. Check out our Full Review to find out how.
Deep Dive: Privateer 161 Gen 2
We compare the Privateer 161 Gen 2 to the original 161, RAAW Madonna, Chromag Lowdown, Contra MC, Trek Slash, Nicolai G1, Rocky Mountain Altitude, Orbea Rallon, Yeti SB160, Pivot Firebird, Yeti SB165, and Ibis HD6.
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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Matthew Fairbrother on His Self-Supported NZ Rally Win, the North Shore Triple Triple Crown, & More (Ep.248)
Matthew Fairbrother has made a name for himself by reeling off one mind-bending feet of endurance after another on a mountain bike. We sat down with him to get the rundown on some of his recent exploits.
Blister’s Holiday Gift Guide 2024 — Under the Tree
Next up in our 2024 Gift Guide series, we’re sharing the items that our reviewers think will make for awesome additions beneath the tree this holiday season. Check it out for more gift ideas for any of the outdoor enthusiasts in your life.
2025 Transition Youth Bikes
Kids’ bikes have gotten awfully nice in recent years, and Transition is unveiling a full new lineup of sweet rides for young rippers. Check out the new Bandit, Ripcord, and Scout in our First Look.
Valhalla Pure Outfitters – Revelstoke
Valhalla Pure Outfitters – Revelstoke is a centerpiece of this heritage ski town. It is a shop dedicated to service and experience, year-round, with an emphasis on skiing. They seek to differentiate themselves with a high level of customer service and curated product selection focused on their adventure-filled backyard.
Ted Ligety on the 24/25 World Cup Ski Racing Season: Major Storylines, Massive Rumors, & More (Ep.332)
Jonathan talks with Ted Ligety about this World Cup season’s major storylines, massive rumors, biggest battles, and some behind-the-scenes secrets of the World Cup.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Flash Review — Nicolai/Geometron G1
Update 12.18.2024: We’ve spent a lot more time on the new Geometron G1 and have experimented with a lot more of its myriad customization options. Check out what we’ve learned so far.
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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‘Falling for Christmas’ w/ Amie Engerbretson & Jonathan Ellsworth (Ep.32)
Amie and Jonathan discuss this Lyndsay Lohan Rom-Com / Christmas / Ski movie and have a very festive time debating whether it’s a Christmas delight or a modern-day dumpster fire. Plus, you have an opportunity to win a brand new pair of Atomic skis. Check it out!
Ibis Ripmo V3
While the Ibis Ripmo has stayed fairly consistent since its launch over six years ago, the mountain bike industry as a whole has shifted around it. So, where does it fit in today’s market, and how does it differentiate itself on the trail? Check out our Full Review.
Deep Dive: Ibis Ripmo V3
We compare the Ibis Ripmo V3 to several Trail/Enduro bikes in its class, including the previous Ibis Ripmo V2S, Revel Rail 29, Specialized Stumpjumper 15, Spot Mayhem 140, and Santa Cruz Bronson.
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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Flash Review: 24/25 Rossignol Sender Soul 102
Update 12.16.24: We’ve logged a lot more time on Rossignol’s newest all-mountain ski, the Sender Soul 102. Check out what we’ve learned since first skiing it at Blister Summit 2024.
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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ATK launches new hybrid ski-touring binding, the ‘Hy’
There’s a new competitor in the class of hybrid ski-touring bindings. Here are the details on ATK’s Hy binding.
River Radamus: Skier, and U.S. Alpine Ski Racer (Ep.337)
River Radamus is a rising star on the U.S. Alpine Ski Team. But first and foremost, River is someone who is very, very passionate about all types of skiing. Jonathan talked with River just after he laid down two top-10 finishes at Birds of Prey, and they discuss that plus his lifelong journey in skiing; the artistry he sees in ski racing; the importance of innovation in racing; his thoughts on how to help the next generation of ski racers, and a whole lot more.
Cane Creek Kitsuma V2 Shocks
Cane Creek has given their Kitsuma line of shocks an update, and we’ve got the scoop on all of the new refinements.
2024-2025 LINE Vision 104
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the LINE Vision 104.
2024-2025 Blizzard Anomaly 102
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the new Blizzard Anomaly 102.
Introducing: ‘The Hundred’ T-Shirts
Dear members of The Hundred: Thank you. We see you. And now, you can mark your rightful place among The Hundred.
2024-2025 Kästle Paragon 93
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the Kästle Paragon 93.