BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
18/19 Elan Ripstick 96
We’ve now spent a couple days on Elan’s lightweight all-mountain ski, the Ripstick 96, and you can check out here our initial on-snow impressions.
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American Alpine Club CEO, Phil Powers (Ep.11)
We talk to Phil Powers, CEO of the American Alpine Club, about his own relationship to climbing (including summiting K2); the mission of the AAC and why it’s so important; the decision to give Alex Honnold the AAC’s Underhill Award; and much more.
Glade Optics Challenger Goggle
High-quality goggles have become quite expensive, but Glade Optics is aiming to change that with their Challenger goggle. We spent much of this season testing the Challenger, and have come away very impressed. Check out our review and our Glade lens comparisons.
29er Trail Bikes — A Guide + Comparisons
There are now more 29ers available than ever before, from XC race bikes to full-blown DH rigs. So we’ve assembled a comparison of sixteen 29ers to help you sort it all out, and maybe introduce you to some bikes that weren’t on your list, but should be.
Men’s Casual Boot Roundup — Spring, 2018
Since it’s shoulder season, we wanted to share some of our favorite spring / summer casual boots that can handle some mud, rain, and time on the trail.
2018-2019 Faction Prime 4.0
After skiing it in Japan and Alaska, you can now check out our full review of Faction’s powder touring ski, the Prime 4.0.
Win a Sleeping Bag & Pad from Thermarest
Win a Thermarest Parsec 20° Sleeping Bag and NeoAir XLite Sleeping Pad.
Pivot Announces New Trail 429
Pivot just released their brand-new Trail 429 model. Check out the specs and our initial thoughts on the bike.
2020-2021 Liberty Origin 112
We’ve spent several days on the brand-new Liberty Origin 112 this season — including one of our deepest days — and have come away impressed. Check out our full review.
Patagonia Snowdrifter pant
The Patagonia Snowdrifter pant blends very good breathability with a useful feature set, making it a great option for days of high-output touring.
Alternative Outdoor Snacks
Granola bars are great, but sometimes you either run out or you feel like switching it up. So we asked our reviewers to give us some of their alternative outdoor snack suggestions, and we’d love to get some of your suggestions, too.
Tenaya Mundaka
The Tenaya Mundaka offers an excellent blend of performance and comfort, and is a great option for intermediate to advanced climbers looking for precision — and a wider fit — than most other high-performance shoes.
18/19 K2 Wayback 106
Check out our initial on-snow impressions of the Wayback 106, with comparisons to the Salomon MTN Explore 95, Scott Superguide 105, and Dynastar Mythic 97.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Deep Dive: Blizzard Bonafide
We compare the Bonafide to the Volkl Mantra M5, Nordica Enforcer 100, Nordica Enforcer 93, Blizzard Rustler 9, HEAD Kore 99, Atomic Vantage 97 Ti, Rossignol Experience 94 Ti, and more…
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Kuat Pivot
The Kuat Pivot swing-away hitch extender is a bit like a dropper post — you don’t know you need one until you actually have one. And once you do, it’s hard to go back. Check out our review.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
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
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Joe Grant: Adventurer, Endurance Athlete, & Storyteller (Ep.42)
Joe Grant is an endurance athlete, a mountain runner, a reader, a writer, a thinker, a filmmaker, and, as you are about to find out, an exceptional storyteller. In this conversation, Brendan Leonard and Jonathan Ellsworth talk to Joe about how he got into running; racing (and winning) the 2008 Caballo Blanco Copper Canyon Ultra and how that affected his life; his Tour de Fourteeners, a self-powered and self-supported link up of all Colorado’s 14,000-foot peaks by bike and on foot; and a whole lot more.
Blister Brand Guide: Scott Mountain Bike Lineup, 2020
You’ll see riders on Scott bikes in everything from Cross Country to EWS to Downhill races, and their mountain bike lineup reflects that. Check out our Brand Guide to see which Scott mountain bike might work best for you.
Bobby Brown on Big Air & Backcountry Skiing
Bobby Brown is one of the best slopestyle and big-air comp skiers of all time, but he’s currently focused on finding out what he’s capable of in the backcountry. So I talked to Bobby about his trajectory; the art of landings, air awareness, and making mid-air adjustments; who he most enjoys watching these days; what’s next for him; and more.
Flash Review: 20/21 Line Vision 118
Check out our initial on-snow impressions of the new Vision 118.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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New Skis, Tight Pants, & Farm Animal Analogies (Ep.90)
Luke Koppa, Kristin Sinnott, and Jonathan Ellsworth discuss some of the new skis, boots, and apparel they’ve been testing, including products from K2, Blizzard, Nordica, Rossignol, WNDR Alpine, Atomic, Dynastar, & more. We also discuss what skis we prefer for off-piste, icy conditions; the merits of slim-fit ski pants; which ski boots are best described as “donkeys”; and more.
Deep Dive: DPS Alchemist Wailer 106 C2
We compare the Wailer A106 C2 to the previous Wailer A106, Rossignol BLACKOPS Sender Ti, Black Crows Corvus, Nordica Enforcer 104 Free, Fischer Ranger 102 FR, Folsom Blister Pro 104, Volkl Mantra 102, Fischer Ranger 107 Ti, ON3P Wrenegade 108, Moment Wildcat 108, Salomon QST 106, K2 Mindbender 108Ti, Moment Commander 108, Blizzard Rustler 10, 4FRNT MSP 107, Moment Deathwish, Liberty Origin 106, Rossignol Soul 7 HD, & Line Sick Day 104.
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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Win Men’s & Women’s Rain Jackets from Mountain Hardwear
Enter for your chance to win Mountain Hardwear’s Exposure/2 Gore-Tex Paclite Plus Jacket!
Mountain Hardwear Kor Cirrus Hybrid Hoody
The Mountain Hardwear Kor Cirrus Hybrid Hoody has become one of our all-time favorite midlayers for high-output activities like ski touring and mountaineering. Check out our review to see why.
2020-2021 DPS Alchemist Wailer 106 C2
We’ve had a few reviewers putting a lot of time on DPS’s recently revised Wailer A106 C2, and you can now check out our full review for our take on the ski and how it compares to the previous Wailer A106.
The Upcoming DH Season (Ep.17)
The World Cup Downhill season starts in just a couple of weeks, so we checked in with Blister reviewers Noah Bodman, David Golay, and Ben Sims to get their thoughts on and predictions for the upcoming season. We also discuss the future prospects and popularity of World Cup DH racing versus the popularity and trajectory of Enduro World Series racing, and we place one very big wager on the upcoming season.
Flash Review: 20/21 Salomon Stance 96
We just spent a day on the new Stance 96 — check out our initial on-snow impressions.
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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