BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Blister at Outdoor Retailer / SIA 2018
Hey, everybody — greetings from downtown Denver. We just wrapped up 4 long days at the Outdoor Retailer / SIA Snow Show, where we had a chance to check out all the new gear for the 2018-2019 season. We put a bunch of coverage on our
New York Times sportswriter, Karen Crouse (Ep.65)
We talk to Karen Crouse about her new book on the history and principles of the Olympian incubator town of Norwich, Vermont; the current state of the Olympics; and how all-time achievers like Michael Phelps and Tiger Woods have informed her thoughts on the price of greatness.
2021-2022 K2 Recon 130
K2’s new Recon and Luv series of alpine ski boots are really light — the lightest we’ve ever reviewed, actually. Check out the specs plus our initial thoughts and fit notes.
Black Diamond VaporLock Magnetron Carabiner
Black Diamond’s Magnetron carabiners are certainly unique, but are they better than traditional lockers? We spent the past season using the VaporLock Magnetron on everything from single-pitch climbs in Indian Creek to multi-pitch ice in Montana to see just how effective this innovation really is.
2018-2019 Faction Prime 2.0
Faction says their touring ski, the Prime 2.0, “excels at high speeds, but keeps it surprisingly nimble when things get technical.” So how stable and nimble is this ski, and how does it compare to the competition? Check out our full review.
Black Crows Skis 18/19 Lineup (Ep.7)
We talk with Black Crows co-founder, Camille Jaccoux, and head ski designer, Julien Regnier, about women-specific skis, then go over what’s new in the Black Crows 18/19 lineup.
Ibis 742 Carbon Logo Wheels
After 5 months of hard use, we’ve come away very impressed by the Ibis 742 Carbon Logo wheels’ overall performance, durability, and value.
Black Crows Skis – Camille Jaccoux & Julien Regnier (Ep.64)
We talk to the co-founder and the head ski designer of one of the hottest brands skiing, Black Crows about the origins and design principles of the brand, a few of the important skis in the history of the company, and what’s next.
Win The Ultimate Backcountry Adventure
This week, we’re teaming up with one of our recommended shops to give away an all-expenses-paid ski trip to Alpenglow’s Mountain Festival in Lake Tahoe. Enter Now for your chance to win.
2017-2018 Prior Brandywine Split XTC
The Prior Brandywine Split XTC provides an impressive blend of low weight, playfulness, and strong downhill performance across a wide range of conditions.
Kelsey Opstad
Age: 27 | Vitals: 5’3’’, 130lbs | Years snowboarding: 14 | Current Residence: Girdwood AK Background Born and raised in Alaska, I have been lucky to live much of my life far from the hustle of our modern world. I was introduced to skiing at
Hazel Findlay (Ep.1)
In our inaugural episode of All Things Climbing, we talk to Hazel Findlay about her recent send of the Salathe Wall on El Cap; the current direction of climbing culture; and conflicts within climbing sponsorships.
Deep Dive: Volkl Confession
We compare the Volkl Confession to other directional pow skis, including the Nordica Enforcer Pro, Moment Blister Pro, Head Kore 117, Blizzard Bodacious, and ON3P Billy Goat.
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2018-2019 G3 FINDr 102
We’ve now had more time and more reviewers on the FINDr 102 (and had it in more terrain), so here is our updated review of this lightweight touring ski from G3.
Eddie Bauer EverTherm Down Hooded Jacket
With its unique construction, Eddie Bauer’s new EverTherm Down Hooded Jacket represents an interesting step away from traditional down jackets.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Moment Skis CEO, Luke Jacobson (Ep.75)
We talk to Moment Skis CEO, Luke Jacobson, about Moment’s entire “Commander” series; why we still need to do a better job educating skiers; how the Deathwish got its name; the history of the Bibby and the Blister Pro; some upcoming changes to the Blister Pro; and more.
Win Women’s & Men’s Outerwear Kits from Spyder
Get a jacket & pants from Spyder’s new Freeski line!
2-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (19/20)
The quivers keep getting smaller, and the decisions keep getting harder. We’re now asking our reviewers to cut their quivers down to 2 skis, and you can now check out all of their selections.
3-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (19/20)
Check out Part 2 of our reviewers’ 3-ski-quiver selections, with additions from Kristin Sinnott, Kara Williard, Sascha Anastas, Jonathan Ellsworth, & Cy Whitling.
Cappuccino Cowboys Apologizes + Jared Hazen & Eric Senseman (Ep.26)
Mr. Cappuccino of the Cappuccino Cowboys is back on the show to issue an apology for his performance last week. And then Jared Hazen and Eric Senseman join us, so we got to ask them why they continue to associate with Mr. Cappuccino, and more.
4-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (19/20)
Check out part 2 of our reviewers’ 4-ski-quiver selections, including additions from Eric Freson, Kara Williard, Paul Forward, Sascha Anastas, and Sam Shaheen.
Reporter Jason Blevins on Backcountry.com (Ep.109)
Jason Blevins of the Colorado Sun broke the story about backcountry.com’s practices around trademark issues, so we talk to Jason about how this story got on his radar; the specifics of what backcountry.com was doing; how common or uncommon these practices are; how backcountry.com has subsequently responded; and what needs to be done going forward.
Our Climbing & MTB Trip with 57hours
With the help of 57hours and our guide, Willie Benegas, we spent a few days biking and climbing around Moab — check out our recap video and trip report.
5-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (19/20)
It’s that time of year — we’re fantasizing about skiing and our ideal ski quivers. We’ll be rolling out a bunch of our reviewers’ personal selections, and we’re kicking it off with our 5-ski quivers.
What is The North Face Futurelight? (Ep.74)
The North Face is attempting to do something that many have tried, but few have succeeded: compete head-to-head with Gore-Tex in the waterproof / breathable fabric category. So we talked with Scott Mellin, the Global General Manager of Mountain Sports at The North Face, about their new fabric technology, Futurelight, the ideas behind it; what sets it apart in the waterproof / breathable fabric market; sustainability practices related to Futurelight; some stories from athlete testing, and much more.
Win an Avalanche Safety Course with 57hours
Win a 3-day AIARE Level 1 or Level 2 avalanche safety course!
Insulated Skirt Roundup
An insulated skirt may seem like a niche product, but after using several of them this fall, many of our reviewers now consider them an essential piece. Check out our roundup for a bunch of skirts that can take you from your morning run, bike, or ski tour all the way to après.