BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
2017-2018 Line Sir Francis Bacon, 190 cm
Many of you have asked us about it, so here are our initial impressions of the 190 cm Line Sir Francis Bacon.
2-Ski Quiver: Reviewers’ Choices (17/18)
Last week we presented our three-ski quiver selections. Time now to look at the two-ski quiver selections of some of our reviewers.
Men’s Everyday Casual / Tech Pants
Pants are pants, right? But now there are a bunch of options that blend functional performance with better styling, and we’ve rounded up some of our favorites for handling everything from bike commuting to afternoon climbing sessions (and they won’t make you look like a dork).
Win Your Choice of Pret Helmets
This week, we’re giving away a helmet to 1 guy and 1 girl, so enter now for a chance to win the Pret helmet of your choice.
2020-2021 Rossignol XV Sushi LF
While it’s not the hard charger you’d expect from Xavier De La Rue, the new XV Sushi LF is a very fun board that could change the way you approach the mountain.
Danny Davis on Peace Park, the Olympics, and More (Ep.61)
We talk to Danny Davis about the upcoming Peace Park 6; why Peace Park should become a new discipline; “technical” tricks vs. “stylish” tricks; the Olympics; and the need for a unified snowboarding tour; and Danny’s growing passion for splitboarding.
East-Coast vs West-Coast Skis?
In our latest Topic of the Week, we dive into the question of how important “location” is for selecting the right ski.
Patagonia Black Hole 32L Backpack
With a water resistant, durable fabric and an easy-access design, Patagonia’s Black Hole 32L Backpack is a great option for an everyday daypack.
Pearl Izumi Launch Shorts and Summit Gloves
From the trail to the bike park, we’ve been impressed by the versatility of Pearl Izumi’s recently updated Launch Shorts and Summit Gloves.
17/18 Line Sick Day 114
We’ve now spent some time on both lengths of the Line Sick Day 114 – and done so both in and out of the resort – so here our initial performance notes and comments.
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2017 Sterling Fusion Nano IX Rope
Sterling’s revamped Fusion Nano IX rope put up some impressive numbers in lab tests, so we took it out in a variety of conditions to see how it fares in the real world.
Dakine Sawtooth Jacket and Stoker Bibs
Style or functionality? When it comes to ski outerwear, you often have to choose one, but Dakine’s Sawtooth Jacket and Stoker Bibs aim to change that.
Brooks Range Mountaineering Alpha Softshell
The Brooks Range Alpha Softshell is a unique piece that has become one of our favorite layers for climbing. Check out our review to find out why.
3-Ski Quiver: Reviewers’ Choices (17/18)
It was time to update our ski-quiver selections, so we’ve asked some of our reviewers to talk about how they think about assembling a quiver and provide their personal choices, starting with their 3-ski quivers.
Dakine Drafter 14L Pack
The Dakine Drafter 14L is a breathable and comfortable solution for carrying gear on long bike rides (especially for riders who don’t generally like wearing a pack).
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Why We Built a MTB Brand Guide (Ep.10)
Reviewers Luke Koppa, Jonathan Ellsworth, Dylan Wood, and David Golay discuss our new BLISTER Brand Guide to Mountain Bikes; why we saw a need for it; the trends and takeaways we’ve seen in the process of building it; and … the revolutionary new Badonkadonk bike.
Kyle Robidoux on Running, Skiing, & Being Legally Blind (Ep.19)
Kyle Robidoux is passionate about running and skiing and beer. He has run 25 marathons and ultra marathons, including three 100-mile races, and the Boston Marathon six times. Kyle also happens to be legally blind. So Kyle and I talk about his background, his anger about his receding vision and what he did about it; how he got into running and trail running; his efforts to create more inclusive trail races; his advice about how to deal with loss of any kind; and what specific things we all can do to be more supportive of everyone dealing with disabilities. (And we talk about beer.)
Adventure Photographer, Corey Rich (Ep.103)
Adventure photographer, Corey Rich, has spent a lot of time documenting some of the most interesting and amazing athletes in the world. So we talk to Corey about his time with the likes of Fred Beckey, Chris Sharma, Tommy Caldwell, Ashima Shiraishi; why making mistakes and being vulnerable makes for great storytelling; his excellent new book; what his dream assignment would be; and much, much more.
19/20 Blister Winter Buyer’s Guide
Here it is — check out the entire 19/20 Blister Winter Buyer’s Guide, and you can still order your limited-edition print copy of the Buyer’s Guide.
Reviewing the Reviewer: Jonathan Ellsworth (Ep.67)
Luke Koppa and Sam Shaheen pose questions & rate the answers of Blister founder, Jonathan Ellsworth, about being charged by a bear; nearly burning his house down; teaching philosophy; his favorite gear in the world; and (of course) the things he’s better at than Sam Shaheen.
Win an Outerwear Kit from FW
FW is a new apparel brand and the winner of this week’s Gear Giveaway will get their flagship outerwear kit, the 3L Manifest Jacket & Pants. Many of us at Blister were really excited when we saw FW’s collection at Outdoor Retailer last year, and the Manifest kit looks like a solid choice for those who want reliable weather protection and tons of features, all in a modern, clean style. Enter now for your chance to win.
Luke Nelson on Testing Limits (Ep.18)
Brendan Leonard & Jonathan Ellsworth talk to Luke Nelson about being a professional runner, physician assistant, race director (of the Scout Mountain Ultras), climate activist, husband, father of three, and … someone who doesn’t get a lot of sleep.
Video: Verb Cabin — “Another Way”
Ian Compton has taken a very different approach to skiing. Once one of the best park / urban skiers out there, Ian decided to leave skiing and move to, as he calls it, the “middle of nowhere,” Vermont. Verb Cabin’s short film, “Another Way,” documents Ian’s rise in the sport, the reasoning behind and the outcome of his decision to leave it, and now his return to skiing, in the form of a tiny undisclosed rope-tow near his new home. We think the video is incredibly well done, and you can watch it here.
J Skis founder, Jason Levinthal (Ep.102)
J Skis founder, Jason Levinthal, is back on the show, and this time, our conversation is made up almost entirely of your questions. And in his trademark style, Jason answers each of them with extreme candor. Check out the full video and conversation here.
2020 Ibis Mojo HD5
Ibis is releasing today the 5th generation of their longer-travel 27.5″ bike, the Mojo HD5. We came away impressed with the prior-generation HD4, so how similar is the HD5 to the HD4? Is this new bike an entirely different beast? Check out our First Look.
Support Robb Gaffney
Robb Gaffney is a historic figure in the ski world, and he & his family need our help. Robb (who wrote the book Squallywood, created the Game of GNAR, and produced GNAR The Movie) was diagnosed with a rare form of bone-marrow cancer that he’s fighting hard against. But that has left him unable to work for the foreseeable future, and this has created a very significant financial burden for his family. A GoFundMe page has been started for Robb, and we would ask you to please make a donation.
Strafe Sickbird Suit
One-piece snowsuits have had an interesting history. They were once very common, then they became a bit of a joke, and now some brands are making high-end one-pieces with modern materials and features. The Strafe Sickbird Suit falls into that last category, and we’ve come away both surprised and impressed by it. Check out our review.