BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
2019-2020 Dynastar Mythic 97
We’ve now had two reviewers on the Dynastar Mythic 97, and weigh in on how this light touring ski performs in a variety of conditions.
Luke Koppa
Luke Koppa on the Dynastar M-Pro 99, Crested Butte, Colorado. Age: 28 | Vitals: 5’8,” ~155 lbs | Years Skiing: 17 | Current Residence: Crested Butte, Colorado (see runner profile) Skiing Background I’m one of many Midwest transplants currently residing in Colorado. I grew up
2020-2021 K2 Cool Bean
If you’re looking for a dedicated board for the deepest days, K2’s short and stubby Cool Bean is a surfy, playful option that provides a unique feel in soft snow and deep snow.
Analisa Price
Vitals: 5’ 3”, ~115 lbs. | Years skiing: ~5 | Current Residence: Seattle, WA I’m from central North Carolina, so I didn’t really learn to ski until I was an adult. My family may have gone on a few long weekend trips when I was
Kristin Sinnott
Kristin Sinnott on the Nordica Santa Ana 110, Revelstoke Mountain Resort, BC. (photo by Patrick Sinnott) Kristin (Green) Sinnott Age: 40 | Vitals: 5’8,” 125 lbs | Years Skiing: 37 | Current Residence: Northern New Mexico Raised in a small town in the mountains of
Ortovox Pordoi Jacket
The Ortovox Pordoi Jacket effectively meets the many demands that ski touring places on a shell, and is worth a look if you’re in the market for a new touring jacket.
Matt Manser, Atomic Ski Boots (Ep.63)
We talk to the global product manager of Atomic ski boots about how a kid from a little town in New York got that position, how his study of philosophy helped him get there, the design decisions behind the Atomic Hawx Ultra & Ultra XTD boots, and more.
Paul Forward
Age: 40 | Vitals: 6’0″, 190 lbs. | Years Skiing: 36 | Current Residence: Girdwood, Alaska Background I grew up in Eagle River, Alaska and my parents had various kinds of skis on my feet well before I started kindergarten. Even before I was a
Black Diamond First Light Hoody
Most of the major apparel brands are now making some sort of “active insulation” mid layer, so how does Black Diamond’s offering, the First Light Hoody, compare?
2018-2019 Blizzard Rustler 10
We now have more time on the new Blizzard Rustler 10 in a broader range of conditions. Check out our update.
Ski The Wild West
Drew Petersen’s new film, Ski The Wild West, is a refreshing take on ski mountaineering, and is certainly worth a watch.
2017-2018 Line Mordecai, 193 cm
We’ve already reviewed the 186 cm Line Mordecai, so it’s time now to weigh in on how similar or different the 193 cm Mordecai is, and what sort of skier the 193 is best suited for.
Rab Alpha Flash Jacket
Rab’s Alpha Flash Jacket is one of the lightest, most breathable mid layers we’ve ever tested. Check out our review.
Flannel Roundup, 2018
We think everyone should have at least one good flannel, so we’ve laid out a few of our personal favorites.
DIN Settings, Age, & Related Questions
How do you decide when to run your DIN settings higher or lower than the chart recommends? And how much of a factor should age really be?
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Blister Brand Guide: Topo Athletic Running Shoe Lineup, 2019
Topo Athletic takes a different approach than many brands when it comes to running shoes. They specialize in lower-drop shoes with wider, foot-shaped toe boxes, and their lineup covers a wide range of road and trail shoes. Check out our Brand Guide to figure out which Topo shoe might be best for you.
DPS Skis founder, Stephan Drake, no longer with DPS
UPDATE: We now have a statement from Stephan Drake regarding his departure from the company he founded.
Is Cappuccino Cowboys Ruining Ultrarunning? (Ep.25)
What is Cappuccino Cowboys, and who is the person behind it? Is he an evil genius hell-bent on ruining ultrarunning? A provocateur shaking up the stodgy state of running media? Or is he just a giant pain in the ass of Jim Walmsley, Eric Senseman, Jared Hazen, Cody Reed, Tommy Rivs and a few other unfortunate souls? We spoke to Mr. Cappuccino himself to find out.
Blister Speaker Series 2.3: Moment Skis CEO, Luke Jacobson (Ep.108)
In our latest BLISTER Speaker Series at Western Colorado University, Moment Skis CEO, Luke Jacobson, talks about managing the significant growth of this indie brand; manufacturing in Sparks, Nevada; crucial decisions he’s had to make; how he would assess those decisions in hindsight; and more.
2019-2020 Renoun Citadel 114
Renoun is currently working on adding a wider ski to their lineup, and we recently received a prototype of their new Citadel 114. Check out our First Look for our measured specs, rocker pics, and initial impressions of this lightweight, uniquely constructed ski.
Reviewing the Reviewer: David Golay (Ep.73)
On our latest “Reviewing the Reviewer” episode of GEAR:30, Jonathan Ellsworth talks to our mountain bike reviewer, David Golay, about how he went from playing sports in upstate New York, to researching metal alloys in Australia, to reviewing for BLISTER, and he shares a great story starring Jed Yeiser (of previous Blister podcast episodes fame).
Casual Jacket Roundup — Fall 2019
It’s that time of year when you really never know what the weather is going to throw at you. A foot of snow? Maybe. 70°F and sunny? Also totally possible. We’ve been using a bunch of casual jackets for women and men that can keep you comfortable in a variety of temps, and do so in style.
Win any Moment Skis You Want
Pick any pair of skis you want from Moment’s 19/20 lineup!
Boycott Backcountry.com?
For some time now, backcountry.com has been involved in business practices that the outdoor community needs to stand against. So we explain why; we offer a detailed response to the statement put out by their CEO; and we lay out what we think needs to happen next.
High Above Lookout Hip Pack
Fanny / hip packs have been making a resurgence, and are no longer limited to 90’s throwback parties or dads on vacation. We’ve been using the High Above Lookout pack, made with modern, technical materials in Bellingham, Washington, and you can check out our full review for more.
ON3P — “ON3P 5”
ON3P just dropped their fifth team movie, and this time around they traded urban rails and thrift-store clothes for Gore-Tex, cliffs, and pillow lines around British Columbia. Watch it here.
Big Dog’s Backyard Ultra Winner, Maggie Guterl (Ep.24)
Maggie Guterl just became the first woman ever to win Big Dog’s Backyard Ultra, a multi-day race that does not have a fixed-distance finish line. So we talked to Maggie about how this extraordinary race works, and Maggie does a brilliant job of detailing what it was like to overcome the unique physical and mental challenges of Big’s; the significance of being the race’s first female champion; the next insane race she has her sights set on, and more.