BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Patagonia Descensionist 40L Pack
Based on Patagonia’s mountaineering-oriented Ascensionist packs, the new Descensionist 40L features a similarly minimalist profile, some ski-specific features, and plenty of capacity in a lightweight package.
Win Any 4FRNT Ski You Want
Win one of our all-time favorite touring skis, the 4FRNT Raven — or any other 4FRNT ski you want.
Claudio Caluori on Redbull Rampage, DH, & the Meaning of Life (Ep.58)
You know him from his course previews of Redbull Rampage and WC DH, but you don’t know Claudio like this. We discuss Rampage, this past DH season, soccer, life, China, Elon Musk … and pretty much everything else.
The Fourth Phase — Action Cut
Travis Rice just released one of the best snowboard edits we’ve ever seen.
2017 Santa Cruz Hightower
We’ve put about 1000 miles on one of the most popular trail bikes on the planet. So we weigh in on its durability, and also which configuration of the bike we liked best.
Marker Kingpin Update
After months of speculation and concern, we’ve just confirmed that the Marker Kingpin will indeed be available for the 17/18 season. Check out our update for more info, as well as a look at our reviews of the Kingpin.
Wagner Custom Skis founder, Pete Wagner (Ep.57)
We talk to Pete Wagner about why the “indie” ski scene is so confusing; the Wagner factory and the unique connection with Telluride; what about their ski-building process that Pete is most proud of, and more.
Win Any Fischer Ranger Ski You Want
Very cool – this week’s winner gets to pick which Fischer Ranger he or she wants most…
The Faction Collective: This is Home
The latest from The Faction Collective: strong skiing, good song, and … some pretty philosophical aspirations?
2018 Patrol 672
The Patrol 672 is a new budget-oriented Trail bike, so how how much “bang” do you actually get for your buck?
17/18 Blister Winter Buyer’s Guide
This is the best — and biggest — Buyer’s Guide you’ve ever seen. Learn what makes ours different, and how to get your copy.
Win the Salomon S/Lab MTN
We’re re-launching our Gear Giveaways, and to kick things off, we’re giving you the chance to win a pair of one of our favorite AT boots of all time.
Evolv Supra
The Evolv Supra is a compelling option as a workhorse sport-climbing shoe, and offers an effective blend of performance and comfort.
Smith Rover Helmet
The Smith Rover is a very breathable Trail helmet, but that breathability seems to come at the cost of durability.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Biking 101: Bike Fit & Geometry — Part 1
Selecting the “right” bike means selecting the right *size* bike — and understanding how a bike’s “geometry” affects that. So check out our Bike Fit & Geometry 101 article to learn more about a bike’s geometry and how it affects both fit and performance.
What You’re Wearing, Part 4: Hemp (Ep.65)
Shooting hemp t-shirts with guns; eating hemp seeds; building houses with hemp; and industrial hemp legalization in the US — Part 4 of our “What You’re Wearing” series tackles the complex history, misconceptions, and many uses of hemp.
Claudio Caluori on the World Cup DH Season (Ep.9)
Coming straight to Crested Butte after the amazing World Cup season finale, Claudio Caluori sits down with Jonathan Ellsworth in BLISTER HQ to discuss whether this was the best WC DH season ever; Loic Bruni & Amaury Pierron’s epic battle; his biggest takeaways from the men’s and women’s seasons; and what, if anything, could be done to make the series even better.
Win a G3 ZED Touring Binding
We have 2 big announcements this week: (1) you can win a pair of G3 ZED bindings and (2) Blister Members now get 10% off & free shipping on everything from G3. Learn more here.
Blister Brand Guide: Altra Lineup, 2019
Timp 1.5 vs. Lone Peak 4. Paradigm 4.5 vs. Duo 1.5. What sets Altra’s shoes apart from one another, and which is the best shoe for you? Check out our Brand Guide for an overview of their entire road and trail lineup.
Blister Brand Guide: Specialized Mountain Bike Lineup, 2020
In our new “Blister Brand Guide” series, we go over the entire product lineup of a brand, highlight how each product stands out from the rest of the lineup, and help you figure out quickly and easily which one might be best for you. First up on the MTB side: Specialized.
2020 Ibis Ripmo AF
Today Ibis announced the brand-new Ripmo AF, as in “aluminum frame.” As in, the first all-aluminum Ibis bike since they reopened shop in 2005. But there’s a whole lot more to this new Trail / Enduro bike than just being made of metal — check out our First Look for more info.
Jackson Brill: Full-Time Student, Full-Time Runner (Ep.16)
Salomon athlete, Jackson Brill, is a 21-year old senior in college at CU Boulder, but given his approach to running, the way he talks about the sport, and his race results, you’d be forgiven for assuming that he was twice as old as he is. So we talked to Jackson about his studies and his work in CU’s Locomotion Lab; being teammates with Kilian Jornet; his experience with the Golden Trail Series; and his strong interest in coaching.
Pep Fujas: from the Farm to K2 to WNDR (Ep.100)
Pep Fujas has always been at the forefront of freeskiing, and he is now looking to move things forward once again. So we talk to Pep about growing up on his family farm in Oregon; his remarkable film career; his favorite Seth Morrison story; his long relationship with K2 and his favorite K2 skis; his decision to go back to school; and his even bigger decision to join the team at WNDR Alpine.
Blister Brand Guide: Hoka One One Lineup, 2019
There are so many products and options available from so many different companies, it can be difficult to know where to even begin, or to figure out the differences between products in a brand’s own lineup. So we’re introducing our new “Blister Brand Guide” series, where we’ll go over the entire product lineup of a brand, highlight how each product stands out from the rest of the lineup, and help you quickly and easily figure out which one might be best for you. First up: Hoka.
Everyday Backpack Roundup — 2019
Need a new everyday backpack? We’ve rounded up 10 of our favorite options, with everything from clean, simple bags that are great for work or school to packs that can also work for casual hikes and travel.
What You’re Wearing, Part 3: Down (Ep.64)
Misconceptions about down are everywhere — fill power, proper care, and animal welfare are all often wildly misunderstood. So today, we’re talking with Matthew Betcher from Allied Feather & Down to shed some light on this fascinating material.