BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
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.
Deep Dive: Faction Dictator 3.0
We put the Faction Dictator 3.0 up against the HEAD Kore 105, Line Sick Day 104, Faction Candide 3.0, Black Crows Corvus Freebird, Moment Belafonte, ON3P Wrenegade 108, and Blizzard Cochise.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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2018-2019 Faction Dictator 3.0
Faction claims their “Dictator” series is designed for hard-charging “lunatics” and “maniacs.” Here’s our full review of the (pretty unusual) 105mm-wide Dictator 3.0.
10 Notable Things We Saw at Interbike
There’s lots of talk *about* Interbike these days, but what were the most noteworthy things we saw at Interbike? Here’s our Top 10.
Camo is the New Black: Interbike 2017 (Ep.56)
On location in Las Vegas, we talk to Blister bike editor, Noah Bodman, about the current state of Interbike; the most intriguing bikes we rode; the most interesting products we’ve seen; and the most bizarre stuff on the trade show floor.
DPS’ The Shadow Campaign: “The Space Within”
Missing deep days? Check out the new video from DPS Cinematic.
Down vs. Synthetic: Ethical & Environmental Issues
Is down insulation a “green” material? How do synthetics compare? We discuss the environmental and ethical impacts of insulation in our Topic of the Week.
17/18 Blizzard Rustler 11
Here are our initial on-snow reports on the Blizzard Rustler 11 from three different Blister reviewers.
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.
If you’re already an active member, please log in.
(If you’re already logged in and a member in good standing and seeing this message in error, please refresh this page in your browser.)
Patagonia Tropic Comfort Hoody II
Want to ditch your slimy sunscreen? Want sun protection that works year-round, and not just for the dog days of summer? If so, the Patagonia Tropic Comfort Hoody II is worth a look …
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Blister Brand Guide: Salomon Running Shoe Lineup, 2019
From shoes designed to help Kilian Jornet dance up technical terrain, to studded winter spikes and everyday road and trail shoes, Salomon makes a really wide variety of running shoes. Check out our Salomon Brand Guide to quickly get clear on their whole lineup and figure out which shoes might work best for you.
Why We Built a Running-Shoe Brand Guide (Ep.17)
Finding the right running shoe can be extremely complicated and confusing. So reviewers Luke Koppa, Jonathan Ellsworth, Maddie Hart, and Gordon Gianniny discuss our new BLISTER Brand Guide to Running Shoes; why we saw a need for it; what we hope it accomplishes for runners everywhere; and the trends and takeaways we’ve seen in the process of building it.
Blister Speaker Series 2.1: Claudio Caluori (Ep.101)
Last week, we kicked off season #2 of our monthly Blister Speaker Series at Western Colorado University, where we invite influential figures to come talk about how they are shaping the outdoor industry. Our first guest of the new season was Claudio Caluori, the announcer for the World Cup Downhill series, a former pro XC and DH racer, the founder of Velosolutions, and the initiator of #pumpforpeace. We touch on all of these things in our conversation, and get Claudio’s perspective on a wide range of topics and questions.
VIDEO: Claudio Caluori on the World Cup DH Season
We’ll be rolling out videos of many of our podcasts, and the first one is our conversation with Claudio Caluori, where he recaps the extremely exciting season and finale of the World Cup Downhill series. Watch it here.
Our Upcoming Trip to Moab with 57 Hours
We’re heading to Moab for a multi-sport trip, and we’re linking up with a 57 Hours guide to do it. Learn more about our trip, the backstory, and more.
2019 Specialized Enduro 27.5
Specialized recently released a new Enduro, but whether you’re looking at the resale market, don’t love the new Enduro’s geometry or 29er-only design, or are just looking for a versatile Enduro / Trail bike, we think the Enduro 27.5 still deserves strong consideration. Check out Eric Freson’s full review, and Luke Koppa also adds his thoughts from the perspective of a newcomer to the sport.
CushCore Pro Tire Inserts
We recently published Noah Bodman’s take on CushCore’s Pro tire inserts, and now David Golay adds his thoughts. Check them out here.
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.