BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
The New Volkl Mantra M5 (Ep.4)
Today, Volkl is announcing their new Mantra M5 and Secret, and last month, we headed to Germany to talk to Volkl’s lead designers of the new skis and to also get some initial time on snow.
4FRNT — Turnagain Pass, AK
It’s not spectacular, but it’s unusually relatable and definitely worth watching.
Evoc Trail Builder Pack
Trails need maintenance, and that requires a lot of gear. Evoc’s Trail Builder pack makes carrying all that gear a lot more comfortable, and it still rides well when loaded down.
Arc’teryx Atom SL Hoody
As the fast-and-light take on the classic Atom LT, Arc’teryx’s Atom SL Hoody might initially seem like a niche piece for specific objectives. However, we’ve been impressed not only by the Atom SL’s light weight and packability, but also its versatility.
Backcountry Travel & Wilderness Medicine (Ep.62)
What items should you be carrying with you, and what do you need to know before venturing out into the backcountry in the first place? We discuss backcountry travel and wilderness medicine with Blister reviewer, AWLS instructor, and physician Paul Forward.
Blister’s Holiday Gift Guide 2017 — In the Garage
Time for the final roundup: these are our big-ticket (or just plain big) gift ideas.
2017-2018 Line Honey Badger
Line calls the Honey Badger “the best option for lapping the park, bashing urban features, and charging the whole mountain.” So we weighed in on where we think this Honey Badger feels most at home.
2018-2019 Scott Superguide 105
The Scott Superguide 105 has all the ingredients of a powerful backcountry & mountaineering ski, and it shares a lot in common with one of our favorite skis in that category. Check out our measured specs, rocker pics, and initial impressions.
The New Salomon S/LAB SHIFT MNC (Ep.3)
Salomon’s new S/Lab Shift represents a significant leap forward in binding design. Check out our conversation with Salomon’s Cody Townsend Chris Rubens, and Benoit Sublet, and our initial on-snow review.
Alpenglow Sports Winter Mountain Festival
Today, one of Blister’s Recommended Shops, Alpenglow Sports in Tahoe City, announced the schedule for their upcoming Mountain Festival — a nine-day free event aimed at beginner and intermediate backcountry users to celebrate human-powered mountain travel.
Win a Pair of Wagner Custom Skis
This week we’re giving away a pair of fully-custom skis from Wagner. Enter now for your chance to win.
2nd Look: J Skis The Metal
We’ve weighed in on The Metal as a more playful directional ski, but coming from the opposite end of the spectrum, how well does The Metal fare when compared to lighter, jibbier skis?
Win a Pair of Mountain Collective Passes
Best Christmas present ever? Give yourself and your favorite ski partner the gift of a pair of Mountain Collective passes. You’ll get access to a bunch of world-class mountains without any blackout dates. Enter Now.
Blister’s Holiday Gift Guide 2017 — Under the Tree
Here are some more of our favorite gift ideas…
What does it mean to talk about the “top end” of a ski?
What do we mean when we talk about the “top end” of a ski? Let’s clarify…
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
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.
Flannel & Casual Shirt Roundup — 2019
Flannels are the unofficial uniform of the outdoors, and for good reason. Check out our roundup for a bunch of options for women, men, and even for kids.
Rachael Burks on Skiing & Shakespeare & Sweatpants & More (Ep.107)
Rachael Burks is known for skiing burly lines and her signature backflip, but she is also known for her boundless enthusiasm, which is on full display in our conversation about skiing and Shakespeare; her spot-on impression of Julian Carr; podiuming in a comp on rental skis; her best ski season ever; her abiding love of sweatpants, Star Wars, fantasy novels, Red Bull Rampage; and more.
New Marker Duke PT; Backcountry.com; New Apparel & Skis (Ep.72)
Today, Marker unveiled their brand-new Duke PT binding, so we discuss the new binding and where it fits with respect to the Shift MNC and CAST Freetour System; some big new changes at GORE; the new GORE-TEX Pro vs. The North Face Futurelight; the appalling behavior of backcountry.com; several new skis from Moment, Blizzard, and Prior; and more.
Blister Brand Guide: Columbia Montrail Trail Running Shoe Lineup, 2019
Montrail is one of the longer-standing trail running brands out there, and now under the “Columbia Montrail” moniker, they offer a pretty wide range of trail shoes. Check out our Brand Guide to quickly figure out which one might be best for you.
