BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
2019-2020 Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD 110 W
We’ve been impressed by the men’s Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD 130 and 120, and now we weigh in on the women’s version, the Hawx Ultra XTD 110 W.
Win a Blister Premier Membership
This week we’re giving away to two winners our equivalent of the Bat Phone. Blister Premier grants you access to all content on the site, and also lets you email or get on the phone with Blister reviewers to really dial in your next gear choice. Enter Now for your chance to win.
2019-2020 Blizzard Black Pearl 98
We’ve been very impressed by the Blizzard Black Pearl 98, and think it will suit a wide variety of skiers.
Greg Hill & Chris Rubens’ Electric Adventures (Ep.66)
We talk to Greg Hill and Chris Rubens about their latest “Electric Adventure,” their efforts to balance a love of the outdoors with the impacts we have on our environments, and their new film, The Curve of Time.
Salomon MTN Carbon S3 Pole
The Salomon MTN Carbon S3 poles have a few notable features that make them stand out, and are worth a look if you’re in the market for a lightweight, adjustable ski pole.
Jonathan Ellsworth: Founder / Editor in Chief
Age: 50 | Vitals: 5’10,” ~180 lbs. | Years skiing: 30+ | Crested Butte, Colorado (see my runner profile) Background: I grew up in the Chicago area, and my first loves were soccer, basketball, and football. In high school, I was a varsity athlete in
Eric Freson
Eric Freson, Crested Butte, CO. (photo by Andrew Buergin) Age: 36 | Vitals: 5’’10”, 165 lbs | Years skiing: 31 | Residence: Gunnison Valley, Colorado Background: I grew up in small-town Vermont, and was encouraged to get outside from a very young age. I learned
Dylan Wood
Age: 24 | Vitals: 5’10”, ~155 lbs | Years Skiing: 21 | Current Residence: Gunnison, Colorado (see my MTB profile) Skiing Background I grew up in Evergreen, Colorado. My dad took me skiing as soon as he could convince my mom it was a good
Outdoor Retailer / SIA Highlights (Ep.8)
From the Outdoor Retailer / SIA show in Denver, five Blister editors & reviewers discuss a bunch of the most notable new men’s and women’s gear we saw at the show.
Dakine Beretta Jacket and Mackenzie Bibs
We’ve been impressed by Dakine’s men’s ski / snowboard outerwear in the past, and now we weigh in on how their women’s Beretta Jacket and Mackenzie Bib compare.
Drew Kelly
Drew Kelly skiing in the backcountry near Crested Butte, CO. Age: 29 | Vitals: 5’11, 160 lbs | Years Skiing: 26 | Current Residence: Gunnison, Colorado Though I learned to ski on a school break when I was three, living in Alabama, I didn’t really
Ben Firth
Age: 25 | Vitals: 6’1”, 155 lbs. | Years Climbing: 8; Years Snowboarding: 13 | Current Residence: Golden, CO I grew up in the rainy world of the Pacific Northwest. Living in Olympia, WA throughout my grade school years, I didn’t actually start climbing until
Barbara Zangerl (Ep.2)
We talk to Barbara Zangerl about her recent send of Magic Mushroom on El Cap with Jacopo Larcher, which is the first repeat of the route since it was first freed by Tommy Caldwell and Justen Sjong. We also discuss how climbing culture is different in Europe, and how she found herself free climbing grade VI big walls after initially being focused exclusively on bouldering.
Win a pair of the DryGuy Travel Dry DX
Seriously, we think everyone should have a pair of DryGuy portable boot dryers. They’re simple, convenient, compact, and work great. So, for this week’s giveaway, we’re teaming up with DryGuy to give away 3 sets of their portable boot dryers. Enter Now for your chance to win.
Blister at Outdoor Retailer / SIA 2018
Hey, everybody — greetings from downtown Denver. We just wrapped up 4 long days at the Outdoor Retailer / SIA Snow Show, where we had a chance to check out all the new gear for the 2018-2019 season. We put a bunch of coverage on our
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
2021-2022 Shaggy’s Ahmeek 105
Shaggy’s is a small brand that builds their skis in Michigan, and we’ve been very impressed by the versatility of their Ahmeek 105. Check out our full review & Deep Dive comparisons.
How to Design a Great Race (Ep.31)
New running events seem to be popping up all the time, which raises the question: Are there some specific policies, and practices that should be built into all or most running events? To help us think about this, we talked to Caleb Efta, the race director of the High Lonesome 100, about some of the specific policies and requirements of the event that are designed to mitigate its environmental impacts and increase gender equality.
Deep Dive: Shaggy’s Ahmeek 105
We compare the Ahmeek 105 to the Moment Deathwish, Moment Wildcat 108, Icelantic Nomad 105, Blizzard Rustler 10, ON3P Woodsman 108, J Skis Metal, Rossignol Soul 7 HD, Liberty Origin 106, Line Sick Day 104, 4FRNT MSP 107, Armada ARV 106Ti, Sego Big Horn 106, Nordica Enforcer Free 104, Fischer Ranger 102 FR, Salomon QST 106, K2 Mindbender 108Ti, and Faction Prodigy 3.0.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Blister Brand Guide: Ibis Mountain Bike Lineup, 2020
Ibis started back in 1981, and now makes a variety of bikes from hardtails to Enduro sleds. Check out our Brand Guide for our breakdown of their lineup, and see which bike might be the best fit for you.
New Year’s Resolutions with Brendan Leonard (Ep.113)
A recent conversation with Brendan Leonard (semi-rad.com) about his 2019 goal of running 52 marathons in 52 weeks (!!!) got us thinking that we should take a more creative approach to New Year’s Resolutions and goals. And then very soon, we’ll be posting a series of interviews with some Blister reviewers and other folks about their own take on new year’s resolutions, and some of their own creative goals.
Sustainable Products Roundup
Thankfully, “sustainability” is a word that more and more companies are thinking about when it comes to the products they make and sell. So from technical outerwear, to food storage, to everyday items you might not even think about, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite items that represent a step in this more sustainable / less environmentally harmful direction. Check them out here.
2021-2022 Nordica Enforcer 88
We’ve now had multiple reviewers on two lengths of Nordica’s narrowest Enforcer, the Enforcer 88. Check out our full review & Deep Dive comparisons for our thoughts on this all-mountain ski.
Deep Dive: Nordica Enforcer 88
We compare the Enforcer 88 to the Nordica Enforcer 93, Blizzard Brahma, Folsom Spar 88, Head Monster 88 Ti, Black Crows Orb, Parlor Cardinal 90, Armada Invictus 89 Ti, Atomic Vantage 90 Ti, Salomon XDR 88 Ti, Liberty Evolv 90, K2 Ikonic 84 Ti, & Renoun Z-Line 90.
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.)
SCARPA CEO, Kim Miller, Part 1 (Ep.79)
This week, Sam Shaheen visited SCARPA’s North American headquarters to talk with SCARPA’s CEO, Kim Miller. Here in Part 1 of the conversation, they discuss Kim’s impressive career in the outdoor industry; SCARPA’s philosophy of ski boot design; their position within the market; the specifics of the new Maestrale XT; Kim’s thoughts on boot/binding compatibility; and more.
Win any Hestra Glove or Mitten
Pick any glove or mitten you want from Hestra’s expansive lineup!
Nordica Announces New Enforcer Skis & HF Boots
Today, Nordica announced that they’re changing one of our favorite skis, the Enforcer 100; they’re releasing a new Enforcer 94; and they’re launching an entire collection of new ski boots. Learn more here.
Winter Baby Accessories Roundup
Keeping your little one warm and dry during the winter can be tricky, so we’ve rounded up some of our favorite cold-weather accessories for babies & infants.