BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
New York Times sportswriter, Karen Crouse (Ep.65)
We talk to Karen Crouse about her new book on the history and principles of the Olympian incubator town of Norwich, Vermont; the current state of the Olympics; and how all-time achievers like Michael Phelps and Tiger Woods have informed her thoughts on the price of greatness.
2021-2022 K2 Recon 130
K2’s new Recon and Luv series of alpine ski boots are really light — the lightest we’ve ever reviewed, actually. Check out the specs plus our initial thoughts and fit notes.
Black Diamond VaporLock Magnetron Carabiner
Black Diamond’s Magnetron carabiners are certainly unique, but are they better than traditional lockers? We spent the past season using the VaporLock Magnetron on everything from single-pitch climbs in Indian Creek to multi-pitch ice in Montana to see just how effective this innovation really is.
2018-2019 Faction Prime 2.0
Faction says their touring ski, the Prime 2.0, “excels at high speeds, but keeps it surprisingly nimble when things get technical.” So how stable and nimble is this ski, and how does it compare to the competition? Check out our full review.
Black Crows Skis 18/19 Lineup (Ep.7)
We talk with Black Crows co-founder, Camille Jaccoux, and head ski designer, Julien Regnier, about women-specific skis, then go over what’s new in the Black Crows 18/19 lineup.
Ibis 742 Carbon Logo Wheels
After 5 months of hard use, we’ve come away very impressed by the Ibis 742 Carbon Logo wheels’ overall performance, durability, and value.
Black Crows Skis – Camille Jaccoux & Julien Regnier (Ep.64)
We talk to the co-founder and the head ski designer of one of the hottest brands skiing, Black Crows about the origins and design principles of the brand, a few of the important skis in the history of the company, and what’s next.
Win The Ultimate Backcountry Adventure
This week, we’re teaming up with one of our recommended shops to give away an all-expenses-paid ski trip to Alpenglow’s Mountain Festival in Lake Tahoe. Enter Now for your chance to win.
2017-2018 Prior Brandywine Split XTC
The Prior Brandywine Split XTC provides an impressive blend of low weight, playfulness, and strong downhill performance across a wide range of conditions.
Kelsey Opstad
Age: 27 | Vitals: 5’3’’, 130lbs | Years snowboarding: 14 | Current Residence: Girdwood AK Background Born and raised in Alaska, I have been lucky to live much of my life far from the hustle of our modern world. I was introduced to skiing at
Hazel Findlay (Ep.1)
In our inaugural episode of All Things Climbing, we talk to Hazel Findlay about her recent send of the Salathe Wall on El Cap; the current direction of climbing culture; and conflicts within climbing sponsorships.
Deep Dive: Volkl Confession
We compare the Volkl Confession to other directional pow skis, including the Nordica Enforcer Pro, Moment Blister Pro, Head Kore 117, Blizzard Bodacious, and ON3P Billy Goat.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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2018-2019 G3 FINDr 102
We’ve now had more time and more reviewers on the FINDr 102 (and had it in more terrain), so here is our updated review of this lightweight touring ski from G3.
Eddie Bauer EverTherm Down Hooded Jacket
With its unique construction, Eddie Bauer’s new EverTherm Down Hooded Jacket represents an interesting step away from traditional down jackets.
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.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
FW Manifest 3L Jacket & Pants
The Manifest 3L Jacket & Pants from FW, a brand-new apparel company, have tons of features, a modern “freeride” fit, and offer skiers & snowboarders a unique aesthetic. But how do they perform as both an inbounds and backcountry kit? Check out our review.
2021-2022 Blizzard Rustler 10
The updated Rustler 10 looks similar to the old version on paper, but there are some key differences between the two that we think could make the new version a more appealing option for many resort skiers. Check out our full review & Deep Dive comparisons.
Deep Dive: Blizzard Rustler 10
We compare the new Rustler 10 to the previous Rustler 10, ON3P Woodsman 108, Moment Wildcat 108, Salomon QST 106, K2 Mindbender 108Ti, Nordica Enforcer Free 104, Fischer Ranger 102 FR, Line Sick Day 104, Rossignol Soul 7 HD, J Skis Metal, Armada ARV 106Ti, Liberty Origin 106, 4FRNT MSP 107, Black Crows Corvus, Sego Big Horn 106, Faction Prodigy 3.0, Elan Ripstick 106, & Blizzard Cochise.
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.)
Brendan Leonard on Running 52 Marathons in 52 Weeks (Ep.30)
For 2019, Brendan Leonard (semi-rad.com) set a goal for himself: run 52 marathons in 52 weeks. He told very few people about this goal, and we are proud to report that Brendan accomplished his goal with several weeks to spare. So we talked to Brendan about what prompted him to create this plan; why he decided to tell very few people about it; exactly what the parameters were for these ‘marathons’; how he handled the logistics; what he learned along the way; and more.
Strafe Wildcat Pant
Insulated ski / snowboard pants may seem unnecessary to those who have their layering systems dialed, but our reviewer was very surprised by the versatility of Strafe’s insulated Wildcat Pants. Check out her full review.
What We’re Watching — December, 2019
More ski videos! We’ve just updated our ski video roundup with 11 new videos, including Chris Benchetler’s visually stunning night-riding project, edits from FWT athletes, crazy FPV drone footage, and much more.
Ski Quiver Questions, Part 2 (Ep.78)
Last week on GEAR:30, Sam Shaheen, Luke Koppa, and I addressed some of the questions you have been asking us about ski quivers, and we also discussed the topic of the one-boot quiver. And now, we are running part 2 of this conversation with our reviewers Kristin Sinnott, Sascha Anastas, and Kara Williard.
Win a Helmet & Headphone Combo from Unit 1
Enter to win Unit 1’s helmet with integrated headphones!
2020-2021 Moment Wildcat 108
After spending 15 days on it, you can now check out our full review and Deep Dive comparisons of the 184 cm Wildcat 108.
Deep Dive: Moment Wildcat 108
We compare the 184 cm Wildcat 108 to the Moment Wildcat, Moment Meridian, Moment Deathwish, ON3P Woodsman 108, ON3P Jeffrey 108, Sego Big Horn 106, Fischer Ranger 102 FR, Faction Prodigy 3.0, Line Sir Francis Bacon, Salomon QST 106, K2 Mindbender 108Ti, Nordica Enforcer Free 104, Armada ARV 106Ti, Liberty Origin 106, Rossignol Soul 7 HD, Line Sick Day 104, Elan Ripstick 106, 4FRNT MSP 107, Black Crows Corvus, J Skis Metal, Prior Husume, and Blizzard Cochise.
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.)
Blister Brand Guide: Yeti Mountain Bike Lineup, 2020
Yeti has been making mountain bikes since 1985, but their lineup has changed a lot since then and now includes a pretty wide range of options. Check out our Brand Guide to quickly & easily figure out what sets each Yeti bike apart from the other and which one might be best for you.
Altra Timp 1.5
When we reviewed the original Altra Timp, we found it to be a unique shoe in the more heavily cushioned category. With all the updates made to the Timp 1.5, is that still the case? Check out our review.