BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Atomic’s Jossi Wells, Tonje Kvivik, & Noah Wallace on the Realities of Being a Pro Athlete & the Creation of a New Industry Standard (Ep.321)
When outdoor athletes get injured, what happens? Today we talk about that with Atomic athletes Jossi Wells, Tonje Kvivik, and Noah Wallace, and we share news from Atomic that sets a new standard for what it means to take care of outdoor athletes.
Alpenglow Sports
Not only is Alpenglow Sports an excellent shop, it is also at the epicenter of Lake Tahoe outdoor culture.
The Pro’s Gear: Nikolai Schirmer (Ep.309)
Niko and Jonathan have the great debate about pin bindings; learn about his approach to selecting gear; discuss the specific gear he’s currently using the most; when & why he prefers lightweight ski gear; and more.
Win a Pedal Bundle from Hustle Bike Labs
The two winners of our Gear Giveaway this week will each get the Full Send Pedal Bundle from Hustle Bike Labs!
COROS Dura Cycling Computer
COROS recently broke into the cycling computer market with their new Dura, promising exceptional battery life at a compelling price point. So how does it perform after several months in the field? Our Full Review has the answers.
Flash Review — Maxxis High Roller
The new Maxxis High Roller doesn’t look anything like the earlier tires to bear that name, but how does it perform? Check out our early impressions.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Zerode on Gearbox Bikes, World Cup DH Racing, & Building Stuff in a Shed (Ep.235)
A lot of mountain bike companies started with one or two people building stuff in a shed, but not many of those folks *began* by building their own gearbox, and even fewer have stayed committed to gearbox bikes. But Zerode isn’t most bike companies, and we sat down with them to hear all about their history, how they got where they are today, their thoughts on gearbox bikes, and a whole lot more.
Forge+Bond Shift Series Wheels
Forge+Bond’s Shift wheels are one of the most affordable ways to get into a US-made carbon fiber wheelset — and use the same rims as Forge+Bond’s higher-end wheels — so is there a catch? Check out our Full Review to see how they’ve fared.
‘American Flyers’ with Jonathan Ellsworth & Simon Stewart (Ep.19)
Kevin Costner, bike racer? Yep. ‘American Flyers’ was released 39 years ago this week, and Costner would go on to make some of the best sports films of all time. So how well does this bike film hold up? And how does it compare to the other bike film written by Steve Tesich, ‘Breaking Away’? Jonathan and Simon discuss.
Flash Review — Privateer 161 V2
Privateer made a name for themselves by building super burly, affordable Enduro race bikes and we’ve started spending time on their latest take on that theme, the 161 V2. Check out our take on how it’s faring so far.
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.
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2024-2025 Meier Crosscut BC
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the Meier Crosscut BC.
Flash Review: 24/25 Armada Declivity X 108
Revamped for 24/25, the Declivity X 108 bridges the gap between Armada’s big-mountain Declivty X 115 and the more all-round Declivity X 102. So, which of its siblings does the new 108 most closely resemble? Here are our initial thoughts.
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.
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Rebecca Rusch & Carlos Perez on Mtn Biking, Gravel Riding, Rebecca’s Private Idaho, & More (Ep.320)
We talk with 7x world champion, Rebecca Rusch, and Bike Monkey founder, Carlos Perez, about mountain biking in the 2024 Olympics; whether gravel biking ought to be in the Olympics; the new Potato Olympics, and her signature event, Rebecca’s Private Idaho.
Hope XCR Pro X2 and E4 Brakes
Hope’s new pairing of their lightweight, bare-bones XCR Pro lever with the four-piston E4 caliper may seem like an incongruous one, but there are good reasons to consider the XCR Pro E4s besides just weight savings.
Reviewing the Reviewer: Zack Henderson (Ep.308)
We talk to Blister bike reviewer Zach Henderson about his gear preferences when it comes to bikes, skis, and snowboarders. We also start the episode by remembering our friend and fellow reviewer, Eric Freson.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Vorsprung Smashpot V2 Coil Spring Fork Conversion Kit
Vorsprung’s new Smashpot V2 still lets you convert your fork to a coil spring, but V2 offers increased tunability, a wider range of travel and fork compatibility options — including dual-crown ones — and a new dual-rate progressive spring setup for longer-travel configurations. Check out our First Look for all the details.
Formula Nebbia
The Nebbia is Formula’s first air shock, with a strong focus on tunability and ease of service. After a few months of testing, we have gotten a good sense of how it performs — and the results are even more interesting than expected.
GEAR THERAPY: Elite Football Player Gets Back into Skiing (Ep.317)
BLISTER+ member, Pete Brantley, talks about getting back into skiing; playing football for the Oregon Ducks (and Chicago Bears!); poses his most-pressing gear questions; and gets Jonathan’s best recommendations.
Win an IR Waxer From mountainFLOW
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get an Infrared (IR) Waxer from mountainFLOW!
The Design, Development, & Testing of Enve’s new M-Series Wheels (Ep.243)
Enve’s new M-Series wheels are the result of a very long and involved development process, and they don’t look, or ride, anything like M-Series wheels of old. So we sat down with Jake Pantone of Enve to get the whole story behind their development.
Flash Review — Enve M6 Wheels
Enve says that their new M-Series wheels ride very differently from Enve wheels of old, and we’ve started putting those claims to the test with their new Trail bike wheels, the M6. Check out our early impressions.
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.
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Enve’s Fifth-Generation M-Series Wheels
Enve has launched the fifth-generation versions of their flagship M-Series mountain bike wheels, promising a very different ride feel from past M-Series wheels. The data they’ve provided to quantify that is pretty eye-popping, and there’s a lot of interesting stuff going on with their design — including new, Enve-designed hubs. Check out what they’ve come up with.
How Do You Know How “Safe” Your Helmet Is? | Blister Summit Video
Testing standards are hugely important, but when it comes to ski/snowboard and cycling helmets, the current ones have limitations. In this clip, Steven Kennedy, Sr. Director of R&D at Giro, shares some thoughts on Giro’s in-house testing approach, the Virginia Tech helmet testing standards, and more.
‘A Sunday in Hell’ w/ Joe Parkin & Simon Stewart (Ep.26)
We revisit the 1977 film ‘A Sunday in Hell,’ often regarded as one of the greatest bike racing films of all time. To do it justice, Simon Stewart is joined by former pro cyclist Joe Parkin, who raced Paris-Roubaix himself in 1988, and knows what it takes to suffer through “The Hell of the North.”
Trek Slash+
The Trek Slash+ combines big travel with a little motor — a pairing that sets it apart from the rest of the market. We have logged plenty of miles on the Slash+ this summer and have a lot to say about its impressive performance — and some tradeoffs that come with it.
When & WHY Should You Replace Your Helmet? | Blister Summit Video
How do you know when or why you should replace your ski, snowboard, or bike helmet? It’s not a simple or easy question to answer, but at Blister Summit 2024, we got some insight from Steven Kennedy, Frederik Kjellberg, Drew Petersen, and Sascha Anastas.
Reviewing the News w/ Cody Townsend, September 2024 (Ep.327)
Cody and Jonathan discuss the release of Cody’s first FIFTY+ film; some big controversies in the world of FKT’s & running; a great edition of Blevin’s Corner; mountain guides and the often confusing practice of tipping; what they’re reading & watching; … and more.