BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
17/18 Line Sick Day 114
We’ve now spent some time on both lengths of the Line Sick Day 114 – and done so both in and out of the resort – so here our initial performance notes and comments.
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2017 Sterling Fusion Nano IX Rope
Sterling’s revamped Fusion Nano IX rope put up some impressive numbers in lab tests, so we took it out in a variety of conditions to see how it fares in the real world.
Dakine Sawtooth Jacket and Stoker Bibs
Style or functionality? When it comes to ski outerwear, you often have to choose one, but Dakine’s Sawtooth Jacket and Stoker Bibs aim to change that.
Brooks Range Mountaineering Alpha Softshell
The Brooks Range Alpha Softshell is a unique piece that has become one of our favorite layers for climbing. Check out our review to find out why.
3-Ski Quiver: Reviewers’ Choices (17/18)
It was time to update our ski-quiver selections, so we’ve asked some of our reviewers to talk about how they think about assembling a quiver and provide their personal choices, starting with their 3-ski quivers.
Dakine Drafter 14L Pack
The Dakine Drafter 14L is a breathable and comfortable solution for carrying gear on long bike rides (especially for riders who don’t generally like wearing a pack).
Scott Gaffney – Skier & Director, Matchstick Productions (Ep.60)
We talk to one of the most accomplished ski movie directors of all time about working with legends like Shane McConkey; his favorite Matchstick Productions films; and the most mind-melting sessions he ever witnessed.
Win Any Moment Ski You Want
Enter now for a chance to win any Moment ski you want — including the Blister Pro.
Tanner Hall — “Triumph”
Tanner Hall just dropped his season project, Triumph. It looks like the Ski Boss is back.
Hoji on the new Dynafit Hoji Boots (Ep.1)
Dynafit is introducing today their new Hoji series of boots. So we went in-depth with Hoji himself about the boot, and also talk about our initial fit notes and comparisons to other boots in the category.
Black Sheep Sports
Black Sheep Sports is the premier freeride shop in Munich. From an impressive selection of boutique skis, to excellent bootfitting, and Bavarian beer, Black Sheep has it all.
Introducing: GEAR:30
Check out our new podcast that launches Wednesday, November 8th.
2017 Mountain Biking Gallery
It’s officially shoulder season, but this photo gallery is a little inspiration for those of you who aren’t ready to put the bike away.
Evolv Shaman (2016)
Evolv recently updated Chris Sharma’s signature sport-climbing shoe, the Shaman. So how different is the new version, and is it still the high-performance shoe that its predecessor was?
Mons Royale Redwood 3/4 Raglan T
If you like merino wool but always thought it was too warm for really hot bike rides, the Mons Royale Redwood ¾ Raglan T may change your mind.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
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.
Paul Basagoitia on His Spinal Cord Injury, Road to Recovery, & New Film (Ep.12)
Paul Basagoitia was the first back-to-back winner of Crankworx Slopestyle, participated in Red Bull Rampage numerous times, and was one of the top riders in the game. But one tiny mishap led to a crash that left him paralyzed, and Paul’s life was changed in an instant. So we talk to Paul about his ascension in the sport, the events surrounding his accident, his road to recovery, how he views Rampage today, and his new Red Bull / HBO film, Any One of Us that chronicles it all — and provides an unfiltered look at life after a spinal cord injury.
Casual Pants Roundup — 2019
If you’re looking for some “casual” everyday pants that you can also use for climbing, hiking, biking, etc., you now have lots of great options. We’ve rounded up several of our favorites for both women & men — check them out here.
19/20 Moment Wildcat 108
Check out our initial impressions of the Moment Wildcat 108, including comparisons to the standard Wildcat, Moment Deathwish, and ON3P Woodsman 108.
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.)
Triple Crown of 200s Winner, Mike McKnight (Ep.23)
Simply put, Mike McKnight is amazing. He won the Bigfoot 200 in August, the Tahoe 200 in September, and he just won the Moab 240. And in covering those ~640 miles of racing, he smashed his own cumulative-time record for the 3 races by … 43 hours. That’s not what you’d expect from a chubby kid who grew up on a dairy farm and didn’t participate in sports til he tried 1 season of highschool football, nor from a person who broke his back in a ski accident 8 years ago and had 2 rods and 9 screws placed in his spine, along with part of his hip bone. So we talk to Mike about all of this and more.
What We’re Watching — October, 2019
A bunch of really good and entirely free ski films dropped over the past week. Check out this post for films from the likes of Tanner Hall, Sammy Carlson, Blank Collective, Phil Casabon, and many more.
Saving Weight in Your Backcountry Ski Setup
Next up in our ‘Saving Weight in Your Backcountry Ski Setup’ series, reviewer Paul Forward discusses where he chooses to cut weight in his backcountry gear, and where he opts to keep a bit of weight for better downhill performance.
How You Can Help Brands Go Climate Neutral (Ep.11)
These days, a lot of brands — and especially a lot of outdoor brands — like to talk about sustainability. But what concrete steps are companies actually taking to measure, reduce, and offset their carbon emissions? We talk to Climate Neutral CEO, Austin Whitman, about how Climate Neutral is enlisting brands to reduce and pay for their emissions and helping consumers to identify which brands are taking real action; the problem of “greenwashing”; the cost of reducing carbon emissions; the legitimacy of carbon offsets; and what individuals & companies can do right now.