BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Fix It Sticks, Back Bottle, & Weatherneck
We’ve been spending time with three of Brian Davis’ unique products, and are impressed at how well they address common problems (at a very low price).
2017 Diamondback Clutch 2
The Diamondback Clutch is a women’s-specific, mid-travel trail bike that pedals pretty efficiently and likes to charge fast down technical trails.
2017-2018 ON3P Wrenegade 108
The ON3P Wrenegade 108 is said to be a maneuverable “big gun.” So just how big of a gun is it, and exactly how maneuverable and forgiving?
2nd Look: Outdoor Research Skyward Jacket
David Steele weighs in on the Outdoor Research Skyward as a dedicated touring jacket.
Michelle Parker — Skier, Climber, Biker, “Pretend Band Member” … (Ep.42)
We talk to ridiculously-well-rounded-skier Michelle Parker about joining the Arc’teryx team, her work with S.A.F.E.A.S Clinics, her upcoming trips, gear, mountain lions, and a whole lot more.
Pearl Izumi X-Project P.R.O.
The X-Project P.R.O. is Pearl Izumi’s new premium mountain bike shoe, said to be “perfect for all mountain bikers and cyclocross riders.” We weigh in on whether — and where — the P.R.O. actually excels.
Loaded Precision AmX 35 Carbon Bar and Stem
The Loaded Precision AmX 35 Carbon bar and stem are a great option for bigger riders looking for a wide — 840 mm — stiff bar.
Spot Rollik 557
The Spot Rollik 557 uses a distinctive carbon leaf spring in its linkage, but how does it ride?
2017-2018 Head Monster 108
So how similar or different is the new 17/18 HEAD Monster 108? Is it still a supremely stable big-mountain ski? We weigh in.
2020-2021 K2 Aspect Snowboard Boot
The K2 Aspect isn’t just a mountaineering boot that can be used for splitboarding, it’s a great snowboard boot that performs well in more serious and technical terrain.
Volkl Universal Vacuum Skins
Volkl’s “glue-free” skins are wonderfully easy to use, but we’ve experienced some significant issues with these pre-cut climbing skins.
3rd Look: Salomon MTN Explore
Two Blister reviewers have loved the Salomon MTN Explore boot. Now David Steele weighs in with his impressions.
Deep Dive: HEAD Kore 117
We compare the Head Kore 117 to the Rossignol Super 7 RD and HD, Salomon QST 118, Nordica Enforcer Pro, Volkl Confession, and more.
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2nd Look: HEAD Kore 117
Here’s our 2nd Look at the HEAD Kore 117, with time on the ski now in Alaska and Mt Bachelor.
3rd Look: 2017-2018 Blizzard Cochise
The Cochise has been one of the most important all-mountain skis on the market for years, and it comes back unchanged for 17/18. So it was time to take a fresh look at the ski, offer new comparisons, and see how the Cochise measures up today.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Win a Personal GPS Device from Bivy
Win a Bivystick — a personal GPS communication device that lets you stay in touch wherever you go.
Deep Dive: Salomon QST 106
We compare the 19/20 QST 106 to the previous QST 106, K2 Mindbender 108Ti, ON3P Woodsman 108, 4FRNT MSP 107, Rossignol Soul 7 HD, Line Sick Day 104, Nordica Enforcer 104 Free, Salomon QST 99, Liberty Origin 106, Elan Ripstick 106, G3 ROAMr 108, ON3P Wrenegade 108, Prior Husume, Black Crows Corvus, Moment Commander 108, J Skis Metal, Blizzard Cochise, and Faction Dictator 3.0.
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.)
What You’re Wearing, Part 1: Synthetic Fibers (Ep.57)
How much do you actually know about the clothes in your closet, and the stuff we all wear to go play in the mountains? In our new “What You’re Wearing” miniseries, we’re shining a light on the most foundational part of apparel: the fibers. And in part 1, we dive into the world synthetic fibers with Sara Ellis from Gore (the makers of GORE-TEX).
Duncan Callahan on Reaching the Top, Burning Out, & What Comes Next (Ep.9)
There’s a common narrative in the running world about people who are struggling in life, then they are saved by running. But what happens when you’ve been an endurance athlete for over twenty years, and you then find yourself in search of some answers? We talk to Duncan Callahan — 2-time winner of the Leadville 100 and a number of other ultras — about his story, things he’d do different, and what he’s still hoping to learn.
Kuat Highline Trunk Rack
There are plenty of different ways to carry bikes on your car, but not everyone wants (or needs) an expensive, semi-permanent hitch or roof rack. That’s why trunk racks like the Kuat Highline exist, and the Highline is a great choice in this category.
Lightweight Hoody Roundup — 2019
Whether you spend your summers hiking, running, biking, fishing, or even skiing, a good lightweight hoody can make for an extremely versatile layer. Check out our roundup for several of our favorite options for men, women, and even the little ones.
2021-2022 G3 ROAMr 108
The G3 ROAMr 108 is specifically designed for both inbounds skiing and backcountry touring, and with its two layers of titanal and a relatively low weight, we think it will work well for a lot of skiers interested in a “50/50” ski.
Deep Dive: G3 ROAMr 108
We compare the ROAMr 108 to the G3 SENDr 112, Blizzard Zero G 105, Line Sick Day 104, Salomon QST 106, Renoun Citadel 106, K2 Wayback 106, Elan Ripstick 106, Liberty Origin 106, Rossignol Soul 7 HD, Moment Commander 108, Faction Dictator 3.0, Scott Scrapper 115, and Blizzard Rustler 11.
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.)
Enve M730 Wheels — Long-Term Review
We’ve now spent over nine months on Enve’s M730 carbon wheels, and you can check out our full review for our thoughts on their ride quality, notable features, long-term durability, and who should be considering them.
18/19 Ski Video Roundup
The 18/19 season produced some amazing videos, so we’ve compiled a bunch of our favorites to get you excited about next season.
2020-2021 Salomon S/Force Bold
Salomon is launching a whole new line of frontside skis for 19/20, and you can check out our measured specs, rocker pics, and initial impressions of the S/Force Bold to see how its design compares to the competition.
Six-Time Leadville 100 Champ & IMBA Executive Director, Dave Wiens (Ep.4)
We talk to Dave Wiens about skiing with Doug Coombs; participating in the early days of mountain biking; winning the Leadville 100 six times in a row — while beating Floyd Landis and Lance Armstrong along the way; and we get a fresh update from Dave on the current agenda and plans of the International Mountain Bike Association.