BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles

2017-2018 Banshee Rune
The Banshee Rune is a 160 mm all-mountain bike best suited to going fast in big terrain, and it’s also available in several different wheelsize and spacing options. Check out our review.

18/19 ON3P Billy Goat
We got time on both the 184 and 189 cm Billy Goat at Mt Bachelor, and here are our preliminary thoughts on the latest iteration of this ski.
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Sage Cattabriga-Alosa (Ep.41)
We sat down with one of the best big-mountain skiers of all time to talk about kids, intuition, preparing for big lines, and a whole lot more.

Trip Report: Mt Bachelor
While we’re finishing up our reviews from Mt Bachelor, check out our photo gallery of where we were skiing and what we were up to

Syncros Tailor Cage HV 1.5
The Syncros Tailor Cage HV 1.5 is a clever and simple option for carrying tools on your bike.

Truck M1 Glove
The Truck M1 glove is a ski / work glove at a phenomenal price ($29.95). So how does it perform?

New Ski Reviews from Mt Bachelor (Ep.40)
Blister reviewers talk about some of the most surprising skis we reviewed at Mt Bachelor, then discuss what our 1-ski and 2-ski quiver picks would be for Mt Bachelor.
So here are our very fresh thoughts on a number of very high-profile skis.

2020-2021 HEAD Raptor 140 RS
The HEAD Raptor 140 RS is one of our favorite ski boots we’ve ever used, and shouldn’t be ruled out if you typically ski 130-flex boots.

17/18 Armada ARV 116 JJ
Here are our initial thoughts on the Armada ARV 116 JJ.
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2018-2019 Nordica Enforcer 110
We now have several days at Mt Bachelor on the new Nordica Enforcer 110, here’s our initial review.

17/18 DPS Alchemist Wailer 112
We’ve been surprised so far by the versatility of the DPS Wailer A 112.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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2021-2022 Nordica Strider Pro 130
The Nordica Strider Pro 130 joins a stacked category of alpine boots with a walk mode and tech fittings, so how does it perform?

Black Crows Corvus vs. Black Crows Atris
Black Crows Corvus vs. Black Crows Atris — what are the differences between these all-mountain skis, and which is the better option for you? Check out our review.

Scott Spark Plus 700 Tuned
We’ve been quite skeptical of plus bikes in the past, but the Scott Spark 700 Plus Tuned basically changed all of that.

17/18 Atomic Backland FR 109
After our first day on the Atomic Backland FR 109 at Mt Bachelor we’ve got some initial impressions.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:

Hoka One One Speedgoat 3
This year Hoka updated one of their most popular trail shoes, and we think the new Speedgoat 3 is a very appealing option for trail runners who appreciate a cushioned ride (and potentially even more appealing than the Speedgoat 2 it replaces).

Western States 100 Champion, Clare Gallagher (Ep.8)
Clare Gallagher just won the Western States 100, and she did so in spectacular fashion. But there is a whole lot more to this story. So we talk to Clare about the details of her epic win, why on earth she agreed to go on an expedition to Alaska with Tommy Caldwell right before her biggest race of the year, and more.

19/20 Argent Badger
Check out our initial on-snow impressions of Argent’s stiff, heavy, big-mountain charger.
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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19/20 DPS Skis Lineup with Stephan Drake (Ep.56)
We talk to DPS Skis founder, Stephan Drake, about the new DPS 19/20 product lineup, and two new skis — that incorporate a brand-new DPS construction — they’re introducing for their “Dreamtime” event. Stephan also breaks news about their “Koala” skis, gives an update on the DPS ski boot they’re working on, and shares some new developments with DPS Phantom.

Win a Travel Bag from RMU
Enter to win RMU’s versatile and travel-friendly BRFCS35.50!

Western States 100 Champion, Clare Gallagher (Ep.93)
Clare Gallagher just won the Western States 100, and she did so in spectacular fashion. But there is a whole lot more to this story. So we talk to Clare about the details of her epic win, why on earth she agreed to go on an expedition to Alaska with Tommy Caldwell right before her biggest race of the year, and more.

Moment Extra Crunchy PB&J
Lots of us are currently dreaming of skiing and / or our next skis. But one of our Blister members schemed up a new custom ski, then gave it a great name: the ‘Extra Crunchy’ PB&J. Check out the backstory & specs for this ECPB&J, and let us know about any dream builds you’ve thought up.

Making the 1st Electric Snowmobile: Taiga Motors (Ep.92)
While more and more electric cars are hitting the streets, Taiga Motors is about to bring the world’s first commercial electric snowmobiles to the backcountry and ski areas. So we talked with Taiga Motors CEO & co-founder, Sam Bruneau, about taking the electric snowmobile from a college project to an actual business; and we get into the specifics of charging a Taiga, and how these electric sleds measure up against gas-powered ones in terms of power, torque, weight, range, and performance in harsh temperatures.

Wild Rye Freel Short, Marion Chammy, & Sandia Shirt
Wild Rye is a women’s-specific apparel company that’s designing pieces that stand out not only in terms of style, but also performance. Check out our review of their Freel Shorts, Marion Chammy, and Sandia Shirt.

2020-2021 Salomon QST 99
Salomon overhauled their QST 99 for 19/20, and we think the new ski ought to be very appealing to a whole lot of skiers. Check out our full review.

Deep Dive: Salomon QST 99
We compare the new QST 99 to the K2 Mindbender 99Ti, Volkl Mantra M5, Volkl Mantra 102, Blizzard Bonafide, 4FRNT MSP 99, Fischer Ranger 102 FR, Fischer Ranger 99Ti, Nordica Enforcer 100, J Skis Masterblaster, Blizzard Rustler 9, Renoun Endurance 98, Moment Commander 98, ON3P Wrenegade 96, Rossignol Experience 94 Ti, Atomic Vantage 97 Ti, Dynastar Legend X96, and Liberty Origin 96.
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.)

How & Why We Do What We Do
If you’re curious about Blister’s history, how the review world generally works, and how and why we do things differently, check out the recent Channel Mastery podcast, where Jonathan Ellsworth was asked to discuss Blister’s background and mission.