BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
ENVE’s new M Series Wheels
ENVE’s new M Series is promising unprecedented pinch-flat protection, impact resistance, and ride quality.
Salomon Quest 4D 2 GTX Boot
Salomon’s flagship backpacking boot provides an excellent combination of grip, comfort, and stability.
Eric Hjorleifson on Skiing Trends & His Boot Project (Ep.52)
In part 2 of our conversation with Eric Hjorleifson, we discuss the state of the ski industry; the AT boot he’s been working on for years and why he thinks it could represent the next chapter in ski boot design, and more…
On Pinkbike’s eFailure
Pinkbike announced this week that they’ll be ramping up coverage of eMTBs. Here’s why we think that’s very problematic.
RECALL: Arc’teryx Procline Boots
Arc’teryx has announced a voluntary recall for all of their Procline Ski Boots.
Osprey Aether AG 60 Backpack
Osprey’s revamped Aether is a versatile pack that offers solutions to some of the most common backpacking issues.
Eric Hjorleifson on Ski Design & Pillow Lines (Ep.51)
Eric Hjorleifson is one of the best big-mountain skiers of all-time, and he’s also known for being one of the master tinkerers in the ski industry, and someone who absolutely obsesses over ski, boot, and bindings design. So we talked to Hoji about skiing pillows, ski design, and the evolution of his Renegade, Hoji, and Raven.
2018 Rockshox Pike RCT3
We put the new 2018 Pike RCT3 up against the 2017 fork, and weigh in on what’s different, what’s better, and what isn’t.
Patagonia’s Newest Campaign
Patagonia is spending nearly $700,000 on an ad campaign — and it’s not for one of their products.
MSR WindBurner Stove System
The MSR WindBurner might be the best canister stove currently on the market. Check out our full review and comparisons to find out why.
Deep Dive: 4FRNT Raven
We compare the 4FRNT Raven to the HEAD Kore 105, LINE Tourist 102, Volkl BMT 109, Black Diamond Helio 105, Blizzard Zero G 108, Faction Candide 3.0, Salomon QST 106, and G3 FINDr 102.
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.)
New Tech — Down “Fabric”?
Eddie Bauer’s new midlayer — and the insulation it utilizes — is a significant departure from traditional down jackets.
2020-2021 Spark R&D Surge Splitboard Binding
Spark R&D updated their Surge binding for the 17/18 season. So how burly is it, and how does it compare to other lightweight, stiff splitboard bindings like the Karakoram Prime Carbon?
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Kyle Robidoux on Running, Skiing, & Being Legally Blind (Ep.19)
Kyle Robidoux is passionate about running and skiing and beer. He has run 25 marathons and ultra marathons, including three 100-mile races, and the Boston Marathon six times. Kyle also happens to be legally blind. So Kyle and I talk about his background, his anger about his receding vision and what he did about it; how he got into running and trail running; his efforts to create more inclusive trail races; his advice about how to deal with loss of any kind; and what specific things we all can do to be more supportive of everyone dealing with disabilities. (And we talk about beer.)
Adventure Photographer, Corey Rich (Ep.103)
Adventure photographer, Corey Rich, has spent a lot of time documenting some of the most interesting and amazing athletes in the world. So we talk to Corey about his time with the likes of Fred Beckey, Chris Sharma, Tommy Caldwell, Ashima Shiraishi; why making mistakes and being vulnerable makes for great storytelling; his excellent new book; what his dream assignment would be; and much, much more.
19/20 Blister Winter Buyer’s Guide
Here it is — check out the entire 19/20 Blister Winter Buyer’s Guide, and you can still order your limited-edition print copy of the Buyer’s Guide.
Reviewing the Reviewer: Jonathan Ellsworth (Ep.67)
Luke Koppa and Sam Shaheen pose questions & rate the answers of Blister founder, Jonathan Ellsworth, about being charged by a bear; nearly burning his house down; teaching philosophy; his favorite gear in the world; and (of course) the things he’s better at than Sam Shaheen.
Win an Outerwear Kit from FW
FW is a new apparel brand and the winner of this week’s Gear Giveaway will get their flagship outerwear kit, the 3L Manifest Jacket & Pants. Many of us at Blister were really excited when we saw FW’s collection at Outdoor Retailer last year, and the Manifest kit looks like a solid choice for those who want reliable weather protection and tons of features, all in a modern, clean style. Enter now for your chance to win.
Luke Nelson on Testing Limits (Ep.18)
Brendan Leonard & Jonathan Ellsworth talk to Luke Nelson about being a professional runner, physician assistant, race director (of the Scout Mountain Ultras), climate activist, husband, father of three, and … someone who doesn’t get a lot of sleep.
Video: Verb Cabin — “Another Way”
Ian Compton has taken a very different approach to skiing. Once one of the best park / urban skiers out there, Ian decided to leave skiing and move to, as he calls it, the “middle of nowhere,” Vermont. Verb Cabin’s short film, “Another Way,” documents Ian’s rise in the sport, the reasoning behind and the outcome of his decision to leave it, and now his return to skiing, in the form of a tiny undisclosed rope-tow near his new home. We think the video is incredibly well done, and you can watch it here.
J Skis founder, Jason Levinthal (Ep.102)
J Skis founder, Jason Levinthal, is back on the show, and this time, our conversation is made up almost entirely of your questions. And in his trademark style, Jason answers each of them with extreme candor. Check out the full video and conversation here.
2020 Ibis Mojo HD5
Ibis is releasing today the 5th generation of their longer-travel 27.5″ bike, the Mojo HD5. We came away impressed with the prior-generation HD4, so how similar is the HD5 to the HD4? Is this new bike an entirely different beast? Check out our First Look.
Support Robb Gaffney
Robb Gaffney is a historic figure in the ski world, and he & his family need our help. Robb (who wrote the book Squallywood, created the Game of GNAR, and produced GNAR The Movie) was diagnosed with a rare form of bone-marrow cancer that he’s fighting hard against. But that has left him unable to work for the foreseeable future, and this has created a very significant financial burden for his family. A GoFundMe page has been started for Robb, and we would ask you to please make a donation.
Strafe Sickbird Suit
One-piece snowsuits have had an interesting history. They were once very common, then they became a bit of a joke, and now some brands are making high-end one-pieces with modern materials and features. The Strafe Sickbird Suit falls into that last category, and we’ve come away both surprised and impressed by it. Check out our review.
2020-2021 Liberty Genome
Summer in the Northern Hemisphere officially ends tomorrow, and just in case that’s got you down, we thought we’d get you dreaming of skiing deep pow on super-fat skis. So check out our full review of the 140mm-wide Liberty Genome.