BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles

2nd Look: Line Pandora 110
We take a 2nd Look at the Pandora 110, weighing in on its performance as an everyday, all-mountain ski.

Warner Nickerson — American Skier, Perpetual Underdog, King of Fun (Ep.31)
Warner and I discuss his background; the business of ski racing and ski academies; the thorny issue of sponsorships and athletes skiing on equipment that isn’t a good match for them; and Kitzbuhel.

Deep Dive: Armada ARV 106
We compare the Armada ARV 106 to the ON3P Kartel 108, K2 Marksman, and Line Sir Francis Bacon.
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Deep Dive: Liberty Origin 106
With comparisons to the Liberty Origin 96 and 116, Rossi Soul 7 HD, Salomon QST 106, Faction Candide 3.0, Black Crows Atris, DPS Foundation 106, J Skis The Metal, and more.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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2016-2017 Tecnica Zero G Guide Pro
After more time in the Tecnica Zero G Pro Guide we think it may be the most versatile, high-performance ski touring boot we’ve ever used. And we offer tons of boot comparisons.

2018-2019 Liberty Origin 106
We were very impressed with the Origin 96, so how does the Origin 106 compare, and where is the ski most at home?

Joey Teahan
Age: 24 | Vitals: 6’3”, 190 lbs | Years skiing: 12 | Current Residence: Nederland, CO Background Growing up in Albuquerque, New Mexico, I never had the easiest access to the ski hill. While my parents took my siblings and me on an annual ski

17/18 Faction Candide 3.0
Updated: 1.15.17
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Sam Shaheen
Age: 30 | Vitals: 5’ 10”, 140 lbs. | Years skiing: 26 | Current Residence: Denver, CO Background: I grew up in the Denver area, and have been playing in the mountains since about the time I could walk. I got bitten by the skiing

Patagonia’s Yvon Chouinard Challenges Utah’s Politicians
Patagonia founder, Yvon Chouinard, challenges Utah’s leadership to change their policies, or else…

Winter OR 2017 Sneak Peeks
Here are some of the most intriguing products we saw (from Salomon, DPS, Black Diamond, and Mystery Ranch) on Day 1 at Winter Outdoor Retailers.

Blister Pro — Cy Whitling Edition
We’re releasing a limited-edition Moment Blister Pro with a graphic from our own Cy Whitling. Check it out.

Arc’teryx Fissile Jacket
Hate to be cold? The Fissile is Arc’terx’s warmest ski & snowboard jacket, and it delivers supreme warmth and weather protection in an extremely comfortable package.

Kara Williard
Age: 27 | Vitals: 5’9”, ~145 lbs | Years skiing: 23 | Current Residence: Gunnison, Colorado Background I am originally from Santa Fe, New Mexico and I owe it to my dad for getting me up to Santa Fe Ski Basin and Taos Ski Valley

Sascha Anastas
Age: 33 | Vitals: 5’1,” 103 Ibs. | Years Skiing: 31 | Current Residence: Buena Vista, Colorado Background I grew up in the heart of the Rockies in the Roaring Fork Valley. Raised by ski bum parents, my first days skiing were experienced in a
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:

Racing, Rossignol, & Rye Whiskey (Ep.88)
We went to Shoreham, Vermont, to talk with Jason Newell about his transition from ski racing, to working with the Rossignol Group for 25 years, to his latest adventure in a whole new category: whiskey. (Plus a story or two involving duct tape, Candide Thovex, and burning couches.)

Zipline XT Goggle
The Zipline XT features an absurdly quick and easy magnetic lens-swap system typically only seen on goggles twice as expensive. So, what’s the catch? Is there one? Check out our full review

19/20 Salomon S/Pro 130
Here are our initial on-snow impressions of Salomon’s new lightweight alpine boot.
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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2021-2022 Salomon S/Pro 130
The Salomon X Pro line is reportedly the best-selling line of ski boots in the world. For 19/20, they’re replacing the X Pro with the brand-new S/Pro series. Check out our measured specs, fit notes, and initial impressions of the S/Pro 130.

Patagonia — “Misunderstood | A Brief History of Hemp in the US”
Hemp has a long, complicated, and evolving history — particularly in the U.S. But with the recent passing of the Farm Bill, hemp now has the potential to make a resurgence, and Patagonia’s new film explains why that’s a very big deal. Check it out here.

2021-2022 K2 Mindbender 106c Alliance
After spending time on it in conditions ranging from fast and firm to steep and deep, the brand-new K2 Mindbender 106c Alliance has proven to be one of the most versatile wider women’s skis we’ve used.

2019-2020 Armada ARV 96 Ti
Take two layers of metal, a nearly symmetrical shape, and a twin tip, and you’ve got the Armada ARV 96 Ti. The result? Check out our full review.

Deep Dive: Armada ARV 96 Ti
We compare the ARV 96 Ti to the Rossignol Black Ops 98, Dynastar Menace 98, Atomic Bent Chetler 100, Fischer Ranger 94 FR, Liberty Helix 98, Liberty Origin 96, J Skis Masterblaster, Moment Commander 98, Renoun Endurance 98, Nordica Enforcer 100, 4FRNT MSP 99, ON3P Wrenegade 96, and Blizzard Rustler 9.
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.
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Win a Down Hoodie from Holden
Enter to win a cozy hoodie packed with high-quality, trackable down insulation.

Patagonia’s Technical Fabric Development & Design (Ep.47)
This week we talk to Patagonia’s senior material developer, Pasha Whitmire, about how Patagonia designs, develops, and tests their technical fabrics; myths surrounding waterproof / breathable materials; why the future of fabric development lies in sustainability; the advantages and disadvantages of working with big names like Gore-Tex; and a whole lot more outerwear geekery.

Claudio Caluori (Ep.1)
We talk to Bikes & Big Ideas co-host, Claudio Caluori, about the origin story of this podcast; his background in XC & DH racing, how Velosolutions got started, experiments with food & diet; the #pumpforpeace project, and more.

Smith I/O Mag XL Goggle
Smith’s original I/O goggle helped start the trend of lenses with quick and easy lens-swap systems. The I/O line has evolved a lot since then, with the brand-new I/O Mag XL being one of the newest additions. Check out our full review of the I/O Mag XL.