BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
‘A Sunday in Hell’ w/ Joe Parkin & Simon Stewart (Ep.26)
We revisit the 1977 film ‘A Sunday in Hell,’ often regarded as one of the greatest bike racing films of all time. To do it justice, Simon Stewart is joined by former pro cyclist Joe Parkin, who raced Paris-Roubaix himself in 1988, and knows what it takes to suffer through “The Hell of the North.”
Trek Slash+
The Trek Slash+ combines big travel with a little motor — a pairing that sets it apart from the rest of the market. We have logged plenty of miles on the Slash+ this summer and have a lot to say about its impressive performance — and some tradeoffs that come with it.
When & WHY Should You Replace Your Helmet? | Blister Summit Video
How do you know when or why you should replace your ski, snowboard, or bike helmet? It’s not a simple or easy question to answer, but at Blister Summit 2024, we got some insight from Steven Kennedy, Frederik Kjellberg, Drew Petersen, and Sascha Anastas.
Reviewing the News w/ Cody Townsend, September 2024 (Ep.327)
Cody and Jonathan discuss the release of Cody’s first FIFTY+ film; some big controversies in the world of FKT’s & running; a great edition of Blevin’s Corner; mountain guides and the often confusing practice of tipping; what they’re reading & watching; … and more.
DT Swiss XMC 1501 Wheels & Ratchet DEG Hubs
DT’s new Ratchet DEG hubs are the fastest-engaging ones they’ve offered to date, but have they kept the traits that made the original 240s popular in the first place? We’ve been testing the Ratchet DEG hubs on DT’s XMC 1501 wheels and have thoughts.
2024 Ski Movie Tours & Premieres | A Guide
We know we’re not the only ones itching to get back on snow. Thankfully, film tours and movie premiers are not only a great way to relive past seasons, they’re also excellent community events — you get to join friends new and old to share in the pre-season stoke. Here’s a guide to where and when you can attend one near you.
ON3P Skis 24/25 Lineup with Scott Andrus (Ep.316)
We talk to ON3P Skis founder, Scott Andrus, about their 24/25 lineup, and we dive into the weeds about numerous aspects of ski design and ski manufacturing that you really won’t hear about anywhere else.
ZAG’s ‘Next-Gen Carver’ + 2025 Ski Lineup | Blister Summit Video
Across its 20-year history in the freeride, touring, and all-mountain worlds, Chamonix-based ZAG has continued to refine their lineup, whether through design or efforts to reduce their environmental footprint. In this video, we get the details on that history — plus the brand’s 2025 ski lineup — from ZAG’s Théo Voinchet and ZAG athlete, Teton Brown.
Win Jackets From Strafe
The two winners of our Gear Giveaway this week will each get the men’s or women’s Highlands Shirt Jacket from Strafe!
2024 Pivot Phoenix
The new Pivot Phoenix has dropped the lugged construction from the prototype versions but kept their wild six-bar, dual-idler, high-pivot suspension layout, and the result is awfully interesting. Check out the latest iteration of Pivot’s DH bike.
Reviewing the News w/ Mike Ferrentino, September 2024 (Ep.242)
On the latest episode of Reviewing the News, Mike and Simon dig into what may have happened to close the doors of one of the biggest retail bike stores in the country; why selling Rad Power bikes in Best Buy stores is a terrible idea; the exciting inaugural Lake Placid XC World Cup; plus a bunch more and the usual banter you don’t want to miss.
2025 Orbea Wild
Orbea has refreshed their Wild eMTB. It’s a story of incremental rather than radical change, but also includes the new Bosch Performance Line CX motor — plus there’s now a shorter travel ST model. Read on for our First Look.
Making Skis in a Ski Town | 2025 Romp Ski Lineup | Blister Summit Video
Few ski companies make their skis as close to the slopes as Romp, and at Blister Summit 2024, we sat down with Romp’s Eligh Purvis to discuss the ins and outs of operating a ski factory in Crested Butte, CO; Romp’s fully custom vs. “Romp Ready” ski options; some new models they rolled out for the 24/25 season, and more.
Flash Review — Schwalbe Albert Tires
Schwalbe says that their new radial casing tires offer a very different feel from more conventional tire constructions, and we’ve started to put those claims to the test. Here are our early impressions.
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Schwalbe Radial Tire Casings + New Albert & Shredda Tires
Schwalbe has added a couple of new tires to their mountain bike lineup, and they debuted a new radial casing construction that they’re making some very big — and very intriguing — claims about. Check out what they’ve come up with.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
No, Thank YOU
In our latest Open Mic piece, Brendan Leonard tells us how to deal with a world full of F@!% Yous.
Flash Review: 24/25 Peak 104 by Dav
We recently spent a day touring on the lighter version of Peak’s 104 mm-wide ski, the Peak 104 by Dav. Check out our initial impressions.
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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James Bond, ‘The World Is Not Enough’ w/ Jonathan Ellsworth & Simon Stewart (Ep.29)
James Bond films have probably put skiing and snowboarding in front of more people than any other film series. So we discuss this, then, in honor of the 25th anniversary of ‘The World is Not Enough,’ we break down that film and its absolutely-all-time ski scene.
BCA Float E2-35 Avalanche Airbag Backpack
Avalanche airbag backpacks have come a long way, and one of our reviewers has tested most of them over the past decade. BCA’s newest option, the Float E2-35, is his current favorite — check out our Full Review to see why.
Maxxis High Roller
Maxxis says that the newest iteration of their High Roller is a gravity tire for conditions that are somewhat soft and loose, but not to the point of demanding a full-on mud spike. That’s a big departure from earlier iterations of the High Roller, but it would fill a real gap in Maxxis’ lineup (and the MTB tire market as a whole). So, is their description on point? We’ve ridden the High Roller in a wide range of conditions and are ready to weigh in.
Flash Review: 24/25 Volkl M7 Mantra
Last season we started spending time on Volkl’s newest Mantra (in two different lengths) to see just how much has changed between the M6 and M7. Here are some of our initial impressions.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Auden Schendler on Joy, Living Well, & His New Book, Terrible Beauty: Reckoning with Climate Complicity and Rediscovering our Soul (Ep.334)
Auden and Jonathan talk about human purpose, the importance of joy and living well; and Auden spells out the need for systemic change — and not just token actions — to actually address climate change.
Flash Review — Rocky Mountain Instinct Powerplay SL
Rocky Mountain’s first entry into the light-assist eMTB category features their new in-house designed and built Dyname S4 Lite motor and a new frame with mixed wheel size compatibility. The Instinct Powerplay SL seemingly has a lot going for it, and we’ve spent enough time on it now to share some initial impressions.
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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CARV Co-Founder Alex Jackson & Pro Skier Marcus Caston on Using New Tech to Ski Better & Have More Fun On Snow (Ep.323)
We’re geeking out with pro skier, Marcus Caston, and CARV co-founder, Alex Jackson, about CARV’s slick & sophisticated system that aims to help skiers improve their skiing and have more fun on snow. Fans of new tech, high edge angles, and / or skiing better, listen up.
Win Any Pret Helmet & Goggle
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get their pick of any Pret Helmet, as well as their choice of any pair of Pret Goggles!
Blister Holiday Gift Guide 2024 — Kids & Parents Edition
Rounding out our Holiday Gift Guide series this year is a collection of gift ideas that we think would be great for outdoor-oriented kids and parents — or those who are looking for new ways to spend more time outside with their little ones.
Fox DHX Live Valve Neo Electronic Shock
Fox took their time developing the new wireless version of their electronically-controlled Live Valve bike suspension. We’ve been testing the DHX Live Valve Neo since early summer, and it’s clear that Fox has come up with something pretty interesting.