BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
2016 Trek Session 9.9
The Trek Session 9.9 is a very light, very fast downhill bike, but see our notes regarding sizing.
Dance Your Skis Off!
This past ski season, we made a video. And the time has finally come to share this powerful piece of American cinema with the world…
Pearl Izumi X-Alp Launch II Bike Shoe
The Pearl Izumi X-Alp Launch II is a stiff, breathable bike shoe that excels at all-mountain and trail riding.
7mesh Revelation Jacket
We’re all used to technical ski apparel, but 7mesh is a company out of Squamish, BC, that’s making premium-performance, technical bike apparel.
IXS Dagger Knee Guards
The IXS Dagger Knee Guard might just be the best kneepad for DH riding we’ve found.
First Look 2016 Diamondback Release 2
We take a First Look at Diamondback’s new Release 2, and break down the build kit, as well as diving into why it might look a little familiar.
Flash Review: 17/18 Line Pescado
It’s hot outside, so we’re cooling off by thinking about our time on this fun, fat fish.
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First Look: Ibis Ripley LS
Ibis is now offering the Ripley ‘LS’ — but how much Longer & Slacker is it? We’ve spent 2 weeks on the bike so far, and here are our initial impressions.
2016-2017 Kitten Factory Razor 95
The Kitten Factory Razor 95 is a surprisingly versatile park ski that manages to combine impressive stability with a playful ride.
Blister’s Bike Editor, Noah Bodman (Ep.20)
Noah and I discuss new bike tech; Brexit; Butte, MT; Tom Brady, the greatest bike race on earth; the conflict between bikers and other wilderness users, and more…
2016 Rocky Mountain Maiden Park
It took Rocky Mountain four years to develop their new Maiden DH bike, so was it worth the wait?
Thule T2 Pro Bike Rack
The new Thule T2 Pro stands as a nice upgrade over the original T2 (now “T2 Classic”). We compare the two, and detail what’s changed and what stays the same.
2016-2017 Black Crows Corvus Freebird
Corvus or Corvus Freebird? Black Crows has rolled out two versions of this directional, big mountain ski. Here are some initial specs, thoughts, and questions about the two skis.
Black Diamond Mission 75 Pack
The Black Diamond Mission 75 is a lightweight, versatile, big load hauler that climbs very well.
Dakine Low Rider 5L
The Dakine Low Rider 5L provides some compelling reasons to ditch your traditional hydration pack for a hip belt.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
The North Face Ceptor Jacket
The North Face Ceptor Jacket brings a lot of what you’d expect from a technical 3L shell (great weather resistance, plenty of features, and decent breathability) but does so without an exuberant price tag. Check out our full review.
2021-2022 Roxa R3 130 T.I.
The Roxa R3 130 was a pretty good AT boot, but we think the updated 19/20 version is a great one. If you’re looking for a boot that you can use inbounds and in the backcountry, the new R3 130 is worth a look.
Zoetica: Solutions to the Global Recycling & Trash Crisis (Ep.82)
Trash is a growing global crisis, and currently, the majority of “recycled” products are still ending up in landfills or being burned. So we discuss the crisis, the myths, and the solutions to these problems with the founders of Zoetica, who are working to help us rethink these issues and take concrete actions to address them.
19/20 Rossignol Black Ops 98
Check out our initial on-snow impressions of Rossignol’s all-mountain-freestyle ski.
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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Mammut Alvier Armor Hardshell Jacket
Jackets with reinforced fabrics used to bulky and often uncomfortable. But a few companies have come up with new ways to seamlessly reinforce their garments, and the Mammut Alvier Armor Jacket takes this technology and packages it into a versatile ski shell. Check out our full review.
Prior Snowboards & Skis, with Dominic Morin (Ep.39)
We talk to Prior’s head snowboard and ski shaper, Dominic Morin, about the origins of Prior, their philosophy of ski and snowboard shaping, their craziest designs, their new shapes for 19/20, and the legacy of Chris Prior.
Warm Winter Coat Roundup
For those bitterly cold days, it’s nice to have just one ultra-warm coat that you can toss on no matter what the weather’s doing. So we’ve rounded up a bunch of women’s and men’s coats for frigid days in town and in the backcountry.
2021-2022 K2 Mindbender 108Ti
We’ve now spent a lot of time on K2’s new Mindbender 108Ti, and you can now check out our full review.
Deep Dive: K2 Mindbender 108Ti
We compare the Mindbender 108Ti to the Blizzard Cochise, ON3P Wrenegade 108, Prior Husume, Folsom Hammer, 4FRNT MSP 107, Black Crows Corvus, Faction Dictator 3.0, Head Kore 105, Moment Commander 108, Nordica Enforcer 110, and J Skis Metal.
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.)
Brendan Leonard & Jonathan Ellsworth on Their Running Backgrounds & What Makes Someone a “Runner”? (Ep.1)
In our inaugural episode of Blister’s new running podcast, Off The Couch, Brendan Leonard (semi-rad.com) and Jonathan Ellsworth talk about their running backgrounds; their love / hate relationships with running; and Strava as a modern-day spiritual exercise??
Win an Avalanche Beacon from Black Diamond
Enter to win Black Diamond’s new avalanche beacon!
2020-2021 RMU North Shore 108
RMU’s North Shore 108 seems to combine elements from both the more directional, harder-charging end of the spectrum, as well as the more forgiving and playful side. So what does that actually look like? Check out our measured specs, rocker pics, initial impressions, and Flash Review.