BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles

WTB Thinline PadLoc Grip
WTB’s new PadLoc grip system features a unique anti-twist design that effectively reduces hand fatigue.

Evolv Luchador Lace
The Evolv Luchador is a good do-it-all shoe for someone looking to tackle both trad and sport climbs.

Tecnica Cochise Pro 130 vs. Lange XT 130
The Cochise Pro has been the undisputed king of burlier alpine boots with a walk mode. But the new and improved Lange XT 130 is now a serious challenger.
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2016 Rocky Mountain Thunderbolt 790 MSL BC Edition
The 2016 Rocky Mountain Thunderbolt 790 MSL BC Edition is a light, stiff trailbike with a lot of adjustability options.

Sea to Summit UltraLight Insulated Mat
The Sea to Summit UltraLight Insulated Mat delivers an impressive combination of comfort, warmth, and weight, plus a great multi-functional valve.

2nd Look: K2 Pinnacle 95
We offer another take on the K2 Pinnacle 95, with more on its groomer performance, freestyle performance, etc.

Sterling Fusion Nano IX Rope
The handling and durability of the Sterling Nano IX make it a strong contender in the class of thin, lightweight ropes.

Brooks Range Mountaineering Elephant Foot Sleeping Bag
The Brooks Range Mountaineering Elephant Foot sleeping bag is a creative option for those looking to minimize weight and save pack space.

MRP Loop TR 29″ Fork
The MRP Loop TR delivers a really nice balance of weight, stiffness, performance, and price.

2015-2016 Moment Blister Pro
The Blister Pro gets a new look for 15/16. Check it out.

First Look: Maxxis DHF & DHR II ‘Wide Trail’
Maxxis is releasing a new line of “Wide Trail” tires designed for wider rims, and we’ve been spending time on them. Here’s the backstory and our initial impressions.

2018-2019 Line Sir Francis Bacon
The new Line Sir Francis Bacon is still a great all-mountain jib ski, but it’s definitely not the same all-mountain jib ski.

Deep Dive: Volkl Kendo
We pit the new Kendo up against the Blizzard Brahma and Bonafide, the Salomon X-Drive 8.0 and 8.8, the Fischer Motive 86 Ti, the Volkl Mantra, the Dynastar Powertrack 89, and the K2 Pinnacle 95.
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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Flash Reviews from Interbike: Part II
Is the best value in bikes also a top performer? Does Maxxis have some stiff new competition? We explore this and more from Interbike 2015.
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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2nd Look: Interbike 2015
Interbike 2015 delivered an impressive combination of innovation, entertainment, stupidity, and technology.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:

Win MTB Shoes from Five Ten
The Five Ten’s flat MTB shoes have become staple products for a ton of riders, and this week you can win their updated Freerider Pro shoe.

Race Face Turbine R Dropper Post
Reliability. That’s what we really want out of a dropper post, and that’s exactly what the Race Face Turbine R has provided.

Line Traveling Circus 11.1 — “No Looking Back”
Blind backflips, 270 cm snowboards, wildly creative tricks, and lots of laughs. Yep, the LINE Traveling Circus is back.

Race Face Next R Bar and Turbine R Stem
Frames and fancy wheel sets are super sexy, but let’s not forget about those bars and stems. We’ve found the Race Face Next R bar and Turbine R stem to be reliable, well-built, and versatile options.

Rhino Skin Solutions founder, Justin Brown (Ep.17)
Justin Brown is the founder of Rhino Skin Solutions. He’s also a board member of the Smith Rock Group, and a 5.14 climber. We talk about starting Rhino Skin, why climbers need to be leaders in land management, and why belaying just might be the sport of the future.

Altra Olympus 3.0
We’ve now run about 300 miles in the Altra Olympus 3.0, and we can now say that it’s become our favorite max-cushioned shoe. Check out our update on its durability; an in-depth comparison to the Hoka Stinson ATR 4; and how well the Olympus 3.0 works as a road-to-trail shoe.

Win One of Our Favorite MTB Packs
MTB packs are tricky, but Henty seems to have nailed it with their Enduro Backpack. And this week, we’re giving one away.

Petzl Sitta Harness
The Petzl Sitta harness is one of the lightest on the market, but Petzl says it’s still fully featured, comfortable, and durable enough for technical rock and ice climbing. So what (if any) compromises did they make by going so light?

Showers Pass IMBA Shorts and Apex Merino Tech T-Shirt
While they’re best known for their waterproof road-biking jackets, Showers Pass also makes some high-quality, lightweight apparel for the hottest days on the trail. Check out our review.

What’s The Most Painful Sport?
Yesterday, a bunch of runners completed the Tahoe 200, a 205-mile race that a couple participants finished in under 50 hours. Which is insane. So that got us wondering: What’s the most painful sport to be the best at? We came up with a few contenders, and we want to hear yours.

Black Diamond Shadow
Black Diamond entered the climbing-shoe market only a year ago, and the Shadow is their most aggressive offering. So how does it compare to similar shoes like the Scarpa Instinct VS and La Sportiva Testarossa & Kataki? Check out our review.

Hoka One One Evo Mafate
The Hoka Evo Mafate is the newest and most race-oriented version of Hoka’s original trail shoe, and we think many runners could get along well with it — even non-racers. Check out our review, including comparisons to the Hoka Speedgoat 2 and Torrent.