BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
2014-2015 Liberty Helix
The ~105mm underfoot all-mountain category is a crowded one, and the Liberty Helix stands out with great edge hold and more energy & snap than most skis in its class.
2015-2016 Kingswood Archetype
It takes a lot to stand out in the category of directional, ~105mm-underfoot skis. See how the Kingswood Archetype fared.
2020-2021 Burton Flight Attendant
The new Burton Flight Attendant is an impressive, adaptable, freeride board for everyday, all-mountain riding.
Women’s Fleeces
Fleece is a staple in any wardrobe. Here are some of our favorite women’s fleeces.
Kuhl Savina Sweater
Kuhl Savina Sweater Color: Natural Size: Medium MSRP: $130 The Kuhl Savina Sweater Jacket is a versatile fleece jacket with a stylish cut. The Savina is made of Kuhl’s fleece blend called Alfpaca, which is 78% Acrylic and 22% Polyester. While it functions like most
Fjallraven Abisko Fleece Hoodie
Fjallraven Abisko Fleece Hoodie Color: Red Size: Small Reviewer: 5’6″, 125 lbs. I first learned about Fjallraven this past fall, and I’ve since been quite intrigued. Fjallraven is a Swedish company that was one of the first to build and sell framed packs for backpacking
Mons Royale Mid Hit Hoodie
Mons Royale Mid Hit Hoodie Color: Plum (Last year’s color) Size: Small MSRP: $220 USD (Now on sale for $184) Reviewer: 5’6″, 125 lbs. Last spring, I wrote a full review of the Mons Royale Mid Hit Hoodie, and I’ve loved it so much, I
Burton Mountain Negani Fleece
Burton Mountain Negani Fleece Color: Sea Pine Heather Size: Small MSRP: $90 (Now on sale for $68) Reviewer: 5’6″, 125 lbs. Although I am a skier, I’ve always loved Burton’s apparel, and have found their Mountain Negani Fleece to be no exception. The Mountain Negani
ZET Kayaks Director
The ZET Kayaks Director is a high-performance creeking machine for big boaters, but needs to be paddled aggressively to perform at its best.
Black Diamond Mondo Crash Pad
Black Diamond’s Mondo crash pad has been a staple under highball boulder problems for a long time, and the new, redesigned version is the most confidence-inspiring pad we’ve tested.
Outdoor Research Axiom Jacket
If you’re after a multi-season shell that’s light, packable, waterproof, and highly breathable, the Outdoor Research Axiom deserves some real consideration.
Base Repair 101
You may have encountered a rock or two by this point in the season, and base repairs are part of the game. Here’s our step-by-step guide to simple base repairs. (We also threw in a short primer on polymer chemistry, you know, just for good measure.)
2015-2016 Praxis GPO
The Praxis GPO is not a straightforward ski, but it’s a ski that offers a blend of liveliness and power that we haven’t seen before.
Arc’teryx Stikine Jacket
The Arc’teryx Stikine is an expedition-oriented jacket that offers the strengths of a stand-alone insulator and a hard shell in one.
WRSI Trident Helmet
With excellent sun protection and a lightweight carbon shell, the WRSI Trident is an excellent choice for guides, instructors, and those paddlers who spend their time in deeper rivers. But see our notes re: fit and coverage.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
2020-2021 Liberty Origin 112
We’ve spent several days on the brand-new Liberty Origin 112 this season — including one of our deepest days — and have come away impressed. Check out our full review.
Patagonia Snowdrifter pant
The Patagonia Snowdrifter pant blends very good breathability with a useful feature set, making it a great option for days of high-output touring.
Alternative Outdoor Snacks
Granola bars are great, but sometimes you either run out or you feel like switching it up. So we asked our reviewers to give us some of their alternative outdoor snack suggestions, and we’d love to get some of your suggestions, too.
Tenaya Mundaka
The Tenaya Mundaka offers an excellent blend of performance and comfort, and is a great option for intermediate to advanced climbers looking for precision — and a wider fit — than most other high-performance shoes.
18/19 K2 Wayback 106
Check out our initial on-snow impressions of the Wayback 106, with comparisons to the Salomon MTN Explore 95, Scott Superguide 105, and Dynastar Mythic 97.
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Deep Dive: Blizzard Bonafide
We compare the Bonafide to the Volkl Mantra M5, Nordica Enforcer 100, Nordica Enforcer 93, Blizzard Rustler 9, HEAD Kore 99, Atomic Vantage 97 Ti, Rossignol Experience 94 Ti, and more…
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.)
Kuat Pivot
The Kuat Pivot swing-away hitch extender is a bit like a dropper post — you don’t know you need one until you actually have one. And once you do, it’s hard to go back. Check out our review.
New Skis from Prior, Atomic, K2, and More (Ep.18)
Jonathan Ellsworth and Sam Shaheen discuss a number of skis they’ve been reviewing, including two from Prior Skis, the new Atomic Bent Chetler 100, the K2 Wayback 106, the Scott Super Guide 105, and the Salomon MTN Explore 95.
2021-2022 Salomon MTN Explore W
The Salomon MTN Explore W is a women-specific AT boot that tours extremely well and offers good support for technical descents (especially if you don’t need the stiffest boot out there).
Biking 101: Bike Fit & Geometry—Part 2
Assessing a bike’s geometry is a huge part of determining proper bike fit and how a bike will ride. So in part 2 of our Bike Fit Guide, we walk through real-world examples to see what all those geometry measurements actually mean.
Win an Ultralight Cooking Kit from MSR
Enter to win an ultralight stove, cook set, and water filter from MSR.
2019-2020 Fischer Ranger 102 FR
Our managing editor won’t stop raving about the Ranger 102 FR. It’s actually getting kind of annoying. But you should probably check out what all the fuss is about (and the rest of us are going to need to get on this thing). Here’s his review.