BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
CST Ouster MTB Tire
The CST Ouster costs less than half of a lot of other tires on the market, and nothing else really comes close to its performance-to-price ratio.
Thule Sonic Alpine Cargo Box
Thule’s Sonic Alpine Cargo Box looks great, doesn’t kill your gas mileage, and will keep your gear clean and dry.
Trip Report & Guide: Indian Creek, Utah
Indian Creek, Utah, has a wildness about it that’s found in few other places. It’s also home to the greatest concentration of splitter crack routes in the world. Here’s our guide and photo gallery.
Tires: General Truths, Misconceptions, & Subjective Opinions
Tire choices are a hotly contested issue, and there are quite a few generally held “truths” out there. So this week, three of our reviewers weigh in on some of the commonly held beliefs regarding rubber.
Random Review: The Earth
In celebration of Earth Day, we offer our take on Home.
Race Face Ambush Knee Pads & Indy Shorts
We’ve been putting time in on some of Race Face’s hard and soft goods. Here’s a look at their Ambush Knee Pads & Indy Shorts.
FSA Afterburner Disc Brakes
UPDATE: the price for the FSA Afterburners is now $90 lower, and we’ve added to our review a note on the brakes’ durability. If you’re looking for fantastic lever feel and great stopping power for an XC or trail bike, read this.
Black Diamond Ethos Harness
The Black Diamond Ethos is a comfortable, durable harness that excels at trad and sport climbing.
2018-2019 Fischer My Ranger 98
Fischer has created a hybrid ski for use in the resort and out. Check out where we think the Ranger W 98 is most in its element.
2015 Niner WFO 9
The Niner WFO 9 proves that the ‘long travel + big wheels’ formula doesn’t have to amount to a one trick pony.
Metolius Express Haul Pack
The Metolius Express Haul Pack is a simple, durable pack that shines where approaches are short and the environment is harsh.
Wolf Tooth GC 42t Cassette Cog
The Wolf Tooth GC 42 cassette cog boosts the gear range of a 1×10 drivetrain at a fraction of the cost of a new 1×11 setup.
How Much Bike do You Really Need?
Long-travel trail bikes are all the rage, but are they overkill? Marshal Olson shares his thoughts brought on by a midlife biking crisis.
2015-2016 Dalbello Lupo SP I.D.
The Dalbello Lupo SP I.D. could be a particularly good choice for those who take more of a freestyle approach to the mountain and do a lot of hiking in the resort or shorter backcountry tours.
Rohner Carving Women L/R Sock
The Rohner Carving sock is very comfortable and provides a good balance of warmth and thinness.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Patagonia Houdini Vest
A lot of our reviewers love the Patagonia Houdini Jacket. But when you ditch the sleeves, how much versatility do you lose? Or gain? Check out our review of the Patagonia Houdini Vest.
Runner Profile: Jaden Anderson
Vitals: 5’10”, 155 lbs Running Background, Style, and General Preference. I stepped into the running world during my Sophomore year of high school. By chance. I joined the cross country team at my small high school late in the season simply because the team needed
Pearl Izumi X-Alp Launch SPD
When it comes to bike shoes, there are plenty of burly skate-style shoes that sacrifice pedaling performance, and a lot of pedal-oriented shoes that look out of place anywhere except on the bike. In between those two categories sits the Pearl Izumi X-Alp Launch SPD, and it’s definitely worth a look for riders looking for some of the best of both worlds.
Luke Koppa
Luke Koppa at the Crested Butte Mountain Resort bike park. (photo by Andrew Arnold) Age: 25 | Vitals: 5’8,” ~155 lbs | Years Biking: 4 | Current Residence: Crested Butte, Colorado Mountain Biking Background Compared to our other reviewers, I’m pretty new to mountain biking.
Women’s Patagonia R1 TechFace Hoody
We called the men’s version of the Patagonia R1 TechFace Hoody, “just about perfect.” Now we weigh in on the women’s R1 Tech Face Hoody — how well it works across a broad range of activities, and how it compares to the original R1 Hoody.
Alpenglow Mtn Festival + Stuff We Learned during Spring Ski Testing (Ep.20)
We talk with Blister editors, Luke Koppa and Sam Shaheen, about the recent Alpenglow Mountain Festival and running with our hero, Courtney Dauwalter. Then we discuss some of the key takeaways from our spring ski testing, including Domino’s thin-crust pizza, dumb gear, and some great gear.
18/19 Folsom Skis Spar 88
The Folsom Skis Spar 88 reminds us a lot of a ski we really like — the Blizzard Brahma. Check out our initial on-snow impressions to see how they compare.
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Win an Ultralight Sleep System from Sea to Summit
This one is pretty awesome — win a sleeping bag, sleeping pad, liner, and pillow from Sea to Summit.
Deep Dive: Moment Meridian 107
We compare the Meridian 107 to the ON3P Kartel 108, Faction Candide 3.0 & Prodigy 3.0, 4FRNT Devastator, Fischer Ranger 102 FR, Nordica Enforcer 110, 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.)
2021-2022 Nordica Promachine 130
Nordica is entering the lighter weight alpine boot category for 18/19, and they claim their new Promachine line combines “race-boot performance” with “all-mountain comfort and versatility.” (Yeah, right. Right?) Check out our measured specs, fit notes, and initial impressions of the new Promachine 130.
First Look: 2019 Devinci Troy
Today Devinci announced that they’re changing up one of our favorite Trail bikes, the Troy. So how similar or different is the new bike? Check out our initial impressions.
Alpenglow Sports Summer Mountain Festival 2018
Last week we attended Alpenglow Sports’ Summer Mountain Festival, which is one of the coolest events happening in the outdoor sports world. Check out our trip report to learn more about it — and when to attend their Winter Mountain Festival next year.