BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
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.
2nd Look: Volkl Aura
In this 2nd Look, we focus on the Aura’s groomer and powder performance.
Trail Bikes: Short vs Long Travel
What role does suspension travel play in defining the character of a trail bike? Are other factors more important? Three of our reviewers weigh in…
2015-2016 Romp Skis 106
Romp built two custom skis for Blister from the same mold, but with very different designs. Here’s our review of the second, freestyle-oriented ski.
2015-2016 Fischer RC4 130 Vacuum
Three of us at Blister have now reviewed the Fischer RC4 130 Vacuum, and all three agree that it is the best fitting boot (and perhaps the best overall boot) that we have ever used.
2017-2018 Moment Tahoe 96
The Moment Tahoe is no joke. And when it comes to making big turns at very high speeds, we haven’t skied anything that rivals it.
2019-2020 DPS Wailer 112 Tour1
DPS has released a line of light, touring-specific skis with their new “Tour1” construction, and we’ve been putting in some time on the Wailer 112RP2 Tour1 in Alaska.
Burton Ion
It’s been a staple in Burton’s boot line for years, but the latest version of the Ion may be the best yet.
2016-2017 Blizzard Spur
Update: we’ve added a 2nd review of the Spur by Paul Forward, conducted while heli & resort skiing in Alaska.
Giro Discord Helmet
The Giro Discord is a new helmet this season with a clean, simple look and well-designed features.
Strafe Temerity Jacket and Pants
Finally, there’s another more freeride-focused outerwear kit made with Polartec NeoShell: the new Temerity jacket and pants from Strafe.
Black Diamond Stinger Crampon
The Black Diamond Stinger is a very well-rounded, affordable crampon for steep water ice & mixed technical climbing.
Arc’teryx Lithic Comp Jacket
Touring season is upon us, and Arc’teryx’s new hybrid soft shell / hard shell, the Lithic Comp, is a very impressive option.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
The North Face Summit L2 FuseForm Fleece ½ Zip Hoodie
The Summit L2 FuseForm Fleece ½ Zip Hoodie is one of The North Face’s most technical, breathable fleeces. So how does it compare to the reference piece in this category, the Patagonia R1 Hoody?
2020-2021 Salomon MTN Pure / Atomic Backland Pure
While the Salomon / Atomic Shift binding is a revolutionary piece of ski equipment, Salomon and Atomic also make a touring binding on the much lighter and simpler end of the spectrum. So is the MTN / Backland Tour as game-changing as the Shift? And how does it compare to the other options in the lightweight touring binding category?
Scarpa Furia S
The new Scarpa Furia S is one of the softest climbing shoes on the market, and is designed to offer ultimate precision and grip for overhung terrain. So does it? And how does it compare to shoes like the Scarpa Drago, Five Ten Team VXI, and La Sportiva Futura? Check out our full review.
18/19 Renoun Z-Line 90
Check out our initial on-snow impressions of the Renoun Z-Line 90, with comparisons to the Head Monster 88, Blizzard Brahma, Folsom Spar 88, and more…
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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.
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.)
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.