BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Privateer 161 Gen 2
Privateer made a name for themselves making burly, focused go-fast Enduro race bikes at a remarkably good price with the original 161, and while the 161 V2 continues that lineage, it’s a big departure from the original in a lot of other ways. Check out our Full Review to find out how.
Deep Dive: Privateer 161 Gen 2
We compare the Privateer 161 Gen 2 to the original 161, RAAW Madonna, Chromag Lowdown, Contra MC, Trek Slash, Nicolai G1, Rocky Mountain Altitude, Orbea Rallon, Yeti SB160, Pivot Firebird, Yeti SB165, and Ibis HD6.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Matthew Fairbrother on His Self-Supported NZ Rally Win, the North Shore Triple Triple Crown, & More (Ep.248)
Matthew Fairbrother has made a name for himself by reeling off one mind-bending feet of endurance after another on a mountain bike. We sat down with him to get the rundown on some of his recent exploits.
Blister’s Holiday Gift Guide 2024 — Under the Tree
Next up in our 2024 Gift Guide series, we’re sharing the items that our reviewers think will make for awesome additions beneath the tree this holiday season. Check it out for more gift ideas for any of the outdoor enthusiasts in your life.
2025 Transition Youth Bikes
Kids’ bikes have gotten awfully nice in recent years, and Transition is unveiling a full new lineup of sweet rides for young rippers. Check out the new Bandit, Ripcord, and Scout in our First Look.
Valhalla Pure Outfitters – Revelstoke
Valhalla Pure Outfitters – Revelstoke is a centerpiece of this heritage ski town. It is a shop dedicated to service and experience, year-round, with an emphasis on skiing. They seek to differentiate themselves with a high level of customer service and curated product selection focused on their adventure-filled backyard.
Ted Ligety on the 24/25 World Cup Ski Racing Season: Major Storylines, Massive Rumors, & More (Ep.332)
Jonathan talks with Ted Ligety about this World Cup season’s major storylines, massive rumors, biggest battles, and some behind-the-scenes secrets of the World Cup.
Blister’s Holiday Gift Guide 2024 — Stocking Stuffers
‘Tis the season for giving, and our reviewers are here to help. We are kicking off our annual Holiday Gift Guides with some top stocking stuffer ideas for the bikers, skiers, snowboarders, campers, hikers, travelers, and just about any other type of person on your list.
North Shore Billet Idler Pulley (Norco Range HP)
Idler pulleys on high-pivot bikes lead rough lives. They’ve generally got fairly low tooth counts, are heavily loaded, often with not much chain wrap, and bear the brunt of whatever cross-chaining is happening at any given moment. North Shore Billet has a range of aftermarket options to replace worn-out stock idlers, and we’ve spent a full year on their Norco Range version to see how it holds up.
Win Tickets to Blister Summit 2025
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get 2 passes to our upcoming Blister Summit 2025! The Blister Summit is a one-of-a-kind event in the snowsports world and we’re so excited to bring it back for its fifth year, from February 23–27, 2025.
Gear Quiz, Ski Recycling, & Circular Business w/ Powder7 (Ep.321)
It’s time to quiz our Blister Recommended Shop, Powder7, to see which gear has them most excited for the season and hear all their hot takes; we also dive into the backstory of their circular business model, from its garage-born roots to their expansive current setup.
Yeti ASR
It had been seven years since Yeti produced an ASR — but now their XC race bike is back. And while the new ASR is undoubtedly a competitive modern XC race bike, its appeal will extend beyond the race course for some folks. Check out our Full Review for all the details.
Deep Dive: Yeti ASR
We compare the Yeti ASR to the Cannondale Scalpel, Commencal T.E.M.P.O, Yeti SB120, Pivot Trail 429, Niner Jet 9 RDO, Revel Ranger, SCOR 2030, Specialized Epic Evo, and Trek Top Fuel.
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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XC Race Bikes for Everyday Riders? | Yeti ASR vs. Cannondale Scalpel Video
Modern XC race courses keep getting more technical, and modern XC bikes have adapted as a result. Simon and Dylan have been logging a whole lot of miles on two of those bikes, the Cannondale Scalpel and Yeti ASR, to not only see how they compare to each other, but also how practical they are for riders who are *not* racing against the clock. Here’s their Head-to-Head video review.
3-Board Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (24/25)
We’ve recently been talking a lot about quivers of skis, but now it’s time for boards. We asked several of our snowboard reviewers to assemble their ideal 3-board quivers — check out their picks.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
2024-2025 Jones Ultralight Hovercraft 2.0 Splitboard, 160 cm
The Jones Ultralight lineup of splitboards applies high-end construction techniques to some of their proven shapes, and we’ve been spending time on their Ultralight Hovercraft 2.0 Splitboard to see how this pricey construction works in a shape designed for high-speed and technical descents.
2024-2025 Head Crux 93 Pro
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the Head Crux 93 Pro touring ski.
2024-2025 DPS Carbon Wailer 100
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the new DPS Carbon Wailer 100.
2024-2025 Atomic Backland 108 W
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the new Atomic Backland 108 W.
2024-2025 Nordica Steadfast 85 DC
Nordica claims the Steadfast 85 DC is “at home in any terrain and all conditions,” but they also say similar things about their Enforcer skis, so what really makes the Steadfast 85 stand out? Here’s our Full Review.
Deep Dive: Nordica Steadfast 85 DC
We compare the Steadfast 85 DC to the Nordica Enforcer 94, Stockli Montero AR, Elan Wingman 86 CTi, Fischer The Curv GT 85, Rossignol Arcade 88, Volkl Peregrine 80, Kastle MX84, Head Supershape e-Rally, K2 Disruption 82Ti, Head Supershape e-Titan, Atomic Maverick 88 Ti, and Dynastar M-Cross 88.
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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A Very Deep Dive on Bootfitting, Pt. 8: Your Questions Answered by Master Bootfitter, Jeremy Johnston (Ep.327)
In this episode, Jeremey Johnston, Master Bootfitter and founder of Boot Mechanics, responds to several really interesting and important questions from the audience. We bet that you’ve had some of these questions yourself, so here are in-depth answers to several of bootfitting’s complexities.
2024-2025 Kästle MX84
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the new Kästle MX84.
Win a ‘Powder Day’ Sweater From Alpine Revival
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get the men’s or women’s Powder Day Zipneck Sweater from Alpine Revival!
Cane Creek Tigon
Air and coil shocks both have their merits, but what about a hybrid of the two? Cane Creek took a creative new direction with their Tigon shock. But has it worked? Check out our Full Review to find out.
BMC URS AMP LT
The BMC URS AMP LT looks like a versatile off-road-focused eGravel Bike with progressive geometry and ample cargo-carrying capability — making for a very interesting take on the electrified Gravel Bike category.
Flash Review — BMC URS AMP LT
BMC has added the TQ HPR50 motor to their off-road focused URS LT Gravel Bike, check out our early impressions of the BMC URS AMP LT.
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.)