Page 42 | BLISTER

New Zealand Ski Season, Gear Trends, & How a Specialty Retailer Curates Their Products (Ep.304)

July 12, 2024 by Kara Williard

How has the ski / snowboard season in the southern hemisphere been this year? To find out, we caught up with Benji Knight and Darren Grimmett from Outside Sports in New Zealand, and they also fill us in on their local gear trends, how they go about curating the gear they offer, and more.

Win MTB Apparel From Flylow

July 12, 2024 by Dylan Wood

The two winners of our Gear Giveaway this week will each get a shirt, a pair of shorts, a pair of gloves, and a pair of socks from Flylow’s men’s or women’s “Trail” line of MTB apparel!

RAAW Madonna V3

July 22, 2024July 12, 2024 by David Golay

RAAW has made a name for themselves by building burly, simple bikes that are easy to live with for the long haul, and we’ve spent the last several months with their updated Madonna V3 to see how that promise is borne out — and how the big Enduro bike rides. Check out our Full Review for the whole story.

Blister reviews the Head Oblivion 116 ski.

2023-2024 Head Oblivion 116

December 31, 2024July 11, 2024 by Dylan Wood

Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the Head Oblivion 116.

Deep Dive: RAAW Madonna V3

July 12, 2024July 11, 2024 by David Golay

We compare the RAAW Madonna to the Chromag Lowdown, Kavenz VHP 16, Rocky Mountain Altitude, Orbea Rallon, Norco Sight, Nicolai Nucleon 16, Santa Cruz Nomad, Santa Cruz Megatower, Trek Slash, Ibis HD6, Yeti SB160, Pivot Firebird, Yeti SB165, and Marin Alpine Trail.

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.)

Zack Henderson and David Golay review the Trek Top Fuel for Blister

Flash Review — 2025 Trek Top Fuel

July 12, 2024July 11, 2024 by David Golay

The new Trek Top Fuel aims to compete with a crowded class of light, efficient shorter-travel Trail bikes including the Specialized Epic Evo, Rocky Mountain Element, and Santa Cruz Tallboy. Check out our early impressions of how the Top Fuel stacks up.

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.)

David Golay reviews the 2025 Geometron G1 for Blister

Geometron Bikes on the Design & Development of the New G1 (Ep.230)

July 11, 2024 by David Golay

Geometron arguably did more than any other bike brand to kick off the geometry revolution of the late 2010s, but they haven’t been content to rest on those laurels. The latest version of their G1 Enduro bike features a host of interesting — and maybe surprising — updates, so we sat down with them to hear all about it.

Zack Henderson reviews the Kona Process 153 and 134

Kona Process 153 & 134

July 11, 2024 by Zack Henderson

Now back under the ownership of its original founders, Kona is dropping new versions of its Process 153 and Process 134. Check out our First Look for more on these all-new frames, which feature mixed wheel compatibility and myriad other refinements.

The Vinyl Revival, Records, & Turntables w/ Michael Fremer (Ep.46)

September 9, 2024July 10, 2024 by Simon Stewart

Vinyl expert Michael Fremer joins Simon in a conversation about why listening to music on records is better — and everything you need to know to get into it. Consider it an education in vinyl.

SCOR 2030

July 10, 2024July 9, 2024 by David Golay

SCOR has cooked up something really special with their short-travel Trail bike, the 2030. Check out our Full Review to see how they’ve done it — and whether it'd be a good fit for you.

Deep Dive: SCOR 2030

July 9, 2024July 8, 2024 by Simon Stewart

We compare the SCOR 2030 to the Commencal T.E.M.P.O, Yeti SB135, Revel Rascal, Yeti ASR, and Santa Cruz Hightower.

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.)

Flash Review — Cannondale Scalpel

September 17, 2024July 8, 2024 by Dylan Wood

Riding season is in full swing, and we’ve been spending some time aboard the latest version of the Cannondale Scalpel. Check out our initial impressions.

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.)

When the world’s elite athletes compete later this month at the Olympic Games in Paris, who treats them? And when injuries happen, how are decisions made about whether the athlete can continue to compete? For answers, we talk to Dr. Gloria Beim, the Head Team Physician at the Olympic Games for Team USA. [Blister Podcast]

The Team Behind the Team: USA Olympic Head Team Physician, Dr. Gloria Beim (Ep.315)

July 8, 2024 by Jonathan Ellsworth

When the world’s elite athletes compete later this month at the Olympic Games in Paris, who treats them? And when injuries happen, how are decisions made about whether the athlete can continue to compete? For answers, we talk to Dr. Gloria Beim, the Head Team Physician at the Olympic Games for Team USA.

2024-2025 Liberty Radian 100

July 8, 2024 by Luke Koppa

Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the Liberty Radian 100.

2024-2025 Ferreol Explo 86

November 29, 2024July 8, 2024 by Kristin Sinnott

Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the Ferreol Explo 86.

Win a Dropper Post From OneUp Components

July 5, 2024 by Dylan Wood

The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get OneUp’s new V3 Dropper Post and V3 Dropper Post Remote!

David Golay and Zack Henderson review the Specialized Epic Evo for Blister

Specialized Epic Evo 8

July 5, 2024July 5, 2024 by David Golay

The new Specialized Epic Evo uses the same exact frame as the race-oriented Epic, but the Evo pairs it with a slightly more aggressive build to conquer rougher trails outside the tape. Read our Full Review for our take on how the Epic Evo blends its race-born DNA with more well-rounded Trail-bike intentions.

Deep Dive: Specialized Epic Evo 8

July 5, 2024 by David Golay

We compare the Specialized Epic Evo to the Trek Top Fuel, Banshee Phantom V3, Santa Cruz Tallboy, Revel Rascal V2, Transition Spur, Canyon Spectral 125, and Rocky Mountain Element.

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.)

2024-2025 FullSend Max K 106

December 31, 2024July 4, 2024 by Dylan Wood

Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the FullSend Max K 106.

Sage Cattabriga-Alosa on Pizza Making & Big-Mountain Skiing (Ep.45)

September 9, 2024July 4, 2024 by Jonathan Ellsworth

One of the greatest big-mountain skiers of all time is also passionate about making great pizza. So what’s the story here, and what do you need to know to start making great pizza yourself?

+ More