Reviews
The Hayes Dominion A4s have been one of our favorite brakes for a while now, but how about the lighter Dominion T4? Do they share the magic of the A4 or are they something else entirely? We’ve been logging a lot of time on the T4s and are ready to weigh in.
Flash Review: 23/24 Salomon Stance 102
Salomon updated their Stance line of metal-laminate skis for 23/24, and the new Stance 102 has been very surprising so far. Check out our initial on-snow impressions.
La Sportiva Jackal II BOA
When La Sportiva and BOA collaborate, you can generally expect good things. With the recently released Jackal II BOA, an update to a model we crowned as La Sportiva’s best long-distance specific trail option to date at the time of writing, both brands hope to continue their track record of turning out some of the industry’s best high-performance mountain shoes. Check out our initial impressions to learn more.
Abbey Bike Tools Founder Jason Quade (Ep.164)
Abbey Bike Tools was founded pretty much by accident — and the story is a great one — but has grown into one of the leading purveyors of high-end bike tools. So we sat down with founder Jason Quade to get the whole Abbey story.
Rossignol’s New Sender Free 110, Forza, & Essential Skis | Blister Summit 2023 Brand Lineup Video
We discuss the origins and details of the brand-new Sender Free 110; how it compares to Rossignol’s other Blackops and Sender skis; their new carving-oriented Forza collection; how they managed to create the highly recycled and recyclable Essential ski, and more.
2023-2024 Rossignol Sender Free 110
We now have had a handful of our reviewers on two lengths of the new Rossignol Sender Free 110, and there’s no question, it's already getting a lot of buzz going into the 23/24 season. Check out our Full Review & Deep Dive comparisons to find out why.
Deep Dive: Rossignol Sender Free 110
We compare the Sender Free 110 to the Rossignol Blackops 118, Rossignol Sender Squad, Rossignol Sender 106 Ti+, Dynastar M-Free 108, Moment Wildcat, Salomon QST Blank, Volkl Katana 108, K2 Mindbender 108Ti, Blizzard Cochise 106, Nordica Enforcer 110 Free, Black Crows Corvus, Nordica Unleashed 108, Black Crows Atris, Icelantic Nomad 105, Faction Dancer 3, Blizzard Rustler 11, Fischer Ranger 108, Line Blade Optic 114, K2 Reckoner 112, 4FRNT MSP 107, & J Skis Hotshot.
Blister Brand Guide: Adidas Terrex Trail Running Shoe Lineup, 2023
Adidas continues to expand their off-road-oriented Terrex line of running shoes, with everything from high-cushion, long-distance shoes to minimal, lightweight options. Check out our Brand Guide to get the rundown on all of their 2023 shoes.
Lazer Coyote Kineticore
The Lazer Coyote is the newer, less-expensive addition to their line of Kineticore helmets (after the Jackal that we reviewed last year) and it’s an especially impressive offering for the price — at exactly half the cost of the top-tier Jackal.
Ski / Snowboard Outerwear Mega Roundup — Women’s
In this updated mega roundup, we discuss over 30 different pieces of ski / snowboard outerwear that we've been testing over multiple seasons, from lightweight touring shells to insulated jackets and pants for cold resort days, including several new pieces for the upcoming 23/24 season.
2022-2023 4FRNT MSP 91
This season 4FRNT added a new, narrower model to their all-mountain MSP lineup — check out our full review & Deep Dive comparisons of the MSP 91 to see how it compares to the wider MSP skis, and the rest of the narrower all-mountain category.
Deep Dive: 4FRNT MSP 91
We compare the MSP 91 to the 4FRNT MSP 99, Nordica Enforcer 88, Black Crows Serpo, Volkl M6 Mantra, Blizzard Brahma 88, Folsom Cash 93, K2 Mindbender 89Ti, Folsom Spar 88, Salomon Stance 90, Blizzard Rustler 9, J Skis Fastforward, DPS Pagoda 90 RP, Head Kore 93, Atomic Maverick 95 Ti, Armada Declivity 92 Ti, Fischer Ranger 90, & Line Blade Optic 92.
Stuff We Like: March 2023
For the March edition of Stuff We Like, we have everything from midlayers and baselayers to ski goggles, travel fans, daypacks, espresso makers, and more. Check it out to see all the items our reviewers have been digging this spring.
Flash Review: 22/23 Peak 104
We've had several reviewers spending time on Peak's wider all-mountain ski, the Peak 104. Check out our initial on-snow impressions.
2023-2024 Nordica Unleashed 108 W
For the 23/24 season, Nordica is adding some new versions of their Unleashed skis, including shorter options for the Unleashed 108. So how does it compare to the narrower Unleashed 98 W and the more directional Santa Ana skis? Read our full review and Deep Dive Comparisons to find out more.
Deep Dive: Nordica Unleashed 108 W
We compare the Nordica Unleashed 108 W to the Nordica Unleashed 98 W, Blizzard Sheeva 10, Blizzard Sheeva 11, Nordica Santa Ana 104 Free, Coalition Snow Rafiki, Salomon QST Stella 106, Armada ARW 106 UL, Faction Dancer 3X, Fischer Ranger 102, K2 Mindbender 106C, & Majesty Vadera Ti.
Blister Brand Guide: The North Face Trail Running Shoe Lineup, 2023
With the addition of several new and updated models, The North Face’s 2023 trail lineup continues to build on “VECTIV,” the patented technology system driving their footwear design process. Check out our Brand Guide to learn more about VECTIV 2.0, how it’s expressed in The North Face’s shoes, and which one might make the most sense for how and where you run.
Starling Murmur Enduro
The Starling Murmur, with its steel construction and single-pivot suspension, doesn’t ride like most bikes, but those differences just might be what certain riders are looking for. Check out our full review to hear what sets the Murmur apart and how it compares to nine other bikes in its class.
SRAM Eagle AXS Long-Term Durability
SRAM’s new Eagle Transmission is a big change to their mountain bike lineup, but what does the demise of the derailleur hanger mean for long-term durability, and is electronic shifting just an unnecessary gizmo or a genuine benefit? Blister Editor Simon Stewart reflects on four-plus years with the original Eagle AXS drivetrain.
Flash Review: 23/24 Head Oblivion 116
We've been spending time on Head's new Oblivion 116, and it is proving to bring something a little different to the table than most powder skis. Check out our initial thoughts.