BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Win Apparel & Gear From Finisterre
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get the women’s or men’s Nimbus Insulated Jacket, Nautilus 23L Backpack, and Fisherman Beanie from Finisterre!
Flash Review: 24/25 Icelantic Nomad 100
Icelantic overhauled their most popular line of skis this season, so where does the new Nomad 100 slot into the all-mountain market? Here are our thoughts.
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2024-2025 Icelantic Nomad 100
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the new Icelantic Nomad 100.
Ministry Cycles on Testing, Production Challenges, & the Psalm 150 V3 (Ep.258)
When we spoke two years ago, Ministry Cycles hoped to open up orders for their striking Psalm 150 machined and bonded frame shortly thereafter. Things didn’t go to plan, and Ministry founder Chis Currie is back to tell us all about it, and what’s coming next.
Salomon Announces New 2025-2026 QST Ski Collection
Salomon is overhauling their popular line of freeride skis, including two brand-new models, updates to the returning skis, and more. Here are the details.
2025-2026 Tecnica Mach1 LV 130 TD2
Here are our measured specs, photos, and a quick rundown of Tecnica’s updated low-volume boot, the Mach1 LV 130 TD2 GW.
Flash Review: 24/25 ZAG Slap 104 Lite
ZAG has added a new, lighter version of their Slap 104 for those looking to earn their turns on the skin track — here are our initial thoughts.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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2024-2025 ZAG Slap 104 Lite
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the ZAG Slap 104 Lite.
Flash Review: Bosch Performance Line CX Drive System
Bosch has a new version of the class-leading Performance Line CX motor. Find out how they’ve refined what was already one of the best drive systems on the market.
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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The Future of the Outdoors, Outdoor Recreation, & the Outdoor Industry with Paul Forward (Ep.342)
In the future, will we still have public lands? Will new economic policies crash the outdoor industry? Will a popular drug actually get more people outside? And will we all soon be ski touring on e-skis (just as more and more people are riding e-bikes)?
2024-2025 Tecnica Zero G Tour Pro
Since its introduction, the Zero G Tour Pro has been one of the most impressive touring boots we’ve tested, but Tecnica updated it this season. So, did they manage to improve upon an already excellent design? Here’s our Full Review.
Flash Review: OneUp Clip Pedals
OneUp’s new Clip Pedals sound promising on paper — offering a thin platform, relatively low weight, and supposedly less play than SPDs. We’ve got some early thoughts on how well those claims are borne out.
2024-2025 Völkl Peregrine 80 & Peregrine 82
Volkl revamped most of their frontside collection this season, including the addition of the brand-new Peregrine 80 & 82. So, where do these skis fall in the piste-oriented category, and how do they compare to one another?
Deep Dive: Völkl Peregrine 80 & Peregrine 82
We compare the Peregrine 80 and Peregrine 82 to the Nordica Steadfast 85 DC, Stockli Montero AR, Elan Wingman 86 CTi, Fischer The Curv GT 85, Rossignol Arcade 88, 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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From World-Cup Race Skis to Recreational Skis & Everything In Between w/ Rossignol’s Jake Stevens (Ep.331)
Jonathan talks with Jake Stevens (Rossignol’s Winter Sports Equipment Director for North America) about world-cup race skis vs. recreational skis: what do they have in common; how do they incorporate technological advances; and what are all the options out there?
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
House of Looptail on Remaking Vintage Mountain Bike and BMX Tires (Ep. 266)
House of Looptail’s Wakeman Massie joins us to chat about remaking vintage mountain bike and BMX tires; designing the first Surly singlespeed frame; why old mountain bikes deserve to be ridden; and a whole lot more.
Hi-Fi Audio: Capturing the Heart & Soul of Music with Heaven 11’s Itai Azerad (Ep.62)
Music — and how you listen to it — matters. In this CRAFTED conversation, Simon is joined by Heaven 11 Audio’s Itai Azerad to discuss building amplifiers that capture the heart and soul of music.
Flash Review: 24/25 Line Vision 114
Line replaced their Vision 118 with the new Vision 114 for 24/25, and we’ve been spending time on the new model this season. 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.
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2024-2025 Line Vision 114
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the LINE Vision 114.
2025-2026 Elan Ripstick 96
Elan recently overhauled their longstanding Ripstick collection, so how different are the new skis, and what makes the Ripstick 96 stand out in today’s market? Here’s our Full Review.
Deep Dive: Elan Ripstick 96
We compare the Ripstick 96 to the Ripstick 102 Black Edition, Salomon QST 94, Dynastar M-Pro 94 Ti, Renoun Endurance 98, Line Optic 96, Salomon QST 92, Line Pandora 99, Shaggy’s Ahmeek 95, K2 Mindbender 96C, RMU Apostle 96 Ti, Black Crows Camox, Blizzard Rustler 9, ZAG Slap 98, Stockli Stormrider 95, and Head Kore 94 Ti.
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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Flash Review: 25/26 Salomon QST 94
Salomon’s new QST 94 is the narrowest addition to their new QST lineup of skis, replacing the popular QST 92. Here are our initial impressions on the QST 94, including how it compares to the outgoing model.
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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Reviewing the News w/ Cody Townsend, February 2025 (Ep.350)
Cody and Jonathan are back to review the news, including the passing of ZipFit’s Sven Coomer; threats to public lands; JD Vance’s ski trip; and more. We also rate your takes, discuss the most Canadian news, and share what we’ve been reading and watching.
Arbor Carter Camber, 158 cm
Mark Carter is a badass, but what about his signature board? We’ve been riding the Arbor Carter for a full season and have found it to be a surprisingly versatile example of a modern volume-shifted shape. Here’s our Full Review.
2025-2026 Völkl M7 Mantra
Over the past 20 years, the name “Mantra” has stood as one of the most recognized in modern skis. So how does Volkl’s latest iteration of the Mantra, the M7, compare to its predecessor, and how well does it work as an all-mountain option? Here’s our Full Review.
Deep Dive: Völkl M7 Mantra
We compare the M7 Mantra to the M6 Mantra, Mantra 102, Blizzard Anomaly 94, Faction Dancer 2, Nordica Enforcer 94, Salomon Stance 96, Wagner Summit 97, Fischer Ranger 96, Peak 98 by Bode, K2 Mindbender 99Ti, 4FRNT MSP 99, Black Crows Justis, Nordica Enforcer 99, Kastle Paragon 101, Stockli Stormrider 95, ZAG Harfang 96, Head Kore 94 Ti, & Dynastar M-Pro 94 Ti.
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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25/26 Gear, Boot Trends, Making the Most of Any Season, & More w/ Powder Hound (Ep.338)
We catch up with Eric Helmbrecht of Powder Hound, our Blister Recommended Shop in Girdwood, Alaska to discuss the ups and downs of this season up in Alaska; our tips and tricks on how to make the most of any season; 25/26 gear; Dual BOA; boot trends; aftermarket liners; and more.