BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Industry Nine SOLiX M TR300/290 DUO Wheels
Industry Nine’s new SOLiX M TR300/290 DUO wheels have a very long name and a very low weight — but how do they ride, and how have they held up to a summer of riding? Check out our Full Review to find out.
Reviewing the News w/ Cody Townsend, August 2024 (Ep.322)
Cody and Jonathan discuss summer skiing; the new FIS wildcard rule; some good news & dumb news re: national parks; art exhibits at ski areas; their top-3 mountain towns; & more.
‘Rad’ with Eddie Fiola, Jen Zeuner, & Simon Stewart (Ep.21)
There’s no denying that the film Rad is a cult classic, and we sat down with one of the stunt riders, BMX freestyle legend Eddie Fiola, as well as BMX Hall of Famer Jen Zeuner, to get the backstory on how Eddie got involved, how he got knocked out, the terrifying Helltrack drop-in, wearing Lori Loughlin’s pants, plus a whole lot more.
Shimano GRX Di2 2 x 12-Speed Drivetrain
Shimano’s GRX RX825 group brings Di2 technology to a 2 x 12 Gravel layout. After logging plenty of miles on the new setup, we think RX825 will have a lot of appeal to a broad set of riders. Our Full Review has all of the details.
2024-2025 Northland AM178
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the Northland AM178.
Venture Snowboards — and New Venture Skis — w/ Klem Branner (Ep.311)
Venture Snowboards just announced that they will also be making Venture skis. So Jonathan talked with Klem Branner about why skis & why skis now; what’s harder or easier about making skis vs snowboards; and what, exactly, is this new ski of theirs, the Sultan?
Win MTB Shoes From Ride Concepts
The TWO winners of our Gear Giveaway this week will each get the new Tallac Mid BOA® MTB Shoe from Ride Concepts!
Pivot Shuttle SL
The Pivot Shuttle SL was one of the first light-assist eMTBs. But even after many other brands have added their takes on this hotly contested category, the Shuttle SL remains an excellent option for many reasons.
Deep Dive: Pivot Shuttle SL
We compare the Pivot Shuttle SL to the Trek Fuel EXe, Norco Fluid VLT 130, Santa Cruz Heckler SL, Canyon Neuron:ONfly, and Cannondale Moterra SL.
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Reviewer Reports: Battle of Unconventional Air Shocks, High-Pivot Trail Bikes, & More (Ep.237)
We check in on a selection of the gear we’ve been testing of late, from the Forbidden Druid V2 to the Trek Slash+, plus a bunch more bikes, some air shocks from smaller brands — and a discussion of bike geometry that might surprise you.
2024-2025 Black Crows Anima Birdie
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the Black Crows Anima Birdie.
Stuff We Like: August 2024
This month’s edition of our Stuff We Like series includes everything from nifty bike tools to summer clothing essentials, running vests, bike components, and more. Check it out to see all the latest gear our reviewers have been enjoying this summer.
Chef Mark Connell on Skiing & High-End Cuisine, Part 1 (Ep.48)
We talk to Mark Connell, the executive chef at PARC Aspen, about his life in skiing and high-end dining; how Jonathan & Mark first met; celebrity chefs, frozen pizza, white wine, & more.
EXT Storia V4
EXT has been making a lot of very impressive suspension products for a good while now, so is the latest V4 iteration of their Storia coil shock a worthy successor to the already very good V3? Check out our Full Review for our take.
Flash Review — Manitou Mara Pro PB
We’ve started spending time on the recently updated Manitou Mara Pro PB — and our initial impressions are promising. Learn more in our Flash Review.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Flash Review — Kona Process 153
We were impressed by the new Kona Process 134 when we reviewed it recently, but how about its bigger sibling, the Process 153? We’ve started spending time on the longer-travel member of the family and have some early thoughts to share.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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2025 Mondraker Arid Carbon
Mondraker has dropped their first non-motorized Gravel bike — the Arid Carbon. With a clean aesthetic and a feature set designed to please both racers and more casual adventurers, the Arid prioritizes versatility. Let’s see what Mondraker has cooked up.
1-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (24/25)
That’s a wrap — we’ve now had all of our reviewers share which skis they’d pick if they were to ski a whole season on a single setup. Check out what everyone selected this year.
Flash Review — Canyon Spectral:ONfly
The new lightweight light-assist Canyon Spectral:ONFly looks like a smart, well-timed addition to their Trail bike eMTB lineup. We’ve started spending time on the Canyon Spectral:ONFly and are ready to weigh in with some initial thoughts on Canyon’s take on this hot category.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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10 Quick Things: ‘Testing Skis w/ an Olympic Gold Medalist’ Edition (Ep.333)
Jonathan talks about skiing with an Olympic gold medalist on his first day back on snow; Mikaela Shiffrin vs. Santa Claus; the outdoor sports equivalent of Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul; and more. Give it a listen, then let us know your thoughts and ideas.
Bluebird Mountain Sports
Bluebird Mountain Sports is the place to go for ski gear and tuning, bootfitting, and more in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Blister’s Holiday Gift Guide 2024 — In the Garage
In Part Three of our annual Gift Guide series, our reviewers offer some ideas for those looking to splurge a bit on the skier, snowboarder, mountain biker, or other outdoor fan in their lives. Check out their recommendations for bigger gift ideas that you might need to hide in the garage.
Win a Sweet Prize Package From Gregory
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get an Alpaca Gear Box 2 Pack, Alpaca Gear Basket 70, and Alpaca Gear Tote 30 from Gregory Mountain Products!
Good Idea or Bad Idea? Dreams, Doorknobs, & Binding Innovations w/ Austin Smith (Ep.322)
Recently, Austin Smith posted a video of a prototype of a snowboard binding that rotates. So Jonathan talks with Austin about the idea, his prototyping process, the testing process, and his predictions for whether we’ll see a development like this come to market.
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
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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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.