BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
2024-2025 Salomon QST Lux 92
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the Salomon QST Lux 92.
Atomic’s Jossi Wells, Tonje Kvivik, & Noah Wallace on the Realities of Being a Pro Athlete & the Creation of a New Industry Standard (Ep.321)
When outdoor athletes get injured, what happens? Today we talk about that with Atomic athletes Jossi Wells, Tonje Kvivik, and Noah Wallace, and we share news from Atomic that sets a new standard for what it means to take care of outdoor athletes.
Alpenglow Sports
Not only is Alpenglow Sports an excellent shop, it is also at the epicenter of Lake Tahoe outdoor culture.
The Pro’s Gear: Nikolai Schirmer (Ep.309)
Niko and Jonathan have the great debate about pin bindings; learn about his approach to selecting gear; discuss the specific gear he’s currently using the most; when & why he prefers lightweight ski gear; and more.
Win a Pedal Bundle from Hustle Bike Labs
The two winners of our Gear Giveaway this week will each get the Full Send Pedal Bundle from Hustle Bike Labs!
COROS Dura Cycling Computer
COROS recently broke into the cycling computer market with their new Dura, promising exceptional battery life at a compelling price point. So how does it perform after several months in the field? Our Full Review has the answers.
Flash Review — Maxxis High Roller
The new Maxxis High Roller doesn’t look anything like the earlier tires to bear that name, but how does it perform? Check out our early impressions.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Zerode on Gearbox Bikes, World Cup DH Racing, & Building Stuff in a Shed (Ep.235)
A lot of mountain bike companies started with one or two people building stuff in a shed, but not many of those folks *began* by building their own gearbox, and even fewer have stayed committed to gearbox bikes. But Zerode isn’t most bike companies, and we sat down with them to hear all about their history, how they got where they are today, their thoughts on gearbox bikes, and a whole lot more.
Forge+Bond Shift Series Wheels
Forge+Bond’s Shift wheels are one of the most affordable ways to get into a US-made carbon fiber wheelset — and use the same rims as Forge+Bond’s higher-end wheels — so is there a catch? Check out our Full Review to see how they’ve fared.
‘American Flyers’ with Jonathan Ellsworth & Simon Stewart (Ep.19)
Kevin Costner, bike racer? Yep. ‘American Flyers’ was released 39 years ago this week, and Costner would go on to make some of the best sports films of all time. So how well does this bike film hold up? And how does it compare to the other bike film written by Steve Tesich, ‘Breaking Away’? Jonathan and Simon discuss.
Flash Review — Privateer 161 V2
Privateer made a name for themselves by building super burly, affordable Enduro race bikes and we’ve started spending time on their latest take on that theme, the 161 V2. Check out our take on how it’s faring so far.
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 Meier Crosscut BC
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the Meier Crosscut BC.
Flash Review: 24/25 Armada Declivity X 108
Revamped for 24/25, the Declivity X 108 bridges the gap between Armada’s big-mountain Declivty X 115 and the more all-round Declivity X 102. So, which of its siblings does the new 108 most closely resemble? Here are our initial thoughts.
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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Rebecca Rusch & Carlos Perez on Mtn Biking, Gravel Riding, Rebecca’s Private Idaho, & More (Ep.320)
We talk with 7x world champion, Rebecca Rusch, and Bike Monkey founder, Carlos Perez, about mountain biking in the 2024 Olympics; whether gravel biking ought to be in the Olympics; the new Potato Olympics, and her signature event, Rebecca’s Private Idaho.
Hope XCR Pro X2 and E4 Brakes
Hope’s new pairing of their lightweight, bare-bones XCR Pro lever with the four-piston E4 caliper may seem like an incongruous one, but there are good reasons to consider the XCR Pro E4s besides just weight savings.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
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.
Reviewing the News w/ Dylan Wood, October 2024 (Ep. 247)
Simon and Dylan recap the latest happenings in the bike world, including the historic Red Bull Rampage women’s competition; they give their take on the men’s competition; cover plenty of good and bad industry news; plus some new eMTBs Simon is really excited about.
MTB Pant Roundup — 2024
We’ve been testing a whole bunch of MTB pants from ultra-lightweight summer options to fully waterproof winter options. Check out our latest roundup to get the rundown.
2-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (24/25)
Wrapping up our reviewers’ 2-ski quiver selections, Jonathan Ellsworth and Paul Forward add their picks. Check it out to see which skis our various reviewers have chosen this year, and let us know how you would go about assembling your own 2-ski quiver!
Yu Sasaki on Big-Mountain Skiing, Deep-Powder Skiing, & Running a Successful Food Truck (Ep.52)
We talk with professional skier, Yu Sasaki, about deep powder skiing; what it takes to start — and maintain — a successful food truck; his beautiful short film, Home From Home; moving from Hokkaido, Japan, to Revelstoke; and more.
Deep Dive: Cannondale Scalpel
We compare the Cannondale Scalpel to the Yeti ASR, Commencal T.E.M.P.O, Revel Ranger, Yeti SB120, Niner JET 9 RDO, Pivot Trail 429, 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.
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.)