BLISTER — Outdoor Gear Reviews, Podcasts, Buyer’s Guides, Giveaways

BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles

Zack Henderson reviews the COROS Dura cycling computer

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.

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David Golay reviews the Maxxis High Roller for Blister

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

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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Zerode on Gearbox Bikes, World Cup DH Racing, & Building Stuff in a Shed (Ep.235)

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.

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Zack Henderson reviews the Forge+Bond Shift 30 EM wheels

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.

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David Golay reviews the Privateer 161 V2 for Blister

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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Luke Koppa's reviews the Armada Declivity X 108 for Blister

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.

If you’re already an active member, please log in.

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David Golay reviews the Hope XCR Pro E4 Brakes for Blister

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.

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BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:

Noah Bodman reviews the North Shore Billet Idler Pulley for the Norco Range for BLISTER

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.

BLISTER — Outdoor Gear Reviews, Podcasts, Buyer’s Guides, Giveaways

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)

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.

Dylan Wood and Simon Stewart review the Yeti ASR for Blister

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.

Dylan Wood and Simon Stewart review the Yeti ASR for Blister

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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BLISTER — Outdoor Gear Reviews, Podcasts, Buyer’s Guides, Giveaways

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.

BLISTER — Outdoor Gear Reviews, Podcasts, Buyer’s Guides, Giveaways

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)

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.

BLISTER MTB Pants Roundup — 2024

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.

Blister ski-quiver reviewer selections 2024-2025

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!

Simon Stewart and Dylan Wood review the Cannondale Scalpel for Blister

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.)