BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Reviewing the News w/ Cody Townsend, November 2024 (Ep.335)
Cody and Jonathan are back to review some of the news of November; rate your takes; offer some mountain town advice; share what we’re reading & watching; and more.
2024-2025 K2 Omen 90
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the K2 Omen 90 freestyle ski.
Flash Review: 24/25 Ferreol Explo 86
Ski season is officially underway at our home base, and the Explo 86 is one of the first skis we got back on this winter. Here, Luke Koppa shares his initial take.
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Forbidden Druid V2
There are more high-pivot Trail bikes than ever before, but the Forbidden Druid V2 is still one of the shortest-travel options. So, has Forbidden come up with a coherent short(ish) travel bike with a suspension layout more typically of Enduro and DH sleds, or does it feel caught between those categories? What we’ve found is pretty interesting.
Deep Dive: Forbidden Druid V2
We compare the Forbidden Druid V2 to the Transition Smuggler, Chromag Darco, Norco Optic, Norco Sight, Deviate Highlander II, and Orbea Rallon.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Win Baselayers from Arms of Andes
The two winners of our Gear Giveaway this week will each get the men’s or women’s Alpaca Wool Long Sleeve Shirt and Leggings from Arms of Andes!
Reviewer Reports: Lightweight eMTBs, Ultra-Adjustable Enduro Bikes, Electronic Suspension Battle & More (Ep.250)
Simon Stewart and David Golay give the rundown on a ton of bikes and other gear we’ve been testing, from a wide range of Trail bikes to a couple of lightweight eMTBs, the ultra-adjustable Geometron G1, and more — including a head-to-head comparison of Fox Live Valve Neo and RockShox Flight Attendant.
No, Thank YOU
In our latest Open Mic piece, Brendan Leonard tells us how to deal with a world full of F@!% Yous.
Flash Review: 24/25 Peak 104 by Dav
We recently spent a day touring on the lighter version of Peak’s 104 mm-wide ski, the Peak 104 by Dav. Check out our initial impressions.
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James Bond, ‘The World Is Not Enough’ w/ Jonathan Ellsworth & Simon Stewart (Ep.29)
James Bond films have probably put skiing and snowboarding in front of more people than any other film series. So we discuss this, then, in honor of the 25th anniversary of ‘The World is Not Enough,’ we break down that film and its absolutely-all-time ski scene.
BCA Float E2-35 Avalanche Airbag Backpack
Avalanche airbag backpacks have come a long way, and one of our reviewers has tested most of them over the past decade. BCA’s newest option, the Float E2-35, is his current favorite — check out our Full Review to see why.
Maxxis High Roller
Maxxis says that the newest iteration of their High Roller is a gravity tire for conditions that are somewhat soft and loose, but not to the point of demanding a full-on mud spike. That’s a big departure from earlier iterations of the High Roller, but it would fill a real gap in Maxxis’ lineup (and the MTB tire market as a whole). So, is their description on point? We’ve ridden the High Roller in a wide range of conditions and are ready to weigh in.
Flash Review: 24/25 Volkl M7 Mantra
Last season we started spending time on Volkl’s newest Mantra (in two different lengths) to see just how much has changed between the M6 and M7. Here are some of our initial impressions.
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Auden Schendler on Joy, Living Well, & His New Book, Terrible Beauty: Reckoning with Climate Complicity and Rediscovering our Soul (Ep.334)
Auden and Jonathan talk about human purpose, the importance of joy and living well; and Auden spells out the need for systemic change — and not just token actions — to actually address climate change.
Flash Review — Rocky Mountain Instinct Powerplay SL
Rocky Mountain’s first entry into the light-assist eMTB category features their new in-house designed and built Dyname S4 Lite motor and a new frame with mixed wheel size compatibility. The Instinct Powerplay SL seemingly has a lot going for it, and we’ve spent enough time on it now to share some initial impressions.
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:
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.
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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
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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?