BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Win an IR Waxer From mountainFLOW
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get an Infrared (IR) Waxer from mountainFLOW!
The Design, Development, & Testing of Enve’s new M-Series Wheels (Ep.243)
Enve’s new M-Series wheels are the result of a very long and involved development process, and they don’t look, or ride, anything like M-Series wheels of old. So we sat down with Jake Pantone of Enve to get the whole story behind their development.
Flash Review — Enve M6 Wheels
Enve says that their new M-Series wheels ride very differently from Enve wheels of old, and we’ve started putting those claims to the test with their new Trail bike wheels, the M6. Check out our early impressions.
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Enve’s Fifth-Generation M-Series Wheels
Enve has launched the fifth-generation versions of their flagship M-Series mountain bike wheels, promising a very different ride feel from past M-Series wheels. The data they’ve provided to quantify that is pretty eye-popping, and there’s a lot of interesting stuff going on with their design — including new, Enve-designed hubs. Check out what they’ve come up with.
How Do You Know How “Safe” Your Helmet Is? | Blister Summit Video
Testing standards are hugely important, but when it comes to ski/snowboard and cycling helmets, the current ones have limitations. In this clip, Steven Kennedy, Sr. Director of R&D at Giro, shares some thoughts on Giro’s in-house testing approach, the Virginia Tech helmet testing standards, and more.
‘A Sunday in Hell’ w/ Joe Parkin & Simon Stewart (Ep.26)
We revisit the 1977 film ‘A Sunday in Hell,’ often regarded as one of the greatest bike racing films of all time. To do it justice, Simon Stewart is joined by former pro cyclist Joe Parkin, who raced Paris-Roubaix himself in 1988, and knows what it takes to suffer through “The Hell of the North.”
Trek Slash+
The Trek Slash+ combines big travel with a little motor — a pairing that sets it apart from the rest of the market. We have logged plenty of miles on the Slash+ this summer and have a lot to say about its impressive performance — and some tradeoffs that come with it.
When & WHY Should You Replace Your Helmet? | Blister Summit Video
How do you know when or why you should replace your ski, snowboard, or bike helmet? It’s not a simple or easy question to answer, but at Blister Summit 2024, we got some insight from Steven Kennedy, Frederik Kjellberg, Drew Petersen, and Sascha Anastas.
Reviewing the News w/ Cody Townsend, September 2024 (Ep.327)
Cody and Jonathan discuss the release of Cody’s first FIFTY+ film; some big controversies in the world of FKT’s & running; a great edition of Blevin’s Corner; mountain guides and the often confusing practice of tipping; what they’re reading & watching; … and more.
DT Swiss XMC 1501 Wheels & Ratchet DEG Hubs
DT’s new Ratchet DEG hubs are the fastest-engaging ones they’ve offered to date, but have they kept the traits that made the original 240s popular in the first place? We’ve been testing the Ratchet DEG hubs on DT’s XMC 1501 wheels and have thoughts.
2024 Ski Movie Tours & Premieres | A Guide
We know we’re not the only ones itching to get back on snow. Thankfully, film tours and movie premiers are not only a great way to relive past seasons, they’re also excellent community events — you get to join friends new and old to share in the pre-season stoke. Here’s a guide to where and when you can attend one near you.
ON3P Skis 24/25 Lineup with Scott Andrus (Ep.316)
We talk to ON3P Skis founder, Scott Andrus, about their 24/25 lineup, and we dive into the weeds about numerous aspects of ski design and ski manufacturing that you really won’t hear about anywhere else.
ZAG’s ‘Next-Gen Carver’ + 2025 Ski Lineup | Blister Summit Video
Across its 20-year history in the freeride, touring, and all-mountain worlds, Chamonix-based ZAG has continued to refine their lineup, whether through design or efforts to reduce their environmental footprint. In this video, we get the details on that history — plus the brand’s 2025 ski lineup — from ZAG’s Théo Voinchet and ZAG athlete, Teton Brown.
Win Jackets From Strafe
The two winners of our Gear Giveaway this week will each get the men’s or women’s Highlands Shirt Jacket from Strafe!
2024 Pivot Phoenix
The new Pivot Phoenix has dropped the lugged construction from the prototype versions but kept their wild six-bar, dual-idler, high-pivot suspension layout, and the result is awfully interesting. Check out the latest iteration of Pivot’s DH bike.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Flash Review: 24/25 Armada ARV 112
Here are some of our initial takeaways after spending time on Armada’s new freestyle-friendly powder (or all-mountain?) ski.
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 Armada ARV 112
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the Armada ARV 112.
Flash Review — Nicolai/Geometron G1
Update 12.18.2024: We’ve spent a lot more time on the new Geometron G1 and have experimented with a lot more of its myriad customization options. Check out what we’ve learned 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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‘Falling for Christmas’ w/ Amie Engerbretson & Jonathan Ellsworth (Ep.32)
Amie and Jonathan discuss this Lyndsay Lohan Rom-Com / Christmas / Ski movie and have a very festive time debating whether it’s a Christmas delight or a modern-day dumpster fire. Plus, you have an opportunity to win a brand new pair of Atomic skis. Check it out!
Ibis Ripmo V3
While the Ibis Ripmo has stayed fairly consistent since its launch over six years ago, the mountain bike industry as a whole has shifted around it. So, where does it fit in today’s market, and how does it differentiate itself on the trail? Check out our Full Review.
Deep Dive: Ibis Ripmo V3
We compare the Ibis Ripmo V3 to several Trail/Enduro bikes in its class, including the previous Ibis Ripmo V2S, Revel Rail 29, Specialized Stumpjumper 15, Spot Mayhem 140, and Santa Cruz Bronson.
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.)
Flash Review: 24/25 Rossignol Sender Soul 102
Update 12.16.24: We’ve logged a lot more time on Rossignol’s newest all-mountain ski, the Sender Soul 102. Check out what we’ve learned since first skiing it at Blister Summit 2024.
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.)
ATK launches new hybrid ski-touring binding, the ‘Hy’
There’s a new competitor in the class of hybrid ski-touring bindings. Here are the details on ATK’s Hy binding.
River Radamus: Skier, and U.S. Alpine Ski Racer (Ep.337)
River Radamus is a rising star on the U.S. Alpine Ski Team. But first and foremost, River is someone who is very, very passionate about all types of skiing. Jonathan talked with River just after he laid down two top-10 finishes at Birds of Prey, and they discuss that plus his lifelong journey in skiing; the artistry he sees in ski racing; the importance of innovation in racing; his thoughts on how to help the next generation of ski racers, and a whole lot more.
Cane Creek Kitsuma V2 Shocks
Cane Creek has given their Kitsuma line of shocks an update, and we’ve got the scoop on all of the new refinements.
2024-2025 LINE Vision 104
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the LINE Vision 104.
2024-2025 Blizzard Anomaly 102
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the new Blizzard Anomaly 102.