BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Win a Bike Rack From 1UP USA
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get the new Super Duty Double hitch bike rack from 1UP USA!
Reviewing the News w/ Mike Ferrentino, April 2024 (Ep.220)
Simon Stewart is joined by special guest host Mike Ferrentino to talk about Kona’s Sea Otter debacle and the state of the industry more broadly; the start of XC World Cup season; new XC race bikes being awesome; microphone eating; zombies; and more on the latest iteration of Reviewing the News.
Orbea Rise
One of the OGs of the lightweight eMTB segment, the Orbea Rise is getting a full redesign with updates throughout and two travel configurations. Crack open our First Look for all of the details on the reimagined Rise.
2024-2025 Atomic Bent Chetler 120
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the Atomic Bent Chetler 120.
Ride Concepts Accomplice Clip BOA
The Ride Concepts Accomplice Clip BOA brings a lot of features typically found in burlier, more gravity-oriented shoes into a more lightweight, breathable package, and the end result is a compelling option for the right folks. Check out our Full Review to see what they bring to the table.
2024-2025 Volkl Peregrine 80
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the Volkl Peregrine 80.
Flash Review: 24/25 Nordica Santa Ana 102
Nordica is updating their longstanding Santa Ana series of skis for the 24/25 season, and we’ve been spending time on the widest model in the series, and the replacement to the Santa Ana 104 Free, the Santa Ana 102. Check out our initial on-snow 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.
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.)
2024-2025 Nordica Santa Ana 102
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the new Santa Ana 102.
Flash Review: 24/25 K2 Omen Team
The Omen Team replaces the longstanding Poacher in K2’s park lineup, and while we have been lapping the park on it, one of our reviewers was curious to see how it’d work as more of a do-everything all-mountain option. 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.
(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.)
Sex & Ski Boots: Hoji, Matt Manser, & Greg Klein on the Present & Future of Ski Boot Design (Ep.295)
At Blister Summit 2024, we talked about sex, ski boots, and more with Hoji, Matt Manser, and Greg Klein.
Flash Review: 24/25 Armada ARW 112
A few weeks ago, Kara Williard brought the 24/25 Armada ARW 112 on a trip to Alaska. Here are her initial on-snow 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.
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.)
Win a MTB Kit From Outdoor Research
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get a MTB jersey, shorts, and gloves from Outdoor Research!
Canyon Neuron:ONfly
The Bosch SX motor seems to have lit a fire in the lightweight eMTB category, and Canyon is the latest brand to release a bike featuring this popular new motor. Check out the new Neuron:ONfly.
Norco’s New DH Race Bike (Ep.219)
Norco hasn’t been shy about the fact that they’re working on a new DH race bike, and we sat down with Norco engineers Adrian Ward and Kirk McDowall to hear all about it.
Deep Dive: Rocky Mountain Instinct Powerplay
We compare the Instinct Powerplay to the Pivot Shuttle AM, Specialized Turbo Levo, Orbea Wild, and Norco Fluid VLT 130.
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.)
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
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.
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.)
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.
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.)
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.
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.)
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.
Reviewing the Reviewer: Zack Henderson (Ep.308)
We talk to Blister bike reviewer Zach Henderson about his gear preferences when it comes to bikes, skis, and snowboarders. We also start the episode by remembering our friend and fellow reviewer, Eric Freson.
Modern Gear for Traditional Skiing | Bishop Telemark 2025 Lineup Video
There are lots of passionate telemark skiers out there, but far fewer tele-specific gear companies. Bishop Telemark is one of those brands, and at Blister Summit 2024, we sat down with Bishop’s owner and engineer, Dave Bombard, to get the rundown on the current lineup, including their latest cross-compatible bindings; their collection of skis and how they designed them specifically for tele skiers; the San Juan Stick and its historical significance, and more.
Win MTB Handlebars From Forge+Bond
The two winners of our Gear Giveaway this week will each get a F+B 25 MTN Bar from Forge+Bond!