BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
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.
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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
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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
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Rocky Mountain Instinct Powerplay
Lightweight, lower powered eMTBs are having a bit of a moment, but the Rocky Mountain Instinct Powerplay makes a strong case for a full-power motor, even on a mid-travel Trail bike. Check out our full review for our take.
Flash Review: 24/25 Romp Oso 105
We’ve been logging time on one of the newest — and most different — skis in Romp’s stock lineup. Here are our initial thoughts on the Oso 105.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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2024-2025 Icelantic Maiden 102
Icelantic overhauled their longstanding Maiden and Nomad skis for 24/25, including longer lengths options for the women’s Maiden series, and we spent the season testing the new Maiden 102 against its competition to see where it falls in the all-mountain market. Read all about it in our Full Review & Deep Dive comparisons.
Deep Dive: Icelantic Maiden 102
We compare the Icelantic Maiden 102 to the Nordica Unleashed 98 W, Moment Sierra, Blizzard Sheeva 10, Faction Dancer 3X, Zag Slap 104, Armada ARW 106 UL, Nordica Unleashed 108 W, Atomic Maven 103 CTI, Fischer Ranger 102, Nordica Santa Ana 102, K2 Mindbender 99Ti W, Volkl Secret 102, DPS Kaizen 105, Line Optic 104, K2 Mindbender 106C W, Folsom Cash 106, & Salomon QST Stella 106.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Devinci E-Troy Lite
We’ve been seeing a lot of new lightweight eMTBs hitting the market lately, and Devinci has made a very interesting one with their new aluminum, made-in-Canada E-Troy Lite. Dig into our First Look for all the details on the new bike.
Deep Dive: Ibis HD6
We compare the Ibis HD6 to the Yeti SB165, Orbea Rallon, Yeti SB160, Pivot Firebird, Norco Sight, Propane Tyee, Santa Cruz Nomad, Chromag Lowdown, Kavenz VHP 16, Specialized Enduro, and REEB Steezl.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Ibis HD6
Ibis set out to make a modern Enduro race bike and came up with the HD6 — the longest travel bike they’ve ever made. We’ve been spending a lot of time on the HD6, and it has proven to be an interesting take on the genre. Check out our Full Review & Deep Dive comparisons to see what we mean.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
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
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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.
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!
Vermont Mountain Bike Association on Assessing, Funding, & Building Adaptive Trails (Ep.234)
Vermont Mountain Bike Association, in conjunction with Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports, are building an impressive network of adaptive trails. So we sat down to find out what has made them so successful; what goes into adaptive trail building; and why other trail organizations should take a look at what they’re doing.
Rocky Mountain Altitude
The new Rocky Mountain Altitude doesn’t look anything like the old one, but how do the new suspension layout and overhauled geometry come together on the trail? Check out our Full Review for our take.
Deep Dive: 2024 Rocky Mountain Altitude
We compare the Rocky Mountain Altitude to the prior-generation Altitude, Orbea Rallon, Santa Cruz Megatower, Chromag Lowdown, Yeti SB160, Pivot Firebird, RAAW Madonna, Trek Slash, Ibis HD6, and Yeti SB165.
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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Trek Fuel EXe Aluminum
Built around the quiet and smooth TQ HPR50 motor, Trek’s Fuel EXe provides an eMTB experience that non-motorized mountain bikers will find familiar. But, this eMTB also surprised us in a few ways that have nothing to do with its drive system. Check out our Full Review and accompanying video review.