BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Maxxis on the New High Roller, Tire R&D, & More (Ep.239)
We sat down with Maxxis’ Aaron Chamberlain to discuss their new High Roller tire; how Maxxis designs, develops, and tests mountain bike tires; why its lineup is so expansive, and a whole lot more.
2025 Fox 38 Grip X2
The most noticeable update to Fox’s latest fork lineup was its (optional) and un-subtle gold paint, but the showy exterior hides a new series of dampers, and we’ve been testing the Grip X2 version of the Fox 38 fork. Now we’re ready to offer our take on the results of the update, how the new 38 and Grip X2 damper fare against the competition, and whether they’d be a good fit for you.
20th Anniversary of ‘Yearbook’ w/ Murray Wais & Scott Gaffney (Ep.22)
20 years ago this week, ‘Yearbook,’ one of the most star-studded ski movies of all time, was released. So we talk with filmmakers Murray Wais and Scott Gaffney about the behind-the-scenes insanity; the in-front-of-the-camera surprises; the styles of Seth vs Hugo; and more.
2024-2025 Blister Digital Winter Buyer’s Guide
350+ skis, 65 boots, and 280+ pages of honest, accurate product reviews and comparisons. Order our 24/25 Winter Buyer’s Guide or become a BLISTER+ member to read the Digital Guide NOW.
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The Current State of Climate Science, Consensus, & Next Best Steps w/ Dr. Liz Burakowski (Ep.323)
So how are things actually going when it comes to climate change, carbon emissions, stuff like that? Are we making any real progress? For answers, we’re talking with Dr. Elizabeth Burakowski, who is on the Research Faculty at the Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space at the University of New Hampshire.
Frameworks Enduro
Frameworks is releasing a limited first run of their Enduro frame. Drawing plenty of inspiration from the Downhill frame released last year, the US-made Enduro frame stands out from the crowd with unique construction details and intriguing geometry. Our First Look has the details.
Flylow’s Dan Abrams on Burrito Grease & PFAS; Slide Gliding; Palisades Tahoe; & More (Ep.312)
Dan Abrams is back to talk about toxic positivity, slide gliding, burrito grease, give his review of Palisades Tahoe, and more.
Win Our 24/25 Winter Buyer’s Guide
The three winners of our Gear Giveaway this week will each get a print and digital copy of our new 2024-2025 Winter Buyer’s Guide!
Norco Fluid VLT
Norco’s Fluid VLT 130 pairs a responsive suspension platform, a lightweight build, and Bosch’s powerful SX drive system to create a unique offering in the light-assist eMTB category. Check out our Full Review and Deep Dive comparisons, as well as our “Head to Head” video comparing it to the Pivot Shuttle SL.
Deep Dive: Norco Fluid VLT 130
We compare the Norco Fluid VLT 130 to the Pivot Shuttle SL, Trek Fuel EXe, Santa Cruz Heckler SL, Canyon Neuron:ONfly, Mondraker Dune XR, and Cannondale Moterra SL.
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Reviewing the News w/ Mike Ferrentino, August 2024 (Ep.238)
Mike Ferrentino is back handling the co-host duties on this episode of Reviewing the News. Simon admits to missing Mike during his absence, and the lads waste no time getting into recapping the UCI MTB World Championships; cross-country mountain bike courses getting too short; Mike’s take on the Specialized and Frameworks partnership; a belt drive lawsuit; and lots more.
Liv Intrigue X
The Intrigue X is the latest addition to Liv’s women-specific MTB lineup, and it claims to offer tons of versatility and adjustability for those who want to ride all sorts of trails on one bike. After several months with it, we’re now ready to weigh in on how accurate those claims proved to be — here’s our Full Review.
Chef Mark Connell on Craft & Trust; Tasting Menus; & Olive Oil Candy, Part 2 (Ep.49)
Mark Connell is the executive chef at PARC Aspen, and he’s back to talk about fine dining and the importance of tasting menus; what he learned at Alinea; the difference between striving for consistency vs. striving to be consistently good; and more.
Industry Nine SOLiX M TR300/290 DUO Wheels
Industry Nine’s new SOLiX M TR300/290 DUO wheels have a very long name and a very low weight — but how do they ride, and how have they held up to a summer of riding? Check out our Full Review to find out.
Reviewing the News w/ Cody Townsend, August 2024 (Ep.322)
Cody and Jonathan discuss summer skiing; the new FIS wildcard rule; some good news & dumb news re: national parks; art exhibits at ski areas; their top-3 mountain towns; & more.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
2024-2025 LINE Vision 96
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the new LINE Vision 96.
2024-2025 ON3P Billy Goat 118 Tour
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the ON3P Billy Goat 118 Tour.
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.
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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.
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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.