BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Crank Brothers Mallet Trail BOA Shoes
Crank Brothers’ new Mallet Trail BOA shoes combine many features from more gravity-oriented shoes into a lighter, more pedal-friendly package. We’ve been spending a lot of time in the new model, and what Crank Brothers have come up with is pretty interesting.
2024-2025 Stöckli Stormrider 95
This season we’ve been testing several Stöckli skis, and we’re kicking off our Full Reviews & Deep Dive comparisons with the all-mountain-oriented Stormrider 95.
Deep Dive: Stöckli Stormrider 95
We compare the Stormrider 95 to the Stöckli Stormrider 102, Volkl M6 Mantra, Salomon Stance 96, Blizzard Anomaly 94, Nordica Enforcer 99, Fischer Ranger 96, Salomon QST 98, Nordica Enforcer 94, K2 Mindbender 99Ti, J Skis Masterblaster, K2 Mindbender 96C, Peak 98 by Bode, K2 Mindbender 89Ti, Atomic Maverick 95 Ti, Head Kore 93, Blizzard Rustler 9, Shaggy’s Ahmeek 95, ZAG Harfang 96, Faction Dancer 2, Blizzard Bonafide 97, Black Crows Camox, Nordica Unleashed 98, RMU Apostle 96 Pro, Line Blade Optic 96, Armada Declivity 102 Ti, Renoun Endurance 98, Dynastar M-Pro 99, Season Aero, Wagner Summit 97, & Shaggy’s Mohawk 98.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Red Gerard, T. Bird, & Carter Westfall on Natural Selection & the Future of Comps (Ep.298)
We talk with Olympic and X Games gold medalist, Red Gerard; the legendary T. Bird; and the CEO of Natural Selection about the future of comps. Snowboarders are going to love this one; skiers are going to want to pay close attention; and all of us have an opportunity here to think about the past and future of snowsports comps. Watch or listen to the conversation here.
2024-2025 Blizzard Anomaly 94
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the Blizzard Anomaly 94.
2023-2024 Folsom Spar 78
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the Folsom Spar 78.
Flash Review: 23/24 Dynafit Tigard 114
We’ve been logging time on Dynafit’s widest, heaviest, and most powder-oriented ski — here are some of our initial thoughts on the Tigard 114.
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 Lange Shadow 130 LV & Shadow 130 MV
Lange says their new Shadow boots offer “more power with less effort” via their unique shell design, and after logging more than 100 days in the Shadow 130 LV & MV, our reviewers have a LOT to say about them. Check out what might be our longest, most in-depth boot review for the whole story.
A Very Deep Dive on Bootfitting, Pt. 6: Ski Boot Flex w/ Pulse Boot Labs (Ep.286)
How should you think about ski boot flex patterns, and which one is “right” for you? We talk with Pulse Boot Lab’s Bryn Vickers about the complex and often misunderstood aspects of ski boot flex; why your own biomechanics are a huge piece of the puzzle; how to work with a bootfitter during the process; and some of the latest Pulse Boot Lab technology.
Win Skis From Atomic
The winner of this week’s Gear Giveaway will get to choose between Atomic’s new Maverick 105 CTI or Maven 103 CTI!
Women’s Midlayer & Insulation Roundup – 2024
The right insulator can be the difference between a great day and a terrible one, especially when it comes to balancing cold temperatures with high-output activities. In this Midlayer & Insulation Roundup, several of our female reviewers discuss some of their recent favorites.
Ed Masters on Hardline, the 2024 Race Landscape, Pivot’s Prototype DH Bike, & More (Ep.210)
Ed Masters is back on Bikes & Big Ideas to talk about his 2023 season, the upcoming Tasmanian iteration of Hardline, the 2024 race landscape, the state of pro-level Enduro, and a whole lot more.
Flash Review — SRAM Maven Ultimate Brakes
SRAM’s new Maven brakes promise an immense increase in power over their longstanding Codes, and we’ve started spending time with the big new stoppers. 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.)
2024 Canyon Spectral CF
The 2021 Canyon Spectral CF blurred the line between a do-it-all Trail bike and a burlier Enduro one, but Canyon has now launched a new version, which they claim pushes the bike more squarely into Trail-bike territory. Check out our First Look to see how they’ve done it.
2023-2024 Blizzard Sheeva 11
The Sheeva 11 is the widest women-specific ski in Blizzard’s overhauled freeride series, and we’ve had 2 reviewers testing 2 different lengths. So, how does it compare to the previous iteration and other soft-snow women’s skis on the market? Check out our Full Review & Deep Dive Comparisons.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
JING Tea founder, Ed Eisler, on Tea, Trust, & the Art of Loving Anything (Ep.42)
Jonathan Ellsworth and Ed Eisler discuss all things tea (and skis); agriculture as art; and the qualities of a great tea.
‘Bicycle Thieves’ with Jonathan Ellsworth & Simon Stewart (Ep.14)
‘Bicycle Thieves’ is widely regarded as one of the greatest movies ever made. Today, we discuss why it still matters, and why we believe that everyone who loves bikes ought to see it.
2024 Pivot Switchblade
The Pivot Switchblade got overhauled for 2024, so is the new one still a super-versatile do-it-all Trail bike or something else entirely? Check out our Full Review for our take.
2024-2025 RMU Apostle 114
Here are our measured specs, flex pattern numbers, and rocker profile pictures for the new RMU Apostle 114 Wood.
Flash Review: 24/25 RMU Apostle 114
The Apostle 114 is RMU’s new “directional big-mountain ski” that replaces the previous North Shore 114 — here are our initial impressions and thoughts on how the new ski compares.
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.)
Mike Hattrup: A Life in Skiing (Ep.311)
We talk with U.S. Ski Hall of Famer, Mike Hattrup, about his days as a competitive mogul skier; being featured in iconic ski films like ‘The Blizzard of AAHHH’s’; his decades working in gear testing and development; and his latest role with Eleven Experience.
DT Swiss 240 Ratchet DEG Hubs
DT Swiss has launched a new version of their venerable 240 hub with 90 points of engagement. Check out the 240 Ratchet DEG.
2024-2025 Line Optic 88
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, flex pattern numbers, and some more info on the newest and narrowest ski in Line’s metal-laminate Optic collection.
Flash Review: 24/25 Line Optic 88
For 24/25, Line is rebranding their Blade Optic collection as simply “Optic,” and the Optic 88 is a brand-new model that effectively replaces the previous Blade Optic 92 as the narrowest option in the series. Here are some of our initial thoughts on the new 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.
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.)
Runways, Race Courses, & Riding Gear: Curious Creatures’ Unique Origin Story (Ep.300)
Launching your own outdoor apparel company is no small feat, especially if it’s a one-woman operation. But with Curious Creatures, that’s exactly what Tasha Woodworth has done, and we sat down with her to hear all about her unique path to where she is today, as well as the ups, downs, and key takeaways from the journey.
Win Summer Shirts From Oleu
The THREE winners of our Gear Giveaway this week will each get a UPF 50+ boardshirt from Oleu!
2024-2025 ZAG Slap 98
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the ZAG Slap 98.