BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Chromag Reazon
Instead of drooling over aerospace-grade carbon, why can’t we get stoked on bicycle-grade steel? The Chromag Reazon makes one of the most compelling cases for bringing steel into high-end Trail bikes we’ve seen to date.
‘Farming Turns’ w/ Chris Rubens & Jonathan Ellsworth (Ep.59)
Chris Rubens is a professional skier and a professional farmer. His excellent 25-minute film, ‘Farming Turns,’ will be available on YouTube on Wednesday, and Jonathan talks to Chris about it all — including a great cameo performance from Chris’ longtime friend, Hoji.
10 Quick Things: ‘Movie Premieres, Robots, & Snowboards’ Edition (Ep.383)
Jonathan shares some highlights and updates from the whirlwind of a trip he’s currently on.
MRP Lift V2 Fork Damper
We’re used to rear shock dampers coming tuned for a given bike and rider, but it’s much less common in forks. MRP thinks that should change, and their Lift V2 fork damper upgrade is offered in five rider-weight-specific tunes, on top of some other interesting features. Check it all out here, including our early on-trail impressions.
Flash Review: MRP Lift V2 Fork Damper
The MRP Lift V2 fork damper promises increased composure over stock options and comes in a range of rider-weight-specific tunes, but how does it perform? Here’s our early take.
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Best Skis of the Century, Part 5 (Ep.369)
What are the Top 10 skis of the century? Top 3? #1 Ski? Today, Blister reviewers Dylan Wood, Luke Koppa, and Jonathan Ellsworth reveal their selections, and we also share some of the picks and insights from a number of pro skiers and ski industry professionals.
Win Outerwear From Beringia
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get a men’s or women’s St. Elias Jacket and Bibs from Beringia!
Fox 34 SL
Can a super lightweight fork still perform in more serious terrain? Fox has pulled out the stops to make their new 34 SL do just that, and the result is quite impressive — but there’s plenty of nuance to that story, too. Check out our Full Review after a few months riding the Fox 34 SL.
Reviewer Reports: Bikes Big & Small, Wet-Weather Gear, & More (Ep.300)
David and Zack give the rundown on a whole bunch of the latest gear they’ve been testing, including the high-pivot, gearbox-equipped Priority Vanth, some excellent new wet-weather gear, and more.
Atherton A.150.M
There’s a new mixed-wheel version of Atherton’s 150mm-travel All-Mountain bike — the A.150.M. But it’s far from just being the existing A.150 with a smaller rear wheel.
HiFi Audio, Aesthetics, & Design w/ Heaven 11’s Itai Azerad (Ep. 88)
How do you reconnect with music? Simon talks with Itai Azerad of Heaven 11 about bringing back the ritual of listening to music, their new Billie Amp MK3, and why its design and aesthetics offer a unique approach to HiFi.
HEL Advocate Brakes
HEL has a lot of experience making brakes and other hydraulic systems in the motorsports world, but they’re new to the bike industry. So, what new features do their Advocate brakes bring to the market, how do they actually perform, and what are they like to live with? Here’s what we’ve found out.
Chris Benchetler on ‘Mountains of the Moon’ (Ep.58)
Chris Benchetler has been working for years on his latest, massive project, Mountains of the Moon. And today, you’ll hear Chris talk about why this is both his most ambitious project — and perhaps his most personal project — yet.
Can We Future-Proof Public Lands? Working Together & the GORP Act (Ep.382)
How do you get everyone from cattle ranchers to cyclists, snowmobilers, hunters, wildlife biologists, indigenous tribes, and politicians from both sides of the aisle to agree on protecting public lands? The GORP Act took on this challenge, and its collaborative approach could serve as a blueprint for the future.
Propain Hugene 3 CF
Propain’s third-generation Hugene has less travel than the prior one, but its performance is a reminder that geometry matters at least as much as travel numbers. Check out how the Propain Hugene 3 CF stacks up as a unique take on a modern short-travel Trail bike.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
2025-2026 K2 Alchemist
The K2 Alchemist is built for speed, but it holds up surprisingly well across a range of conditions — check out our Full Review to see why we think it could be just what some hard-charging riders have been looking for.
How Does a Small Craft Brand Break Out? SennzaFinne Shares Their BluePrint (Ep. 91)
In a spirits landscape full of massive brands and mega marketing budgets, what differentiates a craft producer? SennzaFinne, the Seattle based amaro producer founded by former bartenders, has found creative ways to make their mark.
Flash Review: Evil Offering
It’s been a quiet few years for Evil, but their new Offering has gotten a major overhaul, and the on-trail results are intriguing.
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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(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.)
Evil Offering
It’s been a while since we saw a new bike from Evil, but their updated Offering brings some welcome changes while sticking to other parts of the familiar Evil recipe. Check it out here, including our initial on-trail impressions.
Durston X-Mid Pro 2 Shelter
Our reviewer has been testing ultralight backcountry shelters for decades, and the Durston X-Mid Pro 2 is his current all-round favorite. Here’s why.
OpenSnow’s Joel Gratz on the Outlook for This Winter; Extended Snow Forecasts; AI Updates; & More (Ep.385)
Joel Gratz, the founding meteorologist & CEO of OpenSnow, is back to talk about … snow! And snow forecasting. And what’s new in the world of weather modeling. So if you like snow and you like to know when & where the snow will fly, listen up!
MTX Brake Pads
Brake pads are a small part with a huge impact on braking performance, and MTX’s Red Label Race and Gold Label HD pads deliver convincing performance on the trail. Check out our thoughts after five months of riding both options.
Gear Gossip w/ Moment Skis’ Luke Jacobson (Ep.371)
Today we spill some tea, break some news, fire off a few rants, and we walk through Moment’s 25/26 lineup, including what Moment CEO, Luke Jacobson, believes to be the most significant changes to the line.
Best Bikes of the Century, Part 2 (Ep. 302)
Our search for the best bike of the 21st century continues. For Part 2, Simon Stewart, David Golay, Xan Marshland, and Zack Henderson have 16 more brands to argue over.
Caviar 101 with Black River Caviar (Ep.90)
Caviar. Is there any word — or food — that more quickly conjures up associations of luxury and opulence? We talk with Sarah Mayo for a deep dive into the history of global caviar production and the ways in which the modern market is shaping consumption.
Flash Review: Diaz Upper & Lower Runt
Diaz Suspension Design’s new Lower Runt fork air spring upgrade runs counter to some current trends in air spring design, and makes some intriguing performance claims in doing so. So, how does it all come together on the trail? We’ve started to find out.
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.)
Diaz Upper & Lower Runt Fork Air Spring Upgrade
Diaz Suspension Design has doubled down on their Runt fork air spring upgrades, adding a Lower Runt to their lineup to go with the original Runt — now dubbed the “Upper Runt” — air spring upgrade kit. There’s a lot going on here, and it’s quite intriguing.