BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Flash Review: 23/24 J Skis Allplay
J Skis recently redesigned their best-selling ski, the Allplay, and we’ve been spending some time on it this season. Check out our initial impresssions.
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Flash Review — 2024 Specialized Epic EVO
Specialized’s new Epic 8 EVO offers an intriguing blend of XC race geometry and surprisingly beefy parts, and we’ve started spending time on it. Check out our early impressions.
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2024 Specialized Epic and Epic EVO
Specialized’s new Epic 8 and Epic 8 EVO come with a whole host of suspension, geometry, and frame construction updates, but also signal how the changing nature of Cross Country racing is demanding more capable bikes. Check out our First Look for more on what Specialized has cooked up.
RockShox SID and SIDLuxe Flight Attendant
RockShox’s wild electronically-controlled Flight Attendant suspension is now available on the SID family of forks and shocks — and they’ve added a bunch of very interesting new functionality in the process. Check out our First Look for the rundown.
Flash Review: 24/25 Blizzard Anomaly 94
The Anomaly 94 effectively ends the long reign of the Blizzard Bonafide, and we’ve been spending time on the new ski to see how it compares, and where it slots into the current market.
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Flash Review: 24/25 K2 Reckoner KF
Karl Fostvedt’s new pro model, the 114mm-wide Reckoner KF, is one of the wildest-looking new skis — at least on paper. Check out our initial on-snow impressions of this super-rockered, super-soft ski.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Zebras, Fashion, & Ski Culture: Hadley Hammer & Kellyn Wilson (Ep.300)
We talk to professional skiers, Hadley Hammer and Kellyn Wilson, about their new project, TOGS, which is dedicated to widening ski culture and making it more acceptable for each of us to be our full selves.
Flash Review: 23/24 Moment Commander 92
Here are some of our thoughts so far on Moment’s directional, metal-laminate, and narrowest ski, the Commander 92 — including how it compares to the Commander 102 and several other ~90mm-wide all-mountain skis.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Helmet Tech, Head Injuries, & Best Practices for Skiers & Snowboarders (Ep.288)
We discuss current helmet technology, head injuries, and best practices for skiers & snowboarders with Blister reviewer (and physician assistant), Sascha Anastas; Steven Kennedy of Giro; Frederik Kjellberg of MIPS; and pro skier, Drew Petersen.
Flash Review: 24/25 Atomic Maven 103 CTI
We’ve been spending time on an all-new women-specific ski from Atomic, and the widest in the collection, the Maven 103 CTI. Check out our initial impressions.
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Win Skis from K2
The winner of this week’s Gear Giveaway will get the Mindbender 106C from K2!
Reviewing the News w/ Ryan Palmer, February 2024 (Ep.212)
Ryan Palmer and Simon Stewart are back for another episode of Reviewing The News and there’s plenty to talk about: Kyle and Rachael Strait’s possible new bike sponsor; Red Bull Hardline in Tasmania; brake lever lawsuits; the Dutch police crackdown on modified e-bikes; a groundbreaking new eMTB from Cannondale; and more.
Santa Cruz Heckler SL
Santa Cruz has created something truly special in the Heckler SL. Check out our Full Review to learn more about what makes the Heckler SL stand out in the lightweight eMTB category, plus a bonus head-to-head comparison vs. full-power eMTBs.
Deep Dive: Santa Cruz Heckler SL
We compare the Heckler SL to the Trek Fuel EXe, Pivot Shuttle AM, Specialized Turbo Levo, and Rocky Mountain Instinct Powerplay.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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2024-2025 Armada ARG II UL
The original Armada ARG was one of the earliest “superfat,” ultra-powder-specific models to hit the market in the mid-2000s. Today, the modern ARG II UL carries on its legacy, but these days, its specialist design is far, far less common. So, why is that, and why has Armada opted to keep it around? Check out our Full Review & Deep Dive comparisons for the whole story.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
![When the world’s elite athletes compete later this month at the Olympic Games in Paris, who treats them? And when injuries happen, how are decisions made about whether the athlete can continue to compete? For answers, we talk to Dr. Gloria Beim, the Head Team Physician at the Olympic Games for Team USA. [Blister Podcast]](https://blisterreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/glo-rings-640x422.jpg)
The Team Behind the Team: USA Olympic Head Team Physician, Dr. Gloria Beim (Ep.315)
When the world’s elite athletes compete later this month at the Olympic Games in Paris, who treats them? And when injuries happen, how are decisions made about whether the athlete can continue to compete? For answers, we talk to Dr. Gloria Beim, the Head Team Physician at the Olympic Games for Team USA.
2024-2025 Liberty Radian 100
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the Liberty Radian 100.
2024-2025 Ferreol Explo 86
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the Ferreol Explo 86.
Win a Dropper Post From OneUp Components
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get OneUp’s new V3 Dropper Post and V3 Dropper Post Remote!
Deep Dive: Specialized Epic Evo 8
We compare the Specialized Epic Evo to the Trek Top Fuel, Banshee Phantom V3, Santa Cruz Tallboy, Revel Rascal V2, Transition Spur, Canyon Spectral 125, and Rocky Mountain Element.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Specialized Epic Evo 8
The new Specialized Epic Evo uses the same exact frame as the race-oriented Epic, but the Evo pairs it with a slightly more aggressive build to conquer rougher trails outside the tape. Read our Full Review for our take on how the Epic Evo blends its race-born DNA with more well-rounded Trail-bike intentions.
2024-2025 FullSend Max K 106
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the FullSend Max K 106.
Sage Cattabriga-Alosa on Pizza Making & Big-Mountain Skiing (Ep.45)
One of the greatest big-mountain skiers of all time is also passionate about making great pizza. So what’s the story here, and what do you need to know to start making great pizza yourself?
Reviewing the News w/ Mike Ferrentino, June 2024 (Ep.229)
Mike Ferrentino and Simon Stewart get into the polarizing topic of bicycle access in wilderness areas, the inclusion of women at Red Bull Rampage, a new tire valve standard, and much more in the latest episode of Reviewing the News.
Manitou’s New R8 Fork & Updated Mara Shocks
Manitou has launched a new R8 XC fork, overhauled their whole shock lineup, and added some new remote lockout / dropper controls. Here are all the details.
Flash Review – Liv Intrigue X
Liv recently introduced the Intrigue X as the new mid-travel option to their Trail / Enduro lineup. Check out our early impressions, and see how it compares to its big sibling, the Intrigue LT.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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SRAM S-1000 Transmission & DB8 Stealth Brakes
SRAM’s AXS Transmission continues to trickle down to more affordable groups — meet the new S-1000 group and updated DB8 brakes.