BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Layering 101: Types of Outdoor Apparel & How to Layer for Different Activities & Climates
There are a zillion new baselayers, insulators, and shells out there — and the options are constantly evolving and diversifying. So in our updated “Layering 101” guide, we sort out what makes certain types better / worse than others, and outlined how we think about layering for various cold-weather outdoor activities.
Privateer Bikes on the 141 and 161 V2 (Ep.192)
Privateer has been teasing the upcoming second-generation versions of their 141 and 161 for a while now and we recently sat down with Dan Hicks, the engineer behind the project, to get all the details on the new bikes.
2023 Knolly Endorphin
The Knolly Endorphin is back after a hiatus — and Knolly says it’s a harbinger of new things to come across their entire lineup.
Women’s Mountain Bike Shorts & Pants Roundup – 2023
There are more options for mountain bike shorts and pants than ever before, and in our latest roundup of women’s ones, we’ve got eight new pairs to add to the mix after a bunch of time testing them in a ton of different conditions.
Raide LF 40L Backpack
Raide is the newest player in the ultralight snowsports category and their first product, the LF 40L backpack, is a very interesting initial offering. Check out our First Look for more on this UHMWPE (aka, Dyneema) pack and the brand behind it.
Trevor Kennison & Josh Berman on Full Circle (Ep.282)
Like Travis Rice, Candide Thovex, Courtney Dauwalter, and Alex Honnold, Trevor Kennison forces us to rethink what’s possible. Josh Berman has created a film, Full Circle, that documents Trevor’s incredible story and exploits, and the challenges — and opportunities — of life after spinal cord injury.
Five Ten Trailcross XT
Five Ten’s Trailcross line is meant to blend functionality from bike and trail running shoes into a lightweight, breathable package that works well both on and off the bike. The updated Trailcross XT now uses recycled materials extensively, in a design that’s pretty different from the original. So how does it all pan out on the trail?
Gear West
Gear West is not only one of the largest shops in the midwest, it is also one of the best.
20+ Years as a Pro Skier: Mark Abma | Blister Speaker Series Video
In this video, Mark Abma discusses his lengthy professional skiing career, how big mountain skiing has evolved, his passion for alternative housing and energy, and much more.
Win Skis from RMU
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get RMU’s Apostle 96 Carbon ski!
A Very Deep Dive on Bootfitting, Pt. 5: Debunking Bootfitting Myths & Misconceptions (Ep.267)
Kara Williard and Jake “Fasa” Nelson clear up some of the most common bootfitting myths and misconceptions out there, provide some clarity on what you should realistically expect from a ski boot and bootfitter, discuss how to go about shopping for a boot this season, and more.
Casey Brown, Vaea Verbeeck, and Hannah Bergemann on Women at Rampage (Ep.191)
We sat down with Casey Brown, Vaea Verbeeck, and Hannah Bergemann to talk about the lack of a women’s category at Red Bull Rampage; what they’ve been doing to change that; why opening up Rampage to women is important; and the trajectory of women’s freeride more broadly.
Propain Ekano 2 CF
Propain launched the Ekano 2 AL just a few months ago as a “freeride eMTB,” but the new Ekano 2 CF is substantially different from its aluminum sibling — starting but not ending with the SRAM Eagle Powertrain drive system.
Transition Repeater Powertrain
The SRAM Eagle Powertrain bikes are rolling out, and Transition’s offering, the Repeater Powertrain, isn’t just a Repeater with a motor swap. Check out our First Look for all the info.
2024 Ortovox Ski & Snowboard Gear | Blister Summit Brand Lineup Video
At Blister Summit 2023, we sat down with Ortovox’s Alexander Cernichiari to discuss the brand’s path from making avalanche transceivers to just about everything you’d wear / use in the backcountry. We cover their 2024 apparel collection; how and why they use merino wool; their wide-ranging outerwear lineup, and more.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Flash Review: 24/25 Tecnica Zero G Tour Pro W
Tecnica recently announced updates to their Zero G Tour ski boots for 24/25, and we’ve been skiing the newest and stiffest women-specific model in the lineup, the Zero G Tour Pro W. Here are some of our initial thoughts on the new boots’ fit and performance.
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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2023-2024 Arbor Bryan Iguchi Pro Camber
Bryan Iguchi’s pro model is designed for “having fun on it, on any mountain, in any condition.” So, where does this do-everything, freestyle-inspired board really shine? Here’s our Full Review.
2024-2025 Nordica Enforcer 99
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the Nordica Enforcer 99.
Radical Acts: How to Create Change (Ep.297)
As people who love the outdoors, why can’t we just steer clear of the often gross world of politics? Caroline Gleich (professional ski mountaineer & U.S. Senate candidate), Nina Waters (athlete, creative, & Summit County commissioner), & Dr. Len Necefer (founder, Sonoran Avalanche Center & Natives Outdoors) make the case.
Flash Review: 24/25 Elan Ripstick 96
We’ve been spending time on the newest version of Elan’s longstanding all-mountain ski — here are our initial thoughts on the updated Ripstick 96.
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.)
Elan Announces Updated 24/25 Ripstick, Primetime, Playmaker, & Element Skis
Elan is updating a whole bunch of their skis for the 2024-2025 season, including several brand-new shapes and new constructions. Here are the details.
Flash Review: 24/25 Fischer RC4 Pro MV DYN BOA Zipfit
Fischer is adding a new model to their high-end RC4 Pro line, and this one has tech inserts for touring — but no walk mode. Check out Paul Forward’s initial 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.)
New & Current Deals for BLISTER+ Members
Become a BLISTER+ member, save a lot of dough. Check out our newest deals, including 15% off RUX’s unique gear-hauling & storage products, 20% off skis from 4FRNT, 15% off carbon wheels from We Are One, 40% off Mountain Sense’s snow-safety courses, & dozens more!
2023-2024 RMU Professor 121
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the RMU Professor 121.
Hope Carbon Cranks, TR Stem, & More
Hope is launching a whole bunch of new stuff today, including a carbon fiber crank, a new stem, and more — and they’ve added bronze to the color options across their lineup.
Win Antti Ollila’s Setup
The winner of this week’s Gear Giveaway will win the Prodigy 3 ski from Faction and the fs 01 120 boot from phaenom Footwear, the go-to setup of Finnish freestyle skier Antti Ollila!
New Gear from Blister Summit 2024 (Ep.285)
Luke Koppa, Kristin Sinnott, Jonathan Ellsworth, Kara Williard, and Justin Bobb go over a few of the MANY highlights of last week’s Blister Summit, and then dive into a bunch of the standout products they were each able to try at the event.