BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
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 Speaker Series: Mark Abma (Ep.281)
Last Thursday, Mark Abma came to Western Colorado University for our Blister Speaker Series. He broke down his segment from the MSP film, ALL IN; discussed his part in the new MSP film, Land of Giants; and talked about his preparation for ski season; confidence; staying calm; and more.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
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.
Deep Dive: Blizzard Sheeva 11
We compare the Sheeva 11 to the first-gen Sheeva 11, Blizzard Sheeva 10, K2 Mindbender 106C W, Folsom Cash 106, K2 Mindbender 116C W, Armada ARV 116 JJ UL, Faction Dancer 3X, Salomon QST Stella 106, RMU Valhalla 107, Nordica Unleashed 108, Majesty Vadera Ti, Line Pandora 110, Coalition Snow Rafiki, & Wagner Summit 106.
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Yeti SB135
Has the ship sailed for 27.5” wheeled mountain bikes? Yeti’s answer is a hard no. Are they on to something? We’ve been spending a lot of time on the SB135 and are ready to weigh in — check out our Full Review & Deep Dive comparisons.
Deep Dive — Yeti SB135
We compare the Yeti SB135 to the Yeti SB140 27.5’’, Esker Rowl, Ibis Ripmo V2S, Pivot Shadowcat, Transition Scout, Yeti SB140 29’’, Trek Fuel EX, Transition Smuggler, and SCOR 2030.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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2024-2025 Atomic Maverick 105 CTi
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the Atomic Maverick 105 CTi.
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
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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.
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