BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Blister Speaker Series: Courtney Dauwalter (Ep.290)
We sat down with Courtney Dauwalter to get her thoughts on the limits we tend to place on ourselves; her approach to training and competition; how she goes about setting goals; and more.
2023-2024 Blizzard Rustler 9
Here are our measured specs, flex pattern numbers, and rocker profile pictures for the Blizzard Rustler 9.
Win a Touring Prize Package from BCA
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get an awesome prize package from Backcountry Access (BCA), including their Float E2-25 airbag pack, Tracker S rescue package, and new BC Link Mini radio!
Folsom’s Spar 78, New ‘Rotor’ Pow Ski, & Jonathan’s Custom Touring Ski Project (Ep.275)
Jonathan and Folsom Custom Ski’s Mike McCabe discuss the skinniest ski in the Folsom lineup, the Spar 78; Folsom’s new huge pow ski, the Rotor; and then they dive into a new custom touring-ski project for JE.
Flash Review: 23/24 Lange Shadow 115 LV W
We’ve been testing Lange’s stiffest women-specific boot in their all-new Shadow series, the Shadow 115 LV W. Check out our initial impressions.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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2023-2024 Lange Shadow 115 LV W
For 23/24, Lange introduced their new alpine boot lineup – the Shadow series. Check out our First Look for all the details on the stiffest women-specific option, the Shadow 115 LV W.
Forbidden Supernought
It’s been no secret that Forbidden had a DH bike in the works, but now we know all the details — and you can buy one. Check out the Supernought.
Tool on Their Radical Machined High-Pivot Bike (Ep.199)
Tool has been developing a stunning-looking made-in-Quebec machined high-pivot Trail / Enduro bike with some radical geometry and design details, and we sat down with founder and designer William Boisvert to hear all about it.
2-Board Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (23/24)
Which 2 snowboards and/or splitboards would you pick for all the riding you do in a season? We got answers from several of our snowboard reviewers — check out their selections, and let us know your own!
Flash Review: 23/24 Volkl Blaze 114
Following a surprise early-season storm, we got back on Volkl’s new lightweight freeride ski, the Blaze 114. Here are some initial takeaways from Jonathan Ellsworth.
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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Blister’s Holiday Gift Guide 2023 – Under The Tree
Next up in our 2023 Gift Guide series are the items that our reviewers think will make for awesome additions beneath the tree this holiday season. If you’re looking for a gift for the skier, biker, hiker, traveler, or just about any other type of person in your life, check them out!
‘Apocalypse Snow’ with Régis Rolland (Ep.4)
We follow up last week’s conversation about one of the greatest ski & snowboard movies of all time, with the star of Apocalypse Snow, the snowboarding legend and pioneer, Régis Rolland. Régis and Jonathan discuss the making of the film; what interested him in getting on a snowboard in the first place, and Régis kindly answers some of the burning questions we raised about the film in last week’s conversation.
Flash Review: 23/24 Fischer RC4 Pro LV
We’ve been spending time in Fischer’s new 140-flex boot — check out our initial impressions, including comparisons to the Lange Shadow, Tecnica Mach1, and the RC4 Pro MV BOA.
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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1-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (23/24)
After weeks of ski-quiver discussions, we’ve finally arrived at the hardest question of all: what single ski would you use for all the skiing you do? In the last update, we get to hear from Jonathan Ellsworth & Paul Forward. Check out their selections and a bunch of our other reviewers’ personal picks.
Reviewing the News w/ Cody Townsend, November 2023 (Ep.289)
Cody and Jonathan discuss the *trillion* dollar outdoor industry; e-bike bans?; the business of retro sneakers / retro skis; Cody snowboarding; mtn town relationship advice; & more.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Fox’s Overhauled Fork Lineup | Grip SL, Grip X, Grip X2, & New 32 Step Cast
Fox just launched three new fork dampers — the Grip SL, Grip X, and Grip X2 — that are featured across the bulk of their latest fork lineup, and they have a new gold color option to go with them. Check out our First Look for all the info on the new forks, and our Flash Review for our early impressions of the Fox 38 Grip X2.
Forbidden Dreadnought V2
We’ve been expecting an updated Forbidden Dreadnought since the Druid V2 broke cover last year, and now it’s here — with more suspension travel, increased adjustability, a new suspension layout, and radical geometry. Check out what Forbidden has cooked up.
Flash Review: 23/24 Folsom TRN TEK
Folsom says their TRN TEK is “the only NEW straight ski on the market,” and our managing editor just spent closing day on this 201cm-long, 69mm-wide ski. Here are his thoughts on the experience, including how much / little he had to adapt to the vintage design, how it compares to modern skis, and more.
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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Stuff We Like: March 2024
This edition of our Stuff We Like series includes everything from a whole collection of bike tools to splitboard skins, children’s books, goggles with a heads-up display, portable radios, and more. Here are some of the latest products that our reviewers have been testing and enjoying.
Angel Collinson, Mallory Duncan, Elyse Saugstad, & Vasu Sojitra: Stories from the Field (Ep.304)
Angel Collinson, Mallory Duncan, Elyse Saugstad, & Vasu Sojitra share stories about their all-time favorite days in the mountains; their scariest experiences; times they were the most starstruck; what they wish they could tell their younger selves; and more.
New Tech to Simplify Decision Making in the Backcountry (Ep.292)
After years in the backcountry and a near-death experience, IFMGA Guide, Jeff Banks, wanted to build a tool that could simplify and improve the decision-making of any backcountry user. The result is Aspect Avy. We talk with Jeff about how this app compares to and complements other backcountry tools; how it accounts for human factors; the general state of tech in the backcountry; and more.
RMU Launches New 2025 Ski Collection
RMU has launched their 2024-2025 ski collection, and it includes several brand-new models, updates to existing ones (including some favorites of our reviewers), and more. Here are the details.
Flash Review: 24/25 RMU Apostle 106
The Apostle 106 has been a favorite of a few of our reviewers, and we’ve been skiing the updated version. So, how similar or different is the new ski? Here are our initial thoughts.
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 RMU Apostle 106 Wood
Here are our measured specs, flex pattern numbers, and rocker profile pictures for the RMU Apostle 106 Wood.
Win MTB Gear from POC
The two winners of our Gear Giveaway this week will both get mountain bike riding gear from POC!
Brook Macdonald on Fresh Starts, DH Race Bike Design, Moving to Forbidden, & More (Ep.216)
Brook Macdonald’s return to racing World Cup DH after breaking his back at Mont Sainte Anne in 2019 was nothing short of remarkable, but the last few race seasons have still been difficult ones for Brook. On this week’s episode of Bikes & Big Ideas, he opens up about a lot of those struggles, and the things he’s changed in order to come into the 2024 season feeling refreshed, reenergized, and with a renewed hunger to compete.
Propain Sresh CF
Propain calls the new Sresh CF a lighter, more Trail-oriented eMTB alongside their burlier Ekano, but it’s got a full-power drive system and options for more Enduro-oriented builds, too. So what have they come up with? Check out our First Look for all the info.