BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Contra Bikes on Making the MC a Reality (Ep.193)
Designing and prototyping a bike is hard work, but bringing one to production adds a whole new set of challenges, and we sat down with Evan Turpen of Contra Bikes to hear all about getting his US-made steel high-pivot Enduro bike, the MC, out into the world.
Cotic Jeht Gen2
The new Cotic Jeht may not look very different from the original, but Cotic’s engineers have by no means been taking it easy — there are lots of subtle tweaks that add up to a compelling-looking end result. Check out our First Look for the rundown on their updated do-it-all Trail bike.
Stuff We Like: October 2023
October’s edition of our Stuff We Like series includes a bunch of great gear, including our bike editor’s current favorite rain shell and high-volume hip pack, as well as some excellent pain-relieving ointment, boat-friendly apparel and packs, and more. Check it out to see all the latest stuff our reviewers have been digging.
Mountain Ops
Based in Stowe, Vermont, Mountain Ops has become well-known for its welcoming atmosphere, excellent customer service, and dedication to human-powered pursuits.
What We’re Wearing, Skiing 23/24: Luke Koppa
Most of our reviews and conversations have the goal of helping you, our audience, figure out what gear might work best for you and your particular preferences, circumstances, etc. However, it can be fun (and sometimes, maybe, even illuminating) to occasionally shrug off the cloak of objectivity and just talk about what we personally use and enjoy. In our new “What We’re Wearing” series, we’re doing just that, having several of our reviewers run us through their head-to-toe kits for this winter. First up, our managing editor and self-diagnosed apparel obsessive, Luke Koppa.
Ski Areas, Sustainability, & Getting Ready for Opening Day with Taos Ski Valley COO, John Kelly (Ep.283)
What goes into getting a ski area ready for opening day? We discuss snow making, maintaining & operating chairlifts, and ski area culture and sustainability with Taos Ski Valley’s chief operations officer, John Kelly.
Boulder Orthotics
Boulder Orthotics is a women-owned, and women-led bootfitting operation. They deliver the full range of bootfitting customization and modifications. With over 25 years of experience, a background in pedorthics, and a passion for getting it right, schedule an appointment to redefine the way your ski boots fit.
Our 23/24 BLISTER Winter Buyer’s Guide Recap (Ep.268)
We brought together several of our reviewers to discuss our latest Winter Buyer’s Guide; give out our unofficial “RIP,” “Good Riddance,” and new “Best Glow-Up” awards; cover what we’re most excited to get on this season, and much more.
Commencal Supreme DH V5
The Commencal Supreme V5 has been one of the most successful World Cup DH race bikes over the last two seasons, and it’s a great option for folks who want a go-fast DH bike — even if you don’t plan on sticking a number plate to it anytime soon.
Win Skis from 4FRNT
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get their choice of 4FRNT’s Raven or Hoji skis, both of which are repeat winners of our “Best Of” award!
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.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
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.
Deep Dive: Armada ARG II UL
We compare the ARG II UL to the previous ARG II, Armada ARV 116 JJ UL, Heritage Lab C132, K2 Crescendo, Folsom G-Wagon, Liberty Genome, Faction La Machine 5 Max, Moment Chipotle Banana, 4FRNT Renegade, Folsom Rapture, Atomic Bent Chetler 120, and some other, more conventional powder skis.
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K2 Announces 24/25 Reckoner & Omen Skis + New Ski Boots
K2 is overhauling nearly all of their freestyle skis for 24/25, from fat pow sticks to competition park & pipe models. They’re also launching several new boots, including two lightweight 140-flex models & a Karl Fostvedt 3-piece pro model. Here are all the details.
Flash Review — 2024 Rocky Mountain Instinct
The new Rocky Mountain Instinct got much, much slacker than the outgoing model, and a lot of other details have changed, too. Check out our early impressions of how that all comes together on the trail.
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Flash Review — 2024 Norco Sight
We’ve been spending time on both of Norco’s new high-pivot bikes. Check out our early impressions of the 150mm-travel Sight.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Flash Review: 24/25 Atomic Bent 100
Atomic has updated the popular Bent 100 for 24/25, and we just got our first few days on the new ski. Here are our initial thoughts on how it compares the previous version and the wider Bent models.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Hoji, Cody, Trevor, & Teton: Stories from the Field (Ep.299)
Trevor Kennison, Teton Brown, Cody Townsend, & Hoji swap stories about their experiences in the mountains & more.
2024-2025 Volkl Revolt 114
We were a bit surprised when we first saw the Volkl Revolt 114. It bears the same family name as their very playful, freestyle-oriented models, yet its overall design seems more in line with much more directional freeride options. So, is it some weird mutant of a ski? Check out our Full Review & Deep Dive comparisons to find out.
Deep Dive: Volkl Revolt 114
We compare the Revolt 114 to the Volkl Revolt 121, Volkl Katana 108, Moment Wildcat, Rossignol Blackops 118, DPS Koala 118, DPS Koala 111, Rossignol Sender Free 110, Dynastar M-Free 118, Rossignol Sender Squad, Meier Leeper, J Skis Friend, Prior Northwest 116, Black Crows Anima, Line Blade Optic 114, Salomon QST Blank, Icelantic Nomad 115, Moment Countach 110, Nordica Unleashed 114, Moment Deathwish, 4FRNT Hoji, K2 Mindbender 108Ti, Head Kore 111, RMU North Shore 114, Head Oblivion 116, Parlor McFellon Pro, Nordica Enforcer 110 Free, & Blizzard Rustler 11.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Jeremy Jones on Gear Reviews; Gear Mistakes; Soft vs. Hard Boots; & More (Ep.287)
Jeremy & Jonathan discuss gear reviews; the biggest gear mistakes; full-camber vs. no-camber boards; soft vs. hard boots (including Shane McConkey’s tinkering on that front); & more.
Win Any Ferreol Ski
The winner of this week’s Gear Giveaway will get their choice of any ski from Ferreol’s lineup!
Flash Review: 23/24 Stöckli Montero AR
The Montero AR is Stöckli’s 84mm-wide “All-Mountain Piste” model — here are our initial on-snow impressions.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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