BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Flash Review: 23/24 Volkl Secret 102
Update 12.11.23: We’ve been spending more time on Volkl’s updated Secret 102, and the initial results have been promising — check out our updated thoughts.
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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
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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
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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.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Ski / Snowboard Outerwear Roundup — Women’s (2023-2024)
This year we got in a whole lot of outerwear, from cozy insulated kits to burly shells — and a lot of those pieces are now on sale! In this roundup, we compare and contrast nearly a dozen of the latest women’s ski / snowboard jackets, pants, and bibs we’ve been testing.
2024-2025 Armada Locator 112
Our reviewer, Paul Forward, has been testing all sorts of touring skis for years, especially light and fat ones, and he says the Armada Locator 112 has “quickly become one of my favorite all-round skis for any of my human-powered skiing endeavors.” Check out our Full Review to see why.
Whiskey, Murder, and a Bunch of New Skis (Ep.293)
Luke and Jonathan discuss some of the new skis they’ve been testing this spring
Win MTB Gear from Crankbrothers
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get a bunch of mountain bike gear from Crankbrothers, including their Mallet Trail Clip-In shoes, any pair of their pedals, and an S.O.S. tool kit of the winner’s choice!
Reviewing the News w/ Ryan Palmer, March 2024 (Ep.217)
In their third installment of Reviewing The News, Ryan and Simon get into: the slopestyle strike; Scott’s apparent management instability; riding in Tuscany; some reflections on how we ever rode without dropper posts; and some new lightweight eMTBs running the hotrod Bosch SX motor — including the 39 lb Norco Fluid VLT.
Giant Trance X
Giant has updated their longstanding Trance platform with the new Trance X and Trance X SX. Both the Trance X and Trance X SX get a lot more adjustability, more aggressive geometry, and some other refinements. Dig into our First Look to get all of the details on what Giant has cooked up.
Flash Review — Yeti SB165
The new Yeti SB165 has grown a mullet, but it sticks with (mostly) very similar geometry to the outgoing 27.5’’-wheeled version. Check out our initial impressions of how it all comes together.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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RAAW Jibb V2
RAAW updated their Madonna V3 Enduro bike earlier this year, adding a lot of adjustability and refinements, and now their shorter-travel Jibb gets many of the same tweaks, updated geometry, and more. Check out our First Look for all the info.
Flash Review — 2024 Rocky Mountain Altitude
The new Rocky Mountain Altitude doesn’t look anything like the old one, but how much has the on-trail experience changed? Check out our impressions so far.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Flash Review — 2025 Fox 38 Grip X2
Fox says that their new Grip X2 damper offers substantially more support and composure than the Grip2 one that it replaces — and that sounds like the change that our Bike Editor was looking for. Check out his early impressions of the Grip-X2-equipped Fox 38 Fork.
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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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.