BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Paddy O’Leary on Winning the 112th Dipsea; Trail Running Film Recs; & the Broken Arrow Skyrace (Ep.177)
The North Face athlete Paddy O’Leary recently won the 112th running of the storied Dipsea, the oldest trail race in the US. So, we sat down to talk to him about its eccentric history; comically brutal course; the various films that have been inspired by it; and a whole lot more.
Flash Review: 23/24 RMU Professor 121
RMU recently revived their OG pow ski, the Professor — check out our initial thoughts on how the Professor 121 compares to the current market.
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Blister Brand Guide: Scott Running Shoe Lineup, 2023
Scott has quietly been making a wide range of performance footwear for both roads and trails since 2006, when they contracted a research and development lab in Portland, Oregon to help them design a lineup of shoes to meet the diverse demands of their athletes. Now over 15 years old, Scott’s trail and road running lines continue to offer innovative options for all sorts of runners. Check out our Brand Guide to learn more.
Deep Dives w/ Angel (Hot Mess Edition), June 2023 (Ep.265)
Angel Collinson has some big news to share: she’s back on land, and she’s considering a return to skiing. Then Angel and Jonathan dive deep into the topic of forgiveness; reflect on Mary McIntyre’s excellent Open Mic piece; and also discuss hot sauce, twerking, and John Collinson’s important question for his sister.
Win a Blister Membership
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get a free year-long Blister Membership!
2023 Revel Ranger
Blurring the line between World Cup Cross-Country race rigs and short-travel Trail bikes, the Ranger brings a mix of efficiency and capability to the table that we think could work for a lot of riders.
Kästle Ski Boots: Origins, Design, & 23/24 Lineup (Ep.250)
For decades, Kästle has been making high-end skis for everything from racing to Nordic and skimo. But what sparked their recent launch into the ski boot category? It’s far from a simple process, so we talked to Alessandro Speranzoni, Kästle’s global ski boot product engineer, and Alex Pritzlaff, their U.S. product manager, to get all the details on the backstory and latest collection of Kästle ski boots.
Scott Ultra Carbon RC
The Ultra Carbon RC feels like the end product of a meticulously conceived concept. Scott pours an indulgent amount of resources into the shoe, but it’s headlined by an innovative carbon plate designed to prevent the stability issues that have sunk plated trail models in the past. Check out our full review to learn more.
Wyn Masters on his Privateer Program, the 2023 DH Race Landscape, & More (Ep.174)
Wyn Masters’ updated Privateer Program is an outstanding effort from a well-established racer to support up-and-comers, so we sat down to chat with him about that; how the rule updates for the 2023 season change things for racers trying to make it at the highest level, and more.
Flash Review: 23/24 Salomon QST Echo 106
UPDATE 6.14.23: Luke Koppa adds his thoughts on the QST Echo 106, including comparisons to several other touring skis from 4FRNT, WNDR Alpine, Moment, Volkl, & Line.
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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Rum Rules: Montanya Distillers’ Karen Hoskin (Ep.28)
Today we’re discussing the rules of rum with Karen Hoskin, founder of Montanya Distillers, which produces some of the best rum in the country.
2023 Rocky Mountain Slayer
“Freeride” bikes are having a bit of a moment again after the term fell out of the conversation for a while, and Rocky Mountain’s longstanding take on the genre, the Slayer, just got a big update.
Olivia Amber on Endless Summers; Her Huemul Circuit FKT; & Fastpacking 101 (Ep.176)
The North Face athlete Olivia Amber spent the first few months of 2023 road tripping through South America, running, climbing (and occasionally fly fishing) along the way. We caught up with her to hear all about it before launching into a discussion about summer fastpacking best practices, gear tips, and more.
The State of Startups in the Outdoor Industry (Ep.264)
Ever dreamed of starting your own business in the outdoor industry? We discuss the state of startups in the outdoor industry with Moosejaw CEO, Eoin Comerford. And as the CEO of an outdoor retail company — as well as his work with the Moosejaw Outdoor Accelerator, where Eoin works closely with new companies and founders — Eoin is extremely well positioned to talk about the startup landscape today, and he provides numerous thoughts, tips, and bits of advice about funding, what success looks like; and more.
Flash Review — Manitou Mattoc Pro
We’ve been big fans of the Manitou Mezzer Pro for a while now, so is the new Mattoc Pro a mini-Mezzer or something else entirely? We’ve been logging time on the Mattoc and are ready to weigh in with our 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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BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Skiing with Your Eyes Closed, Shop Pizza, Egg Beaters, & Ski Boots with Greg Klein (Ep.276)
Shane McConkey’s college roommate is back, and Jonathan talks to Greg (president of Willi’s Ski & Snowboard Shops) about all the stuff in the episode title, plus the $10,000 bet made at our Blister Summit that it looks like he’s won?
2023-2024 Tecnica Zero G Peak Carbon
Despite it being Tecnica’s first foray into the 1-kg class of touring boots, the Zero G Peak Carbon is an extremely impressive product. Check out our full review to learn more, including how it compares to several other boots in its class.
Win Any Renoun Ski
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get to pick any unique, “VibeStop”-equipped Renoun ski they want!
EXT’s Franco Fratton on the History, Basics, & Details of MTB Suspension (Ep.200)
EXT founder Franco Fratton has more experience working on suspension than just about anyone, and today, we’re revisiting our first conversation with him that kicked off our “Very Deep Dive on Suspension” series, where we discuss all the details when it comes to suspension design and tech.
2023-2024 Nidecker Supermatic Snowboard Binding
For decades, brands have been trying to come up with snowboard bindings that are quicker and easier when it comes to getting into and out of them. However, those attempts have historically come with various downsides. With their Supermatic binding, Nidecker aimed to address those compromises while maximizing ease of use. So, how’d they do? We spent all of last season in them — check out our full review.
Flash Review: 23/24 Blizzard Rustler 9
Blizzard updated all their Rustler & Sheeva skis this season, including the Rustler 9, which features a new width and new construction. Check out our initial on-snow 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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2023-2024 J Skis Joyride
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the J Skis The Joyride.
‘Here, Hold My Kid’ with Elyse Saugstad & Jonathan Ellsworth (Ep.5)
We talk with Elyse Saugstad, one of the stars of Here, Hold My Kid, about the hilarious new film she made with fellow professional skier, Jackie Paaso, and their husbands, Cody Townsend and Reine Barkered, who also happen to be professional skiers, which of course doesn’t matter, because this film is not about them…
Blister Holiday Gift Guide 2023 — Kids & Parents Edition
Rounding out our Holiday Gift Guide series this year is a collection of gift ideas that we think would be great for outdoor-oriented kids and parents — or those who are looking for new ways to spend more time outside with their little ones.
Canfield One.2 Super Enduro
The Canfield One.2 Super Enduro isn’t like most modern Enduro bikes — starting with the fact that it’s built around a DH/Freeride frame — and the on-trail performance stands out in some surprising ways. Check out our full review to find out how.
Blister’s Holiday Gift Guide 2023 – In The Garage
Next up in our annual holiday gift guide series are the bigger-ticket — or just plain bigger — gifts that you might need to hide in the garage.
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.
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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