BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Coffee Gear, Pt. 5: One-Year Update on Jonathan’s Coffee Setup & Journey (Ep.82)
Eli talks with Jonathan Ellsworth about what’s new in his setup; what he’s learned (or rejected) from the depths of coffee forums and online videos; and whether his coffee journey has been a brilliant pursuit of flavor, or just an expensive rabbit hole.
Santa Cruz Hightower 4
The 4th-generation Santa Cruz Hightower isn’t just a mid-travel All-Mountain bike — it’s a confident descender that could have been a true Enduro bike just a few years ago. With stable, versatile geometry and plush suspension, the Hightower 4 stands out as a capable one-bike quiver option.
Deep Dive: Santa Cruz Hightower 4
We compare the Santa Cruz Hightower 4 to the Santa Cruz Hightower 3, Santa Cruz Bronson 5, Santa Cruz Megatower 2, Santa Cruz Tallboy 5, Specialized Stumpjumper 15, Ibis Ripmo V3, Spot Mayhem 140, Cannondale Habit, Pivot Shadowcat, Transition Sentinel V3, and Trek Fuel EX Gen 7.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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‘Chasing The Triple Crown’ w/ Hannah Otto (Ep. 49)
Hannah Otto has been ticking off impressive FKTs, and her latest film documents the highs and lows of her White Rim record-breaking effort, as well as the struggles of riding and filming in very unforgiving terrain.
Chromag Reazon
Chromag’s latest full-suspension bike, the Reazon, slots in between the Darco and Lowdown in their lineup — and Chromag is touting its versatility first and foremost. Take a look at how the brand best known for making aggressive hardtails went about making a full-suspension All-Mountain bike.
Spark R&D + ATK Bindings: a New Collab Sparked at the Blister Summit
Today’s episode contains a number of “firsts.” So tune in to learn about a new collab between Spark R&D and ATK bindings, or tune in to hear Jonathan caught completely off guard multiple times.
Mountain In My Mind: When Ski Films Talk About What We Don’t (Ep.370)
Filmmaker John Padilla joins us to talk about his ski film series, Mountain In My Mind, and how he’s opening the conversation about mental health in mountain communities.
Flash Review: Fox 34 SL
Cross-Country race courses have gotten a lot gnarlier in recent years, and bikes and parts have had to adapt. The new Fox 34 SL offers up to 130 mm of travel in a very lightweight package, but how does it ride? We are ready to share first impressions from a few rides with Fox’s new race-oriented XC 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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Win Apparel From Curious Creatures & Party Shirt International
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get a pair of Bitterroot Bloom or Sun Dog shorts from Curious Creatures and a Sun Hoodie from Party Shirt International!
Formula Selva V
Formula’s latest twist on their single-crown All-Mountain / Enduro fork, the Selva V, defies convention within the category a bit — and will be a great option for the right riders for it.
Casey Brown on Dark Horse, Rampage, Women’s Protective Gear, & More (Ep.287)
Casey Brown is back on Bikes & Big Ideas to talk about the past, present, and future of women’s freeride; the resurrection of Dark Horse; year two of women in Rampage; the state of women’s protective gear & how to improve it; and a whole lot more.
2026 Norco Revolver 120 & 130
The all-new Norco Revolver 120 & 130 are built on a redesigned carbon frame with updated geometry as well as Norco’s first “Flex-Pivot” suspension design, shedding weight in the pursuit of Cross-Country podiums and easier miles. Check out our First Look for all the details.
The Cast Iron Comeback: Field Company Co-Founder, Stephen Muscarella (Ep.81)
Eli talks with Stephen Muscarella about how a vintage pan sparked a journey to reimagine cast iron from the ground up. They get into what makes cast iron so special — and so misunderstood; the small design choices that lead to better cooking; and what Field is doing to bring back the use of cast iron in modern cooking.
Tectonic Alibi Flat Pedals
Tectonic has taken the winning formula of their Altar V2 pedal and adapted it to a composite (and much cheaper) version: the Alibi. Does it match the Altar V2’s strong performance, or is the Alibi something else altogether? We’ve been riding them for a few months and have thoughts.
Flash Review: Shimano XT M8200 Di2 Drivetrain and Brakes
Update 8.12.25: We’ve started spending time on the 9-45 tooth cassette version of the new Shimano XT Di2 Drivetrain, and have some thoughts on how it stacks up against the standard 10-51 tooth version.
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:
Salsa Blackthorn 125 C & Blackthorn 145 C
Salsa’s Blackthorn 145 C offers class-leading efficiency, making it a very inspiring climber, but are there sacrifices made elsewhere to attain that level of climbing performance? We’ve had multiple editors in different locations spend time on the Blackthorn 145 and aim to answer that question and more in our Full Review.
Deep Dive: Salsa Blackthorn 145 C
We compare the Salsa Blackthorn to the Rocky Mountain Instinct, Transition Sentinel V3, Santa Cruz Bronson 5, Santa Cruz Hightower 4, Spot Mayhem 140, Esker Woodsy, Propain Tyee, Norco Sight, Transition Sentinel V3, and Kona Process 153.
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 Summit Reveal, Winter Buyer’s Guide Update, & a Challenge to Outdoor Brands (Ep.360)
Today we’re spilling the beans on the new dates – and new location — of Blister Summit 2026. Then we give a quick update on our Winter Buyer’s Guide, and wrap up with an important challenge to all outdoor brands.
Blister Summit 2026: What, When, & How to Join
Join us at Blister Summit 2026 this April 13-17! We’re extremely excited to host our sixth Summit at Snowbird, Utah this season — here are the details.
Win PHANTOM Glide Ski / Snowboard Kits
The five winners of our Gear Giveaway this week will each get a PHANTOM Glide Single Application Kit!
Revel Ritual
The Revel Ritual is a long-travel 29er built for Enduro racing, but after two months of testing, it proved to be far more versatile than expected. With efficient climbing and playful yet capable descending, the Ritual feels just as at home just about anywhere. Check out our Full Review for the whole story.
Deep Dive: Revel Ritual
We compare the Revel Ritual to the Revel Rail 19, Canfield Lithium, Canfield One.2 Super Enduro, Santa Cruz Megatower 2, Intense Tracer 279, Transition Spire, Ibis Ripmo v3, Santa Cruz Hightower 4, Santa Cruz Bronson 5, and Specialized Stumpjumper 15 Evo.
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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Reviewing the News w/ Mike Ferrentino & Simon Stewart (Ep.290)
Mike and Simon discuss why many of us who have been riding bikes for years and are fit and healthy should still get a calcium test to look for heart disease; plus a recap of the wild World Cup in Les Gets, and more.
Stuff We Like: August 2025
From high-end coolers and rain jackets to ultralight trail pants, fishing sunglasses, and even youth outdoor gear, this month’s Stuff We Like roundup highlights the products our team has been testing and loving. Whether you’re traveling, biking, fishing, or just gearing up for everyday adventures, here are the standout picks for August 2025.
Flash Review: Chromag Reazon
Chromag’s full-suspension lineup is growing, and the new Reazon is the mid-travel bike meant to be the most versatile option within it. Here are our early 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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Brage Vestavik, ‘Trolldom’ w/ Dylan Wood & Simon Stewart (Ep.50)
Brage Vestavik just dropped one of the most savage mountain bike edits we’ve ever seen. It’s gripping and raw, with huge-consequence riding. So today, Dylan and Simon dissect it all, then ask the question: ‘Thor’s hammer, or a surgeon’s scalpel?’
Reviewing the News w/ Cody Townsend, August 2025 (Ep.372)
Cody & Jonathan discuss climbing’s latest social media star who is going viral for free soloing; what to do about ‘Poop Lake’; Vail CEO, Rob Katz’s recent interview; mountain town advice; and more.