BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles

‘Wild’ with Amie Engerbretson & Jonathan Ellsworth (Ep.51)
Amie & Jonathan discuss Wild, Cheryl Strayed’s best-selling book that was turned into a hit movie starring Reese Witherspoon and Laura Dern — both of whom were nominated for Oscars for their stellar performances.

Blister Mountain Bike Buyer’s Guide: Enduro Bikes
The second chapter of our Mountain Bike Buyer’s Guide is live, comparing more than two dozen current Enduro bikes, from game-on race bikes to playful Freeride-oriented options, and everything in between.
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.
If you’re already an active member, please log in.
(If you’re already logged in and a member in good standing and seeing this message in error, please refresh this page in your browser.)

Nick Goepper on X Games Gold, Olympic Pressure, & Skiing in Jeans (Ep.373)
Olympic medalist and X Games champion, Nick Goepper, provides a behind-the-scenes look at the mindset, struggles, and triumphs of one of skiing’s most recognizable athletes.

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.
If you’re already an active member, please log in.
(If you’re already logged in and a member in good standing and seeing this message in error, please refresh this page in your browser.)

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.
If you’re already an active member, please log in.
(If you’re already logged in and a member in good standing and seeing this message in error, please refresh this page in your browser.)

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.
If you’re already an active member, please log in.
(If you’re already logged in and a member in good standing and seeing this message in error, please refresh this page in your browser.)

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.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:

‘Wild’ with Amie Engerbretson & Jonathan Ellsworth (Ep.51)
Amie & Jonathan discuss Wild, Cheryl Strayed’s best-selling book that was turned into a hit movie starring Reese Witherspoon and Laura Dern — both of whom were nominated for Oscars for their stellar performances.

Blister Mountain Bike Buyer’s Guide: Enduro Bikes
The second chapter of our Mountain Bike Buyer’s Guide is live, comparing more than two dozen current Enduro bikes, from game-on race bikes to playful Freeride-oriented options, and everything in between.

Nick Goepper on X Games Gold, Olympic Pressure, & Skiing in Jeans (Ep.373)
Olympic medalist and X Games champion, Nick Goepper, provides a behind-the-scenes look at the mindset, struggles, and triumphs of one of skiing’s most recognizable athletes.

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 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.

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.