Blister Recommended Shops

Blister Recommended Shops, BLISTER

We love great shops. We hang out in them, we’ve worked in them, we depend on them, and the best ones do a few key things:

(1) They welcome beginners and help them grow their passion for the sport — we’re not into shops that talk down to or discourage those looking to get started.

(2) They are ready to take care of diehards and experts, too. This rules out a lot of shops that are staffed by people who aren’t very knowledgeable or passionate about the equipment they’re servicing or selling.

BLISTER Shops are a collection of the best service–oriented shops in the world. These are the places we trust most in a given locale to work on our boots, to wrench on our bikes, to tune our skis, and to recommend the right equipment. It’s not to say that there aren’t some other great shops out there, but these are the ones we can and will vouch for.

BLISTER Shops also support our mission to produce fully honest, independent reviews, and enable us to remain 100% free of advertising dollars from the gear manufacturers we review.

So check these shops out, and tell them we sent you. Then let us know how it goes — your feedback is an important part of our review process to keep our shops list legit.

Navigation:  Ski Shops //  Bike Shops

Ski Shops

ALPENGLOW SPORTS — Tahoe City, California

Not only is Alpenglow Sports an excellent shop, it is also at the epicenter of Lake Tahoe outdoor culture.


BACKCOUNTRY ESSENTIALS — Bellingham, Washington

With its excellent reputation for ski and boot fitting services, a massive beer fridge, and (among other things) it being the only shop between Seattle and Whistler that installs Quiver Killers, Backcountry Essentials is worth a visit whether you live in the Bellingham area, are visiting, or want to support a local shop through online sales.


BLACK SHEEP SPORTS — Munich, Germany

Black Sheep Sports is the premier freeride shop in Munich. From an impressive selection of boutique skis, to excellent bootfitting, and Bavarian beer, Black Sheep has it all.

BLUEBIRD MOUNTAIN SPORTS — Santa Fe, New Mexico 

Bluebird Mountain Sports is the place to go for ski gear and tuning, bootfitting, and more in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

BOONE MOUNTAIN SPORTS — Evergreen, Colorado 

Boone Mountain Sports is a family-owned and operated ski and snowboard shop in Evergreen, Colorado, and they offer a whole lot more than just amazing gear, including an unforgettable customer experience, word-class bootfitting and ski services, a brewery and coffee shop, and a place to connect with the community.

BOOT MECHANICS PROFESSIONAL BOOTFITTERS — Golden & Avon, Colorado 

Boot Mechanics is an impressive operation with a team of truly professional bootfitters, all of whom are MasterFit Certified with years of experience, with two locations in Golden and Avon, Colorado.

BOULDER ORTHOTICS — Boulder, Colorado 

Boulder Orthotics is a women-owned, and women-led bootfitting operation. They work to 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. 


BUTTE & CO. — Crested Butte, Colorado

If you need to rent or tune gear in Crested Butte, Butte & Co. has our highest recommendation.


GEAR WEST ALPINE — Long Lake, Minnesota

Gear West is not only one of the largest shops in the midwest, it is also one of the best.


GNOMES ALPINE SPORTS — Darfield, New Zealand

Gnomes is the shop we trust and where we gear up on our way to the club fields of Canterbury, New Zealand.

HICKORY & TWEED — Armonk, New York

This family-owned-and-operated ski shop provides excellent customer service, with a major focus on quality in-store experiences for every customer.

LONE PINE GEAR EXCHANGE — Salt Lake City, Utah

Lone Pine Gear Exchange is far from your average ski shop – In addition to their extensive collection of new gear, they have a large consignment program, a gear repair program, a commitment to sustainability, plus a knowledgeable staff and full service center.


MOMENT FACTORY STORE — Reno, Nevada

The Moment Factory Store is much more than just a ski factory. They offer a curated selection of hardgoods, in addition to a robust array of ski and bootfitting services, and an impressive demo program.

MOUNTAIN OPS — Stowe, Vermont 

Based in Stowe, Vermont, Mountain Ops has become well-known for its welcoming atmosphere, excellent customer service, and dedication to human-powered pursuits.


OUTDOOR GEAR EXCHANGE — Burlington, Vermont

A huge, comprehensive inventory, excellent service, and multiple community and conservation programs — OGE isn’t your typical shop.

OUTSIDE SPORTS — Queenstown, Wanaka, Te Anau, & Tekapo, New Zealand

Outside Sports is a premier ski, bike, and outdoor retailer with multiple locations, and they have all your outdoor gear needs covered no matter the season, whether online or in-store.

PARK CITY BOOT ROOM — Park City, Utah

When it comes to specialty bootfitting, particularly for those who ask a lot of their boots, spend countless days on skis, or really need to address some complex issues in order to enhance their time out on the hill, there are few places that have the breadth of experience as Matt Schiller at Park City Boot Room. 

POWDER7 — Golden, Colorado

Powder7 has a robust online retail presence and an equally well-stocked showroom. Located in Golden, Powder7 is worth a visit.


POWDER HOUND SKI SHOP — Girdwood, Alaska

Whether you’re headed to Alyeska Resort, flying with Chugach Powder Guides, or ski touring around Girdwood or Anchorage, Alaska, Powder Hound is the shop you should visit for all things ski and snowboard related.


PRO SKI & MOUNTAIN SERVICE — North Bend, Washington

A knowledgeable and extremely qualified staff dedicated to customer service makes Pro Ski & Mountain Service our choice of shop in the North Bend area.


PULSE BOOT LAB & SKI CO — Revelstoke, British Columbia

Cutting edge, science-based custom bootfitting in multiple locations across Canada.

ROUND HOUSE SPORTS CENTER – Bozeman, MT

Round House Sports has been a staple on Main Street in Bozeman, MT for over 50 years best known for its excellent customer service & year-round gear selection.  

SKIBOOT RX — Billings, Montana

Best known for its high-quality bootfitting, large selection of alpine and backcountry gear, and ski and board services in the Billings area.

SKI CONNEXIONS — Whistler, British Columbia 

Ski Connexions is a unique one-man bootfitting operation by the highly skilled Barry Allison, and is the place to go for bootfitting in Whistler, CA to ensure the best possible experience out on the hill.


THE SKIER’S SPORTSHOP — Edmonton, Alberta

This family-owned shop has over 50 years of experience supplying skiers and riders in the Edmonton, Alberta area.


THE SKI MONSTER — Boston, Massachusetts

The Ski Monster is our go-to shop for all things ski and snowboard-related in Boston — plus, they have an excellent e-commerce site for those all around the world.


SNOWBOUND – NSW, Australia 

Snowbound is a family-owned shop on Sydney’s North Shore in Australia. This store offers a top-notch assortment of ski equipment and services.


SPOKANE ALPINE HAUS — Spokane, Washington

If you’re in Spokane and looking for a ski / ride shop with excellent customer service and highly skilled techs, head over to Spokane Alpine Haus. Locally owned for more than 40 years.


STURTEVANTS — Ketchum & Hailey, Idaho

In a town with more ski shops per capita than just about anywhere, Sturtevants stands out for their large selection of gear, knowledgeable staff, and community involvement.

VEMDALEN SKI SHOP Vemdalen, Sweden

At Vemdalen Ski Shop, you are guaranteed a great shopping experience with a knowledgeable staff, an authentic atmosphere, and excellent gear. 

VERTICAL PLAYGROUND Oppdal, Norway

If you live in Norway or are planning to visit, we recommend you check out Vertical Playground.

WILLI’S — Pittsburgh & Seven Springs Mountain Resort, Pennsylvania

A full-service specialty ski and snowboard shop with 3 locations in the Pittsburgh area, including 2 city locations and one shop that is 150 feet from the chairlift. In-person or online, Willi’s is worth a visit.

ZIMMERMANN’S – Nashua, New Hampshire

A longstanding ski and snowboard shop in Nashua, NH with plenty to offer everyone from beginners to expert skiers and snowboarders, to families passionate about getting their kids on the hill. They offer the full gamut of services, season leases, & a wide selection of gear.

Bike Shops

BUENA VISTA BIKE COMPANY — Buena Vista, Colorado

BV Bike Co is both an outstanding bike shop and the purveyor of waffles so addictive that we’ve dubbed them “crack waffles”.

OVER THE EDGE  — Fruita, Colorado; Hurricane, Utah; Melrose, Australia; & Todos Santos, Mexico

Over The Edge has more than 25 years of experience as a core mountain bike shop, dedicated to serving their customers with top notch sales and service, as well as leading trail building efforts in their communities.

FANATIK — Bellingham, Washington

Fanatik is an outstanding mountain bike-specific shop in Bellingham, WA, with a focus on custom bike and wheel builds, and a large e-commerce presence.

Again, check these shops out, and tell them we sent you. Then let us know how it goes — your feedback is an important part of our review process to keep our shops list legit.

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