Eric Freson 
We’ve spent the past few months riding the least-expensive version of Ibis’s least-expensive bike, the Ripley AF. All of our reviewers came away impressed, and you can check out our video and written reviews for the whole story.
Update 8.3.21: Luke Koppa adds his thoughts on Ibis’s budget-friendly, shorter-travel Trail bike.
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Eric Freson has been spending time (in the backcountry & resort) in Salomon’s newest offering in the “50/50” category of AT boots. Here are some of his thoughts.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are produced for Blister members.
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We’ve had two reviewers spending a lot of time on Banshee’s recently revised, “hard charging short travel 29er,” the Phantom V3. Check out our full review.
We’ve now had two reviewers riding Revel’s 165mm-travel bike, the Rail, and they’ve both come away very impressed by its versatility. Check out our full review to see why, and how it compares to some other options in its class.
For six months now, we’ve had three different reviewers riding the recently overhauled Santa Cruz Hightower. Check out our long-term review to see why we think this 140 mm 29er is so versatile, and how it compares to the previous Hightower, Hightower LT, Megatower, & Yeti SB130.
We’ve now had two reviewers on Santa Cruz’s 160mm-travel 29er and have updated our review with more thoughts on what kinds of riders will appreciate it and how it compares to its predecessor, the Santa Cruz Hightower LT.
We like honest and accurate descriptions of gear, and Moment’s note about their Commander 118 being “not for the faint of heart” is accurate. Check out our full review for more details about this big-mountain charger.
The Giro Method is far from the most expensive goggle on the market, yet it offers excellent optics and a versatile fit, all of which have made it one of our favorite goggles for those on a budget. Check out our full review.
Check out Eric Freson’s initial on-snow impressions of Moment’s big gun, the Commander 118.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are produced for Blister members.
To get our comprehensive deep dives and our initial, unfiltered reports on new gear without waiting for our full reviews, become a Blister Member and receive many other services, deals, and discounts.
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We’ve been spending time on the big gun in Fischer’s all-mountain lineup, the Ranger 107 Ti, and you can now check out our full review.
Specialized recently released a new Enduro, but whether you’re looking at the resale market, don’t love the new Enduro’s geometry or 29er-only design, or are just looking for a versatile Enduro / Trail bike, we think the Enduro 27.5 still deserves strong consideration. Check out Eric Freson’s full review, and Luke Koppa also adds his thoughts from the perspective of a newcomer to the sport.
After 3 months of testing, here is our full review of both Pivot’s Mach 5.5 Carbon bike, and Fox’s “Live Valve” electronic suspension system that’s available on the Mach 5.5.
Our reviewer calls the Pivot Firebird 29 the “Firechicken,” because it’s a long-travel 29er that descends like it’s on fire, and has a speed limit that’s primarily defined by how chicken you are. Check out our full review.
Age: 31 | Vitals: 5’’10” 165 lbs | Years biking: 26 | Current Residence: Gunnison Valley, Colorado Background I grew up in small-town Vermont, and was encouraged to get outside from a very young age. My first bike was a 20” BMX bike that our … Read more
Eric Freson, Crested Butte, CO. (photo by Andrew Buergin) Age: 31 | Vitals: 5’’10”, 180 lbs | Years skiing: 26 | Current Residence: Gunnison Valley, Colorado Background: I grew up in small-town Vermont, and was encouraged to get outside from a very young age. I … Read more