Reviews

Blister reviews the Santa Cruz Vala

Santa Cruz Vala

by
Santa Cruz’s new Vala brings a full-power Bosch motor to the Santa Cruz lineup, but the biggest surprise here is perhaps the move away from VPP toward a more typical four-bar suspension layout. There’s a lot more to the Vala though, so join us as we walk through the details.

Stuff We Like: September 2024

by
This edition of our ‘Stuff We Like’ series is all about apparel — from ultralight rain shells to versatile baselayers, cozy insulators, bike shorts, and much more. Check it out to learn more about the standout products our reviewers have been testing.
Blister reviews the Ohlins DH38 & RXF38 Coil Spring Kits

Ohlins DH38 & RXF38 Coil Spring Kits

by
The Ohlins Coil Spring Kit lets owners of the RXF38 m.2 and DH38 m.1 forks convert them to metal-sprung setups. With seven available spring rates and a compelling price, it’s an interesting option for fans of coil springs — check out our First Look for the details.
Blister reviews the Fox Live Valve Neo electronic shocks

Fox Live Valve Neo Electronic Shocks

by
Fox’s original Live Valve electronically controlled suspension has been around for quite a while now, but it never became a common sight on the trails. So, Fox went back to the drawing board and came up with Live Valve Neo — a wireless, dramatically streamlined second generation. Check out what they’ve come up with.
Noah Bodman reviews the Kona Process 134 for Blister

Flash Review — Kona Process 134

by
Kona recently revised their longstanding Trail bike, and it's shaping up to be an impressive offering. Here are our initial 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.

If you’re already a 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 reviews the 2024 Rocky Mountain Instinct

2024 Rocky Mountain Instinct

by
It’s no big surprise that Rocky Mountain is touting the versatility of their 140mm-travel Trail bike, the Instinct — but what they’ve cooked up is pretty interesting, and it stands out from the do-it-all Trail bike market in some interesting ways. Check out our Full Review and Deep Dive comparisons to discover what sets it apart.
David Golay reviews the OneUp V3 dropper post

OneUp V3 Dropper Post

by
OneUp’s longstanding V2 dropper post might be the most widely used one out there — so have they managed to improve things with the V3 iteration, or messed up a great product? We’ve been riding the V3 for the better part of a year and are ready to weigh in.
David Golay reviews the 2025 Fox 38 Grip X2

2025 Fox 38 Grip X2

by
The most noticeable update to Fox’s latest fork lineup was its (optional) and un-subtle gold paint, but the showy exterior hides a new series of dampers, and we’ve been testing the Grip X2 version of the Fox 38 fork. Now we’re ready to offer our take on the results of the update, how the new 38 and Grip X2 damper fare against the competition, and whether they’d be a good fit for you.
Zack Henderson review the Frameworks Enduro

Frameworks Enduro

by
Frameworks is releasing a limited first run of their Enduro frame. Drawing plenty of inspiration from the Downhill frame released last year, the US-made Enduro frame stands out from the crowd with unique construction details and intriguing geometry. Our First Look has the details.
+ More