Mountain Bike Reviews

Dylan Wood reviews the Camelback M.U.L.E. 14 Pro 100 oz for Blister

Camelbak M.U.L.E. Pro 14 100 oz

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Camelbak is a very well-known name when it comes to hydration packs, and the M.U.L.E. name has been in their lineup since the ‘90s. This experience definitely shows in the M.U.L.E. Pro 14 100 oz, and it has a generous feature set and storage space that could work for a lot of riders.
David Golay reviews the Hope Tech 4 V4 for Blister

Hope Tech 4 V4

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Hope’s disc brakes got a major overhaul in the form of the new Tech 4 generation earlier this year, and that brought a very major increase in power to the range. But how does their burliest brake, the Tech 4 V4, compare to the competition? Check out our full review.
David Golay and Luke Koppa review the Giro Latch for Blister

Giro Latch Flat Pedal Shoe

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The Giro Latch is a flat pedal shoe designed for all-around use, going squarely head-to-head with the venerable Five Ten Freerider Pro, and the Latch succeeds at being a compelling alternative with good grip, solid durability, and a comfortable fit.
David Golay reviews the RockyMounts GuideRail for Blister

RockyMounts GuideRail

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RockyMounts’ new GuideRail looks quite a bit like the venerable 1Up hitch rack, which has been a longtime favorite of many, but having now spent a lot of time with both, the Guiderail is significantly nicer to use in several key ways.
David Golay reviews the 2023 RockShox ZEB for Blister

2023 RockShox ZEB

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RockShox recently gave their longest-travel single-crown fork, the ZEB, a major overhaul, and the new fork is a big improvement in several key areas — without really compromising what the previous version already did very well. Check out our full review for the rundown, including how it compares to the Fox 38 and Öhlins RXF38.
Eric Freson reviews the LoamLab Counterpunch and Grips for Blister

LoamLab Components Grips and Counterpunch

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A lot of mountain bikers have probably crashed by clipping a tree with the outside of their bar. LoamLab’s Counterpunch is meant to save folks from some of those crashes (and potential broken pinkies) with a subtle aluminum guard that replaces the outer clamp of a lock-on grip — and having gone and punched some trees with them, they work.
David Golay reviews the Rocky Mountain Element for Blister

2022 Rocky Mountain Element

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The Rocky Mountain Element has long been a traditional XC race bike, but the new one very much is not. It’s got a bunch more suspension travel and wildly more aggressive geometry than the bike it replaced, but still maintains a fair bit of XC influence, too. So how does that all add up, and who is it going to work best for?
Eric Freson reviews the Five Ten Trailcross Clip-In for Blister

Five Ten Trailcross Clip-In

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Five Ten’s new Trailcross Clip-In is the first, well, clip model in their Trailcross line, and Five Ten talks as much about its hiking performance as the on-bike portion of the program. So what does that mean for its performance as an actual bike shoe, and who is it going to work best for?
David Golay reviews the Norco Fluid FS for Blister

2023 Norco Fluid FS

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Norco’s affordable all-rounder Trail bike, the Fluid FS, just got a big update, and while the new bike is marketed to beginner and intermediate riders, it’s got great-looking geometry and a nice build spec that seems like it could attract plenty of price-conscious experts, too.
David Golay reviews the Vorsprung Smashpot for Blister

Vorsprung Smashpot Coil Spring Fork Conversion Kit

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There aren’t many coil-sprung forks left on the market, but Vorsprung’s Smashpot conversion kit opens up a lot of options for riders who miss that option. And having now spent a lot of time testing the Smashpot, it makes a compelling case for why certain riders might want to ditch their air springs. But who is it going to work best for, and what are the downsides? Check out our full review for the rundown.
David Golay reviews the Shimano AM903 for Blister

Shimano AM903 Shoe

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The Shimano AM9 has been their top-tier gravity clipless shoe for a long time now (and a personal favorite of ours), and while the latest AM903 generation is mostly a case of leaving a good thing alone, it’s got some nice refinements over the earlier iterations.
Kara Williard reviews the Diamondback Release C for Blister

Diamondback Release C

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The Diamondback Release 5C is an unusual offering these days — a mid-travel 27.5’’ Trail bike with somewhat moderate geometry — but we think that’s exactly why it could be a great option for the right riders. Check out our First Look & Flash Review to learn more.
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