Best Mountain Bike Reviews | Blister Outdoor Gear Review

Blister Brand Guide: Ibis Mountain Bike Lineup, 2020

November 10, 2021December 23, 2019 by Dylan Wood

Ibis started back in 1981, and now makes a variety of bikes from hardtails to Enduro sleds. Check out our Brand Guide for our breakdown of their lineup, and see which bike might be the best fit for you.

Blister Brand Guide: Yeti Mountain Bike Lineup, 2020

September 27, 2021December 12, 2019 by Dylan Wood

Yeti has been making mountain bikes since 1985, but their lineup has changed a lot since then and now includes a pretty wide range of options. Check out our Brand Guide to quickly & easily figure out what sets each Yeti bike apart from the other and which one might be best for you.

2020 Trek Fuel EX

November 27, 2019 by Banks Kriz

This year Trek overhauled their most popular Trail bike, the Fuel EX, and we’ve started spending time on the Fuel EX 9.8 XT. Check out our First Look and initial on-trail impressions.

David Golay reviews the High Above Lookout Pack for Blister.

High Above Lookout Hip Pack

November 6, 2019 by David Golay

Fanny / hip packs have been making a resurgence, and are no longer limited to 90’s throwback parties or dads on vacation. We’ve been using the High Above Lookout pack, made with modern, technical materials in Bellingham, Washington, and you can check out our full review for more.

Blister Brand Guide: Commencal Mountain Bike Lineup, 2020

May 17, 2020October 11, 2019 by Dylan Wood

Commencal is one of a few direct-to-consumer MTB brands, which means many of their bikes are significantly cheaper than their competitors. They also make several bikes that cover a pretty broad range of end uses, so check out our Brand Guide to figure out which of their bikes could be a good fit for you.

Blister Brand Guide: Trek Mountain Bike Lineup, 2020

June 20, 2020October 8, 2019 by Dylan Wood

Trek is one of the largest bike manufacturers in the world, and they have an expansive MTB lineup. Check out our Brand Guide for an overview of all of their mountain bikes.

Noah Bodman reviews the Alchemy Arktos 29 for Blister

2019 Alchemy Arktos 29

November 14, 2019October 6, 2019 by Noah Bodman

While there are now lots of “do-it-all” Trail bikes on the market, the Alchemy Arktos 29 brings something a bit different to the table. Check out our full review for more.

Blister Brand Guide: Pivot Mountain Bike Lineup, 2020

June 20, 2020October 3, 2019 by Dylan Wood

When it comes to high-end tech, Pivot is one of the leaders in the industry, and they offer a wide range of mountain bikes. Check out our Brand Guide to help you quickly get a handle on the Pivot MTB lineup.

2020 Ibis Mojo HD5

September 24, 2019 by David Golay

Ibis is releasing today the 5th generation of their longer-travel 27.5" bike, the Mojo HD5. We came away impressed with the prior-generation HD4, so how similar is the HD5 to the HD4? Is this new bike an entirely different beast? Check out our First Look.

Blister Brand Guide: Santa Cruz / Juliana Mountain Bike Lineup, 2020

June 16, 2020September 19, 2019 by Dylan Wood

Santa Cruz and its sister brand, Juliana, have garnered a strong following over the years, and they make a wide range of mountain bikes. Check out our Brand Guide for an overview of their entire lineups.

Eric Freson reviews the Specialized Enduro for Blister

2019 Specialized Enduro 27.5

September 17, 2019September 17, 2019 by Eric Freson

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.

CushCore Pro Tire Inserts

September 16, 2019 by Noah Bodman

We recently published Noah Bodman's take on CushCore's Pro tire inserts, and now David Golay adds his thoughts. Check them out here.

Blister Mountain Biking 101: Fit & Geometry; how to interpret a mountain bike geometry chart

Biking 101: Bike Fit & Geometry — Part 1

September 17, 2019September 15, 2019 by Noah Bodman

Selecting the “right” bike means selecting the right *size* bike — and understanding how a bike’s “geometry” affects that. So check out our Bike Fit & Geometry 101 article to learn more about a bike’s geometry and how it affects both fit and performance.

Blister Brand Guide: Specialized Mountain Bike Lineup, 2020

July 6, 2020September 11, 2019 by Dylan Wood

In our new “Blister Brand Guide” series, we go over the entire product lineup of a brand, highlight how each product stands out from the rest of the lineup, and help you figure out quickly and easily which one might be best for you. First up on the MTB side: Specialized.

2020 Ibis Ripmo AF

September 10, 2019 by David Golay

Today Ibis announced the brand-new Ripmo AF, as in “aluminum frame.” As in, the first all-aluminum Ibis bike since they reopened shop in 2005. But there’s a whole lot more to this new Trail / Enduro bike than just being made of metal — check out our First Look for more info.

David Golay reviews the BTR Ranger 27.5 for Blister

2019 BTR Ranger 27.5

August 20, 2019August 20, 2019 by David Golay

“Enduro Hardtail” — sound like an oxymoron? Well BTR, a custom builder out of England, makes them, and one of our reviewers has spent the past 2 years riding their long and slack steel hardtail, with some surprising conclusions. Check out the full review of the BTR Ranger.

David Golay reviews the Nicolai / Geometron G16 Mojo Special Edition bike for Blister

2019 Nicolai / GeoMetron G16

August 19, 2019August 13, 2019 by David Golay

Every brand is now making longer and slacker bikes, but few have taken this approach to the extremes of Nicolai. So, how does their ultra-long and ultra-slack G16 Enduro bike actually perform on trail, and how does it compare to the more moderate competition? Check out our full review of the G16.

WTB Ranger 2.4 Tire

July 24, 2019 by Xan Marshland

WTB recently introduced some narrower versions of its Ranger tire, and we think the Ranger 2.4 is a competitive option for those seeking a nice balance of low rolling resistance and traction in their XC or Trail tire.

Dylan Wood reviews the Santa Cruz Hightower LT For Blister

2019 Santa Cruz Hightower LT

July 23, 2019July 23, 2019 by Dylan Wood

With the introduction of the redesigned Hightower and new Megatower, you’re probably going to see a lot of Santa Cruz Hightower LTs on the used market. So we put together a full review of the Hightower LT, and we think it’s still a great bike for those seeking a nice balance of playfulness and stability in their Trail bike.

Noah Bodman reviews the Kuat Highline Trunk Bike Rack for BLISTER

Kuat Highline Trunk Rack

July 19, 2019July 18, 2019 by Noah Bodman

There are plenty of different ways to carry bikes on your car, but not everyone wants (or needs) an expensive, semi-permanent hitch or roof rack. That's why trunk racks like the Kuat Highline exist, and the Highline is a great choice in this category.

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