Mountain Bike Reviews

David Golay reviews the HEL Advocate Brakes for BLISTER

HEL Advocate Brakes

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HEL Performance has a long history in motorsport, but they’re new to the MTB world. So, how have they gone about designing their first MTB brake — the gravity-oriented Advocate — and what are our initial thoughts on its performance? Check it all out here.
Simon Stewart reviews the Santa Cruz Bullit

Santa Cruz Bullit 4

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Did the Santa Cruz Bullit dethrone its stablemate, the Santa Cruz Vala, as Simon’s favorite eMTB so far this year? Check out our Full Review to find out, and why we think full-power eMTBs with a small battery and a range extender offer the most versatility for a lot of folks.
Simon Stewart descending on the Santa Cruz Bullit

Deep Dive: Santa Cruz Bullit 4

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We compare the Santa Cruz Bullit to the Cannondale Moterra SL, Trek Slash+, Mondraker Dune XR, Devinci E-Troy, and Orbea Wild.

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Specialized Stumpjumper 15

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The Specialized Stumpjumper might be the most recognizable mountain bike of all time, and it’s long been known for being especially versatile and adaptable. However, what that actually means has changed a lot over the decades, and Specialized made some interesting changes to the latest Stumpjumper 15. So, is it still worthy of its popularity? Check out our Full Review for our take.

Deep Dive: Specialized Stumpjumper 15

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We compare the Specialized Stumpjumper 15 to the previous Stumpjumper EVO, Santa Cruz Hightower 4, Ibis Ripmo V3, Santa Cruz Bronson 5, Yeti SB140, Cannondale Habit, Spot Mayhem 140, Transition Sentinel V3, Kona Process 153, and Norco Sight.

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 an active 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.)

David Golay and Zack Henderson review the Outlier Void and Pendulum pedals for Blister

Outlier Void and Pendulum Pedals

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Outlier’s Void and Pendulum pedals don’t look like anything else out there, so is their performance similarly quirky, just plain good, or somewhere in between? We’ve had multiple reviewers spend a lot of time on both versions and are ready to weigh in.
David Golay reviews the Hope EVO brakes for Blister

Hope EVO Brakes

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Hope is giving their brake lineup an overhaul, and while the EVO name implies refinement rather than wholesale change, there’s a lot new here — including an updated lever, two new calipers, and more.
David Golay reviews the Fox Podium for Blister

Fox Podium Inverted Fork

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In a big change for the brand, Fox has been developing an inverted fork, and there’s been plenty of speculation about what the production model would actually entail. Get all the answers here, and check out our early on-trail impressions of the new upside-down Fox Podium.

Thule T2 Pro XTR

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Thule’s T2 Pro XTR hitch-mounted bicycle rack is one of the more popular options on the market. And after testing it ourselves, we understand why. Check out our Full Review to find out how this rack performs, including direct comparisons to the Yakima StageTwo.
Simon Stewart reviews the Esker Woodsy

Esker Woodsy

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Esker's new all-metal All Mountain bike can be had in either aluminum or titanium and features 145 mm of DW-developed Orion Dynamics suspension. Check out what they’ve come up with, and our early impressions of the aluminum Woodsy.
Simon Stewart reviews the Santa Cruz Bronson

Santa Cruz Bronson 5

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The Santa Cruz Bronson has evolved a lot over the years, and while the updates to the latest Bronson 5 look relatively subtle on paper, it’s a very different bike from the Bronson 4. We’ve had multiple editors in different locations spend time on the Bronson and have a comprehensive Full Review to share.
David Golay reviews the TRP Evo Pro brakes for Blister

TRP Evo Pro Brakes

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TRP’s Evo Pro brakes take over from the popular DH-R Evo as their flagship gravity offering, and TRP says the new stoppers offer better ergonomics, more power, and greater adjustability. We’ve spent the last seven months putting those claims to the test. See how the Evo Pro brakes stack up.
Zack Henderson reviews the Ibis Oso 1.1

Ibis Oso 1.1

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The Ibis Oso 1.1 got a few construction tweaks and a smaller price tag, but it’s still a very unique-looking offering on the eMTB market. It comes with a unique ride, too, but one that should appeal quite a bit to the right buyer. Read on to find out who the Oso might be for.
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