Reviews
Manitou’s longstanding Trail bike fork, the Mattoc, just got a big overhaul and brings a lot of the design and features of its bigger sibling, the Mezzer, into a lighter, shorter-travel package.
Pivot Mach 4 SL V3
Pivot has dropped the new third-generation Mach 4 SL — their lightest, XC-race-oriented full-suspension bike — and while they’re talking about speed and race results first and foremost, words like “fun” pop up a bunch, too. And with a big range of builds covering both hardcore XC racing and more general-purpose lightweight Trail use, they just might be on to something there.
23/24 Salomon Stance 90
The Stance 90 is the narrowest option in Salomon's updated metal-laminate Stance collection — check out our initial thoughts.
Adaptable Skis: 23/24 Renoun Collection | Blister Summit 2023 Video
We sat down with Cyrus Schenck, founder of Renoun Skis, to discuss how they’ve implemented and adapted their unique non-Newtonian “VibeStop” material; how VibeStop has made its way into pro basketball courts, flooring, & boat hulls; their 23/24 ski lineup, and more.
Hope F22 Flat Pedals
The UK-based CNC wizards at Hope have refreshed their longstanding F20 pedal via the new F22. While the shape of the new pedals may be a bit less distinctive, the F22 stands out in other ways. Check out our full review to see how they perform on the trail.
Nike Wildhorse 8
Less of an update and more of a complete remodel, the all-new Wildhorse 8 represents a promising return to form for Nike’s marquee long-distance trail shoe. Check out our full review to learn more.
23/24 Head Oblivion 94
This season we spent time on Head's Oblivion 94, which is designed to handle the park and the rest of the mountain. Here are our initial thoughts.
2023-2024 Armada Declivity 102 Ti
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the Armada Declivity 102 Ti.
Chris King MTN30 Wheels
Chris King is one of the first and biggest names in high-end hubs, and now they’re offering complete wheelsets under their own brand — and in keeping with King’s ethos, they’re high-end carbon fiber wheels, with US-made, recyclable rims.
Blister Brand Guide: Nike Trail Running Shoe Lineup, 2023
Nike continues to expand their trail-running options, and in our Brand Guide we cover every shoe in their 2023 Trail lineup to help you figure out how each shoe differs and which might make the most sense for you.
23/24 Armada ARV 106
This season we spent time on the latest version of Armada's mid-fat, freestyle-oriented ski, the ARV 106. Check out our initial thoughts.
Fox Union Shoe
Fox has been making MTB apparel for a long time, but the Union shoe is their first foray into that market — and they're excellent.
23/24 RMU Apostle 106 Pro
The standard Apostle 106 has been a favorite of ours, but what happens when you add 2 layers of metal to it? Check out our initial thoughts on the Apostle 106 Pro.
2022-2023 Renoun Atlas
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the Renoun Atlas 80.
Canyon Strive:ON CFR
Canyon launched two new long-travel full-power e-MTBs simultaneously, and the new Strive:ON is meant to be the racing-oriented compatriot to the freeride-focused Torque:ON — but the two share nearly identical geometry and both rock a mullet, so what sets the two apart? Turns out that there’s quite a bit.
Brooks Catamount 2
After some wide-ranging testing, the Brooks Catamount 2 has all of the makings of a dynamic mid-distance trail shoe that draws comparisons to models we’ve been quite fond of in the past. Check out our full review to learn more.
2023 Trek Fuel EX
The Trek Fuel EX has grown in just about every respect from its fifth to sixth generations — suspension travel, wheelbase, degree of adjustability, and so on — and the end result is an extremely well-rounded Trail bike that we think could work for a ton of different riders.
2022-2023 Ferreol Explo 96
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pics, and flex pattern numbers for the Ferreol Explo 96.
Forbidden Druid V2
Forbidden was one of the first companies to offer a shorter-travel high-pivot Trail bike, and now that bike, the Druid, is getting a big update with a new (but still high-pivot) suspension layout and a whole lot more. Check out our First Look for the rundown.
Canyon Torque:ON CF
There aren’t a ton of bikes being branded as “freeride” bikes these days, but Canyon has dubbed their new Torque:ON CF an “e-freeride” bike, and it’s positioned pretty differently from a lot of the long-travel, full-power e-MTBs on the market. Check out our First Look for everything that makes the Torque:ON CF different.