Reviews

2023 Santa Cruz Hightower

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The Santa Cruz Hightower has long been a very versatile, well-rounded Trail bike, and with the new V3 bike, Santa Cruz hasn’t messed with a good thing too much. But they’ve still found things to refine and improve, and the Hightower remains a very good all-rounder.
David Golay reviews the 2023 Santa Cruz 5010 for Blister

2023 Santa Cruz 5010

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The mullet-ification of Santa Cruz’s formerly-27.5’’ models continues today with the 5010, and Santa Cruz is talking a big game about the new bike, calling it “the best handling trail bike ever”.

Blister Brand Guide: Scott Running Shoe Lineup, 2022

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Scott has quietly been making a wide range of performance footwear for both roads and trails since 2006, when they contracted a research and development lab in Portland, Oregon to help them design a lineup of shoes to meet the diverse demands of their athletes. Now over 15 years old, Scott’s trail and road running lines continue to offer innovative options for all sorts of runners. Check out our Brand Guide to learn more.

Blister Brand Guide: Craft Running Shoe Lineup, 2022

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Craft is perhaps better known for making moisture-wicking technical layers than shoes, but since breaking into the footwear space a few years ago, they’ve already turned out an impressive lineup of innovative shoes for roads, trails, and everything in between. Check out our 2022 Brand Guide to see what’s new from Craft this year and which of their models might make the most sense for you.
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.
Jed Doane reviews the Beringia Cherchen Pants for BLISTER

Stuff We Like: August 2022

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The August edition of our "Stuff We Like" series is packed with items fit for summer and shoulder seasons, from board shorts to running belts, several t-shirts, bike tools, blankets, sandals, lightweight hoodies, and much more. Check it out to see the latest gear our reviewers have been digging.

Altra Vanish Carbon

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It was only a matter of time until Altra made the jump into the ever-competitive “super shoe” category. With the Vanish Carbon, their first road model to feature a performance plate, the brand attempts to marry new technology with their signature “FootShape Fit” and “ZeroDrop” geometry to produce a stable, race-ready shoe for the marathon. Check out our full review to see whether or not we think Altra succeeded.

Blister Brand Guide: Altra Running Shoe Lineup, 2022

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While all Altra shoes share their signature zero-drop platform and "FootShape" fit, there’s still a ton of variation within both their road and trail lineups, including several new models for 2022. Check out our Brand Guide for a full breakdown of what sets each shoe apart from the others, and which ones best match your running style.
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.
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