Reviews

David Golay Blister Mountain Bike Review on the WTB Proterra Tough Wheels

WTB Proterra Tough i30 Wheels

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WTB says their new Proterra Tough wheels “won’t let you down,” but they’re also relatively affordable and not especially heavy. So has WTB beaten the old “cheap, light, strong; pick two” adage, or is there a catch? Check out our full review to find out.
David Golay Blister Mountain Bike Review on the 2021 Santa Cruz Nomad

2021 Santa Cruz Nomad

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The original Santa Cruz Nomad was one of the first bikes to shape the mold for the modern Enduro bike, way back in 2005. Now in its fifth generation, the new bike stands out from the rest of the market in some interesting ways. We've been spending a ton of time on this 27.5''-wheeled bike, and it makes a compelling case for why smaller wheels should stick around. Check out our full review for more.
David Golay Blister Mountain Bike Review on the Forbidden Dreadnought

Flash Review — Forbidden Dreadnought

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High-pivot bikes might be even trendier than mullets right now, and we’ve now been spending time on the Forbidden Dreadnought. Check out our Flash Review for our early impressions of this very interesting offering.

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Gordon Gianniny Reviews the Ultimate Direction Fastpack 40 for Blister.

Ultimate Direction Fastpack 40

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Ultimate Direction's Fastpack 40 is designed for, well, fastpacking, but we've also found it to be great for longer day hikes and runs where you need to carry lots of gear but also want to move quickly through all sorts of terrain.
Kevin Geisen Reviews the New Balance Fresh Foam More Trail for Blister.

New Balance Fresh Foam More Trail v1

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New Balance made their name in the trail running world with their super minimal shoes, but their Fresh Foam More Trail is basically the opposite — a plush, maximal shoe designed for long distances. And after our first ~85 miles in it, we think it's an excellent execution of that design.
Luke Koppa reviews the Apostle 3.0 106 for Blister

2021-2022 RMU Apostle 3.0 106

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The revised Apostle 3.0 106 is an exceptionally maneuverable and playful ski, but also one that certain skiers could really love for skiing fast and dynamically all over the mountain. Check out our Full Review & Deep Dive comparisons.
Luke Koppa & Jonathan Ellsworth review the Volkl M6 Mantra for Blister

2021-2022 Volkl M6 Mantra

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The Volkl Mantra has been a reference ski in the all-mountain category for over a decade, and Volkl updated it for 21/22. Check out our full review & Deep Dive comparisons to see what's new, what isn't, and how this new ski compares to the current market.
Gordon Gianniny reviews the Craft CTM Ultra Carbon for Blister.

Craft CTM Ultra Carbon

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The CTM Ultra Carbon is Craft's top-of-the-line, ultra-cushioned, ultralight, carbon-plated shoe for fast-paced running on and off road. But now that a lot of brands are making similarly high-end shoes, what sets this one apart? Check out our review to find out.
David Golay Reviews the Fox Speedframe Pro for Blister

Fox Speedframe Pro Helmet

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Fox’s Speedframe Pro is a high-end, broad-coverage Trail / Enduro helmet with a 5-star safety rating from Virginia Tech. And given its solid coverage, it's also been very impressive in terms of ventilation for hot rides. Check out our full review for more, including several comparisons to its competition.
Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ellsworth review the Rossignol Blackops Sender Squad for Blister

2021-2022 Rossignol Blackops Sender Squad

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In an age where big, burly chargers are a bit of an endangered species, the 194cm-long, 112mm-wide Rossignol Blackops Sender Squad is a refreshing shift away from the norm. Check out our First Look and Flash Review for more on this athlete-driven ski.
Luke Koppa reviews the Commencal Meta TR 29 for Blister

Flash Review: Commencal Meta TR 29

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We've got five rides on the latest version of Commencal's Trail bike — check out our initial thoughts.

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.)

2021 Transition Spire - Blister First Look

2021 Transition Spire

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Transition’s just-released Patrol was the longest-travel non-DH bike in their lineup — for just 48 hours. Enter the all-new Spire, Transition’s 170mm-travel 29er. So how do the two bikes differ, and who should be most interested in each? Check out our First Look on the Spire for all the details.
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