Reviews

Noah Bodman reviews the 2022 Fox 34 for Blister

Flash Review: 2022 Fox 34

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Fox gave their 34 a substantial update for 2022, and we’ve been spending time on the new one. Check out our Flash Review for our initial impressions, including how it compares to the new and old Fox 36.

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2021 Transition Patrol First Look - Blister

2021 Transition Patrol

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The Patrol has long been in Transition’s lineup as their longest-travel Enduro bike, with 27.5’’ wheels. Today they dropped an updated version, and while the 160 mm of rear travel remains, the new Patrol gets the mullet treatment, with a 29’’ wheel and 160mm-travel fork up front. There’s a lot more that’s new than just wheel sizes, so check out our First Look for all the details.
David Golay reviews the EXT Era for Blister

Flash Review: EXT Era Fork

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We loved EXT's rear Enduro / Trail shock, the Storia, and now we've been spending time on the Era, the fork meant to pair with it. Check out our Flash Review for our early impressions.

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.)

Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ellsworth review the Atomic Maverick 95 Ti for Blister

2021-2022 Atomic Maverick 95 Ti

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The Maverick 95 Ti is part of Atomic’s overhauled 21/22 all-mountain lineup, and it’s a notable improvement over the skis it replaces. Check out our full review & Deep Dive comparisons of this new ski.
Gordon Gianniny reviews the Inov-8 TrailFly Ultra G 300 Max for Blister

Inov-8 TrailFly Ultra G 300 Max

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Inov-8 say their "graphene-enhanced" TrailFly Ultra G 300 Max is "the first max cushioned shoe that adapts and reacts to terrain." That's a bold claim, but during our time with this shoe, it has proven to be a very appealing option for long days on the trail where comfort, efficiency, and stability are paramount. Check out our full review for the whole story.
David Golay and Zack Henderson review the Marin Alpine Trail for Blister

2021 Marin Alpine Trail

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The Marin Alpine Trail is one of the most playful Enduro bikes we’ve been on recently, but also manages to keep a great deal of capability in technical terrain — and is an impressive bang-for-buck to boot. We think it’s a really compelling option for the right sort of rider, and you can check out our full review to find out who we think will get on best with this unique offering from Marin.
Zack Henderson Reviews the Ride Concepts Hellion Elite for Blister

Ride Concepts Hellion Elite Shoe

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Ride Concepts recently added a new flat-pedal shoe to their lineup, the Hellion Elite, which is a relatively low-profile option with the brand's stickiest rubber. But how does it compare to popular options like the Five Ten Freerider Pro, and which riders are going to like this new shoe the most? Check out our full review to find out.
Kevin Giesen reviews the Hoka One One Evo Mafate 2 for Blister

Hoka One One Evo Mafate 2

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The Evo Mafate 2 is designed to cover a lot of distance while still being light, efficient, and reliable on a wide range of trail surfaces. And so far, we'd say it pretty much lives up to the hype. Check out our review for more.
David Golay reviews the Ohlins TTX22 for Blister

Öhlins TTX22 Shock

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The world of high-end shocks is one filled with lots of dials and adjustments, but that can also make it a bit tricky to arrive at your ideal settings. The Öhlins TTX22, however, has proven to offer the reliable, high-end performance you’d expect of a top-tier product, but is also very simple and easy to get running really well. Check out our full review for the whole story.
David Golay Reviews the 2021 Rocky Mountain Altitude for Blister

2021 Rocky Mountain Altitude

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The Altitude has been in the Rocky Mountain lineup for more than a decade now, but what, exactly, the Altitude is has changed a lot over the years, and the bike got a dramatic overhaul for 2021. We’ve been riding the latest iteration, and have found it to be surprisingly versatile for a 160 / 170 mm travel Enduro bike.
Blister Gear Review Best Skis 2021

2021-2022 Folsom Rapture

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"One of the most versatile powder skis I have ever used" — that's what reviewer and heli-ski guide Paul Forward said about the Folsom Rapture. Check out his full review & Deep Dive comparisons for more on how the ski has performed during a full season of heli skiing and during days at the resort.
David Golay reviews the Giro Source and Manifest Spherical for Blister

Giro Source MIPS & Giro Manifest Spherical

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It’s not hard to spend several hundred dollars on a mountain bike helmet, but should you? And what do you give up, in opting for a less-expensive option? We’ve been doing some head-to-head testing of Giro’s moderately-priced Source and high-end Manifest Spherical helmets to find out, and you can now read our full review to see how they compare.
David Golay reviews the Marin El Roy for Blister

2021 Marin El Roy

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Marin calls the El Roy “the ultimate aggressive steel hardtail,” and its geometry numbers are certainly eye-popping, even in our current world of longer, lower, and slacker. But who should be interested in a hardtail that’s so emphatically oriented towards descending? And does the El Roy really deliver on what looks like a promising recipe? Check out our full review to find out.
Kara Williard reviews the Atomic Maven 93 C for Blister

2021-2022 Atomic Maven 93 C

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Atomic is overhauling their all-mountain lineup for 21/22, and we spent a lot of time on one of the new women's skis in the line, the Maven 93 C. Check out our full review to see where this new ski sits in the market.
David Golay reviews the Ohlins RXF36 m.2 for Blister

Öhlins RXF36 m.2 Air

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Öhlins has long been known for their motorsports suspension, but have more recently branched out into the mountain bike world, and we’ve been testing their RXF36 m.2 Air Enduro fork. It’s an impressive offering, but who does it make the most sense for, and how does it stack up to the competition from Fox, RockShox, and Manitou? Check out our full review to find out.
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