BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Deep Dive: Santa Cruz Bronson 5
We compare the Santa Cruz Bronson 5 to the Santa Cruz Bronson 4, Santa Cruz Hightower 4, Santa Cruz Nomad, Yeti SB165, Ibis Ripmo, Specialized Stumpjumper 15, Spot Mayhem 140, Esker Woodsy, Propain Tyee, Norco Sight, Transition Sentinel V3, and Kona Process 153.
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Santa Cruz Bronson 5
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.
Chris McCaffrey on Riding His Bike Around the World (Ep.278)
The day after he submitted his final college paper, Chris McCaffrey set off to ride his bike around the world. He made it back to his hometown of Boulder, CO, seventeen months later. The story of the trip is a wild, inspiring, beautiful one, and you don’t want to miss it.
Steve Matthiasson on Wine, Punk Rock, Bikes, & Fireworks (Ep.73)
Steve is one of the most respected winemakers in Napa Valley, and he produces wines that buck some of the most fashionable trends in the valley. Steve is also a passionate mountain biker and snowboarder, a teacher, and a wine consultant; today, we dive into all of these aspects.
Flash Review: Revel ReRun
Revel Bikes is back in action after being reacquired by its founder, and that means their new bikes, like the ReRun, are hitting the market. Check out how we’re getting along with Revel’s first eMTB so far.
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.
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‘E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial’ w/ Jonathan Ellsworth & Simon Stewart (Ep.40)
On June 10, 1982, ‘E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial’ premiered in the USA. This Steven Spielberg film won multiple Oscars, became the most successful film of all time, and caused a huge spike in bike sales. So today, we revisit one of the most significant films in movie history.
Flash Review: Salsa Spearfish
Salsa has jumped right into the modern XC bike mix with the new Spearfish. Check out our Flash Review to see how we’re getting along with it after a few rides.
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.
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Flash Review: 25/26 Salomon QST 106
We’re rounding out our Flash Reviews of the updated Salomon QST series with the longest-standing model, the QST 106 — check out our initial thoughts on how it compares to the prior-gen version and other QST models.
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.
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2025-2026 Salomon QST 106
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for Salomon’s updated QST 106.
Blister Book Club: ‘Everest, Inc.’ w/ author, Will Cockrell (Ep.360)
Jonathan talks with Will Cockrell about his excellent book, Everest, Inc. They discuss the fascinating history of guiding on Everest, the evolution of that industry, and the broader topic of the ethics, principles, and parameters of guiding in general, anywhere.
TRP Evo Pro Brakes
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.
Ski vs Bike Industry, Part 2: State of Shops; Gear Wins & Fails; & the Future of Each (Ep.350)
Today, we take a look at the state of ski shops vs bike shops; what each industry is doing to grow participation and engagement in their sport; gear wins and fails; and our reviewers weigh in on which industry has the brighter future.
Ibis Oso 1.1
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.
Win Apparel From SPC/LST
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get the Sapien Quilted Crew, Omega E-Waist Active 5.5” Short, and Range Beanie from SPC/LST!
Reviewing the News w/ Mike Ferrentino, May 2025 (Ep. 277)
Mike and Simon discuss the exciting start to mountain bike World Cup DH racing, the fantastic Giro d’Italia, Christopher Blevins’ domination, Mathieu van der Poel’s rough day on a mountain bike, some good industry news, and a whole lot more.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Mondraker Level
The new Mondraker Level is still a burly electrified aluminum eMTB, but it gets the Bosch Gen 5 motor treatment, a big 800 Wh battery, mixed wheels, and new geometry. Let’s check it out.
Propain Sresh SL
Propain has been teasing their new Sresh SL for the last few weeks; today, this new mid-travel, TQ HPR60-equipped eMTB from the German brand has officially been unveiled. Check out our First Look for all the details.
2026 RockShox SID SL & Reba
RockShox’s XC forks are getting an overhaul, and while the standard SID carries on unchanged, both the ultralight SID SL and budget-oriented Reba get new chassis and some other updates. Check out what’s new.
Craft N/A Cocktails & Why They Matter More Than You Think (Ep.75)
Craft N/A Cocktails are on the rise, but there is still much that needs to evolve in this space. Jonathan Ellsworth and our CRAFTED co-host (and professional mixologist) Eli Brown discuss, and you’ll learn why fast-growing whiskey company, Uncle Nearest, is so interested in the N/A space.
Hope EVO Brakes
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.
‘Unbreakable: The Western States 100’ w/ Cody Townsend & Jonathan Ellsworth (Ep.42)
Cody and Jonathan discuss what many regard as the greatest ultra film of all time, ‘Unbreakable.’ It documents the 2010 running of Western States, and the 2025 race happens this Saturday, June 28.
Flash Review: Fox Podium
The new Fox Podium doesn’t look like much else out there, and its on-trail performance stands out, too. Check out our take so far.
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.
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Fox Podium Inverted Fork
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.
Shimano GRX Di2 1 x 12-speed Drivetrain
Shimano’s new wireless derailleur design has been adapted to the 1 x 12 Gravel use case with the new GRX RX827 rear derailleur. Our First Look digs into their first true wireless Gravel setup.
Flash Review: Formula Selva V
The new Formula Selva V stands out from the market for being lightweight and highly tunable via Formula’s CTS valve system, but how does its performance stack up next to other long-travel single-crown forks? We’ve got some early 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.)
Hoji, Marcus Caston, Nick Russell, & Chris Davenport: Life Updates, Mtn-Town Advice, Trip Reports, & More (Ep.362)
We brought together some legends of snowsports — Hoji, Marcus, Nick, & Dav — and asked them to share some life updates; their best mountain-town (and relationship) advice; trip reports & travel stories; & more.
Thule T2 Pro XTR
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.