BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Flash Review: Chromag Reazon
Chromag’s full-suspension lineup is growing, and the new Reazon is the mid-travel bike meant to be the most versatile option within it. Here are our early impressions.
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Brage Vestavik, ‘Trolldom’ w/ Dylan Wood & Simon Stewart (Ep.50)
Brage Vestavik just dropped one of the most savage mountain bike edits we’ve ever seen. It’s gripping and raw, with huge-consequence riding. So today, Dylan and Simon dissect it all, then ask the question: ‘Thor’s hammer, or a surgeon’s scalpel?’
Reviewing the News w/ Cody Townsend, August 2025 (Ep.372)
Cody & Jonathan discuss climbing’s latest social media star who is going viral for free soloing; what to do about ‘Poop Lake’; Vail CEO, Rob Katz’s recent interview; mountain town advice; and more.
Win a Travel Bag From SPC/LST
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get a System Tote from SPC/LST!
Deep Dive: Salsa Spearfish
We compare the Salsa Spearfish to the Trek Top Fuel, Specialized Epic Evo, Pivot Trailcat SL, and Yeti ASR.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Salsa Spearfish
It’s very green, very fast, and very fun. We’ve been riding the Salsa Spearfish for three months and think it’s a standout modern XC bike for its balance of speed and versatility.
Flash Review: Shimano XTR M9220 Trail Pedals
Shimano’s new XTR Trail pedals are a big departure from earlier iterations, and they’ve got a new SPD cleat to go with them, too. So has Shimano messed with a good thing, improved a longstanding favorite, or something else entirely? Here’s our early take.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Shimano XTR M9220 Trail Pedals
Shimano’s updated XTR Trail pedals just got unexpectedly burlier, and, in even more surprising news, there’s a new SPD cleat design, too. Find out about both in our First Look.
Reviewer Reports: Revel’s First eMTB, Tons of Suspension, Big Brakes, & More (Ep.289)
We’ve been testing a ton of new suspension, brakes from brands big and small, Revel’s first eMTB, the new Trek Fuel EX, and a whole lot more. Get the latest on how it’s all going in this week’s episode of Bikes & Big Ideas.
Pivot Shuttle AM v2
Pivot just released an updated version of the Shuttle AM. Featuring the same geometry as the Shuttle AM v1 we loved, but with Bosch’s new Gen 5 Performance Line CX and CX-R motors, the Shuttle AM v2 seems to be a refined version of what was already a winner in our books. Check out what’s new with the v2, as well as our Full Review of the v1.
OneUp V2 Carbon Handlebar
OneUp’s V2 carbon handlebar is all about “more” — both in size options, and in compliance. Is it a winner? We’ve spent the summer finding out.
10 Quick Things: ‘Big News & Updates’ Edition (Ep.371)
Jonathan shares some big news about Blister Summit 2026 (and announces dates); reveals what we’ll be reading next for the Blister Book Club; talks about getting on a gravel bike this weekend at Rebecca’s Private Idaho; and more.
Industry Nine Hydra2 Hubs & Trail Carbon Wheels
Industry Nine’s Hydra hubs have long been super popular for their ultra-fast engagement and plethora of color options, and now there’s a new Hydra2 that’s meant to improve some of the downsides of the original — while also engaging even faster. Check out how they’ve fared, and how the Hydra2 Trail Carbon wheels we’ve had them laced to perform.
Shimano GE900HS Shoes
Shimano recently launched a bunch of new gravity-oriented MTB shoes, including a racier version of their flagship gravity clip shoe, the GE9. Meet the new GE9HS, and get our take on how it stacks up.
GEAR THERAPY: Flat vs Clipless Pedals w/ Jonathan Ellsworth, Sascha Anastas, Simon Stewart, & Zach Henderson (Ep. 288)
We bring the team together to tackle Jonathan’s flat versus clipless pedal dilemma in today’s Gear Therapy episode, drawing on mountain bike coaching, industry, and shop experience.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Propain Tyee 6.1
In an era where a lot of Enduro bikes are super-focused go-fast sleds, the Propain Tyee stands out from the pack — and will be just what some folks are looking for. Check out what sets it apart.
Big Race Results & Big News From Enve (Ep. 292)
We catch up with Enve’s Jake Pantone about their exciting plans to start making Mountain Bikes, winning the Tour de France and Red Bull Hardline, and the stress of having one of the greatest cyclists of all time riding their wheels.
Flash Review: DT Swiss Ratchet DEG DF Anti-Pedal Kickback Hub
DT’s Ratchet DEG DF pedal kickback / chain feedback mitigating freehub is impressively simple and super light, but how well does it work? We’ve got some early thoughts.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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DT Swiss Ratchet DEG DF Anti-Pedal Kickback Hub
DT Swiss has an ingeniously simple upgrade for their Ratchet DEG hubs, meant to mitigate pedal kickback — and it’s almost certainly the lightest such option out there. Check out their new Ratchet DEG DF freehub mechanism, and get our early on-trail impressions.
Debatable: Short on Time? Skip the eMTB, Go XC
eMountain Bikes are dominating sales, but reviewer Zack Henderson argues that your next ride actually ought to be an XC bike. Check out his argument, and let us know what you think.
Jonathan Gagné on Astrophysics, Coffee, & The Physics of Espresso (Ep.84)
Jonathan Gagné is producing some of the best work in the world in terms of increasing our understanding and appreciation of coffee. And we’re ecstatic to talk with him about his day job (astrophysics), boulders, dust, soup, crema, headspace, and more.
‘Girl Climber’ w/ Emily Harrington, Amie Engerbretson, & Jonathan Ellsworth (Ep.52)
Amie & Jonathan talk with Emily Harrington about her fantastic new film, and go behind the scenes of her project to free-climb the Golden Gate route on Yosemite’s El Capitan in under 24 hours. This is a must-see movie, and this conversation makes it clear why.
Flash Review: Yeti LTe
We’ve been riding the new Yeti LTe for a few weeks now. Check out our Flash Review for our initial on-trail takeaways on this race-focused Enduro eMTB.
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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Yeti LTe
Yeti just released the LTe, their new long-travel, full-power eMTB, replacing their longstanding 160E. With a switch to Bosch’s Performance Line CX drive system and some other geometry and design refinements, the LTe is Yeti’s latest eMTB designed with racing in mind. Check out all the details here.
The Latest Attack on Public Lands — and What You Can Do to Stop It (Ep.374)
The Roadless Rule has had a major impact on the preservation of our public lands and wildlife, but it is currently set to be thrown out altogether. So today, we discuss how and why it was created; the current efforts to rescind it; and what that would mean for bikers, hikers, skiers, climbers, and other outdoor enthusiasts across the United States.
OneUp Wave Flat Pedals
Convex, concave, or… both? OneUp’s Wave flat pedals aim to merge the benefits of both convex and concave platform designs. Did their claimed benefits come to fruition? We’re ready to weigh in after four months with the Wave pedals.
Win Apparel From Finisterre
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get a men’s or women’s Bolster Full Zip Fleece from Finisterre!