BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Santa Cruz Vala AL
The new Vala AL brings the first aluminum frame to the Santa Cruz eMTB lineup. Many of the details are the same as the carbon Vala, but there are some differences, beyond just a lower price. Check out our First Look to see what they’ve come up with.
Ups, Downs, & Unspoken Aspects of Pro Skier Life w/ Noah Gaffney, Anne Wangler, Mallory Duncan, & Jake Hopfinger (Ep.366)
At Blister Summit 2025, we sat down with professional skiers Mallory Duncan, Anne Wangler, Noah Gaffney, and Jake Hopfinger. What followed was a very candid conversation about how they present themselves during hard times, the personal financial aspects of being a pro, career longevity, and much more.
Flash Review: Propain Sresh SL
We’ve been riding Propain’s first light-assist eMTB, the Sresh SL, equipped with TQ’s latest HPR60 drive system. Check out our initial on-trail impressions, including comparisons to the Yeti MTe and Pivot Shuttle SL/AM.
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Win Bike Care Kits From Formula 100
The two winners of our Gear Giveaway this week will both get a bike care kit from Formula 100, including cleaners, lubricants, and more!
What is NNormal? NNormal’s CEO on Kilian Jornet, NNormal’s Name & Origin Story, & Company Principles (Ep.356)
Jonathan talks with Sito Luis Salas, the CEO of NNormal, about NNormal founder, Kilian Jornet, plus the NNormal name, its origin story, and its well-defined principles. NNormal is a company you’ll be hearing about more & more in the coming years, and today, you’ll see why.
Schwalbe Albert Radial
Schwalbe claims to have made a real leap forward in MTB tire construction with their new radial casings — but how does it actually pan out on the trail? And what about the new Albert tread pattern? We’ve spent a lot of time on the radial-casing Albert in a huge range of conditions and are ready to weigh in.
Bosch CX-R Motor & Software Upgrade for CX Drive Systems
Update 7.16.25: We’ve been putting a few more miles on our Santa Cruz Bullit now that we’ve installed Bosch’s new Performance Software Upgrade, and it makes an impressive difference in both power and torque, and adds some other compelling features.
Reviewer Reports: Enduro Bikes, Italian Suspension, & More (Ep.283)
David and Simon sat down to chat about a sampling of the stuff they’re currently testing, from the new Pivot Firebird to the EXT Vecta, Bosch’s higher-output software for their CX drive system, and a whole lot more.
What is ‘Amaro’ & Why is Bitter Better? Sennza Finne on a Spirit You Should Know (Ep.78)
Amaro is bitter, complex, and a little mysterious, and most people have no idea what it actually is. But you should, and in this conversation with the folks at Sennza Finne, a Seattle-based amaro producer, you’ll find out why.
Flash Review: Pivot Firebird V5
Update 7.16.25: We’ve got some more thoughts on the latest iteration of Pivot’s Enduro bike after spending some more time experimenting with the wheel size and geometry options.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Cannondale Moterra
Cannondale just launched the latest version of their Moterra eMTB in alloy frame options, featuring Bosch’s Performance Line CX drive system, a range of build kits that accommodate a variety of budgets, and more. Check out our First Look for all the info.
‘Inception’ w/ Ian McIntosh, Todd Ligare, & Jonathan Ellsworth (Ep.45)
Pro skier, Ian McIntosh, was Leonardo DiCaprio’s stunt double for the ski scenes in ‘Inception’, and he’s got a bunch of fantastic behind-the-scenes stories to share. And pro skier, Todd Ligare, brings his own great questions for Ian and excellent answers for our film awards for this movie.
Flash Review: Propain Tyee 6.1 CF
Propain gave the Tyee some tweaks that look good on paper, but has our take on their Enduro bike changed much? Here’s the early version.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Flash Review: Revel Ritual
Revel has been through a lot since launching their Ritual Enduro bike. But they’re back, and the Ritual is available — so how does it ride? We’ve been spending time on it to find out. Check out our initial on-trail 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.
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‘The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy’ w/ McKenna Peterson & Jed Yeiser, Blister Book Club (Ep.365)
Back in 2022 on a ski-testing trip, K2 ski designer, Jed Yeiser; K2 skier, McKenna Peterson; and I agreed that we would one do have a conversation about ‘The Hitchhiker’s Guide’. And this strange little book seems to only be gaining more relevance with each passing year.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Reviewer Reports: Luke & Jonathan on Summer Gear + Red Bull Rampage vs. Hardline (Ep.358)
We discuss some of our favorite gear we’ve used this summer, and make the argument for the single greatest piece of summer gear. But we begin by discussing our Weekly Blister Survey question, and bottom line: we think half of you might be crazy??
Win a Helmet Light From Outbound Lighting
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get the Portal Helmet Bike Light from Outbound Lighting!
Reviewing the News w/ Dylan Wood & Simon Stewart, July 2025 (Ep. 286)
Dylan and Simon break down all the racing, tech, and tariff chaos from the past month, including Louise Ferguson’s ground-breaking Red Bull Hardline winning run, Tom Pidcock’s XC win, and Tadej Pogacar’s utter domination of the Tour de France.
Ghia’s Journey from ‘Shark Tank’ to the Mainstream (Ep.80)
Ghia is a drink brand that isn’t trying to be beer, wine, or spirits — and definitely not a “mocktail.” Eli talks with Ghia founder Mélanie Masarin about building a culinary inspired non-alcoholic option that’s not about sobriety, but about choice, occasion, and great flavors.
Trek Fuel+ EX, MX, & LX eMTBs
The new non-motorized Trek Fuel lineup has an electrified alter ego. Based around the new TQ HPR60 motor, the Fuel+ EX, MX, and LX bring the modular design of their unassisted siblings to a new Light-Assist eMTB format.
Flash Review: Trek Fuel EX Gen 7
The outgoing Trek Fuel EX Gen 6 was an exceptionally well-rounded, versatile bike that riders of many different stripes could get along with — so is that still true of the new Gen 7 version, or has Trek turned the Fuel EX into something else entirely?
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Trek Fuel EX, MX, & LX
The Trek Fuel family is growing, and the ultra-versatile Fuel EX has gotten an update — and longer-travel Fuel MX and Fuel LX siblings to go with it, all based around a modular platform and a common frame.
Yeti MTe
We’ve spent the last 3 months riding Yeti’s latest eMTB, the lightweight MTe. And for the right rider, this isn’t just another light/mid-assist eMTB: it’s a true standout in the category. Check out our Full Review for the whole story.
Deep Dive: Yeti MTe
We compare the Yeti MTe to the Yeti SB140, Propain Sresh SL, Pivot Shuttle SL/AM, Pivot Shuttle AM, Pivot Shuttle SL, Norco Fluid VLT 130, Santa Cruz Heckler SL, Trek Fuel EXe Aluminum, Mondraker Dune XR, Cannondale Moterra SL, and Rocky Mountain Instinct Powerplay.
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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1UP Super Duty Rack & RakAttach
We’ve been hauling lots of bikes on the 1UP Super Duty rack anchored to their RakAttach swing-out hitch mount, including some light off-roading with heavy eMTBs, and of course, some camping to help put the practicality of the RakAttach swing-out to the test.
Brandon Semenuk’s ‘Foreverish’ Series w/ Dylan Wood & Simon Stewart (Ep. 48)
Brandon’s new series has raised the bar yet again for cinematography and riding level. So Dylan and Simon discuss why Semenuk’s films set the standard; why he’s the GOAT; their favorite segments; and the impact high-budget short films may have on bike media.
Reviewing the News w/ Dr. Len Necefer, July 2025 (Ep.368)
Dr. Len Necefer is back to talk about thumb scrolling(??); energy & water issues; Trek’s sustainability report & initiatives; rate your takes; and share what he’s been reading & watching.