BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Revel Ritual
The Revel Ritual is a long-travel 29er built for Enduro racing, but after two months of testing, it proved to be far more versatile than expected. With efficient climbing and playful yet capable descending, the Ritual feels just as at home just about anywhere. Check out our Full Review for the whole story.
Deep Dive: Revel Ritual
We compare the Revel Ritual to the Revel Rail 19, Canfield Lithium, Canfield One.2 Super Enduro, Santa Cruz Megatower 2, Intense Tracer 279, Transition Spire, Ibis Ripmo v3, Santa Cruz Hightower 4, Santa Cruz Bronson 5, and Specialized Stumpjumper 15 Evo.
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Reviewing the News w/ Mike Ferrentino & Simon Stewart (Ep.290)
Mike and Simon discuss why many of us who have been riding bikes for years and are fit and healthy should still get a calcium test to look for heart disease; plus a recap of the wild World Cup in Les Gets, and more.
Stuff We Like: August 2025
From high-end coolers and rain jackets to ultralight trail pants, fishing sunglasses, and even youth outdoor gear, this month’s Stuff We Like roundup highlights the products our team has been testing and loving. Whether you’re traveling, biking, fishing, or just gearing up for everyday adventures, here are the standout picks for August 2025.
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.
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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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
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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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.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Win a Jacket From Strafe
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get the men’s or women’s Highlands Shirt Jacket from Strafe!
Blister Mountain Bike Buyer’s Guide: XC / Trail Bikes
The third chapter of our new Mountain Bike Buyer’s Guide is here, featuring bikes from hardcore XC Race machines to efficient, sharp-handling Trail rigs, and everything in between.
Reviewing the News w/ Dylan Wood & Simon Stewart (Ep.294)
Dylan and Simon break down all the amazing bike racing from September, some industry news, the looming new mountain bike wheel size, a few cool new products they’re testing, and a whole lot more.
We’re Headed to Snowbound Expo 2025
Hey, East Coast: Join us at the Snowbound Expo this November 14-16 for some great conversations and much, much more.
Flash Review: Cannondale Moterra
We’ve been piling up the miles on Cannondale’s new Moterra. Check out our first impressions of Cannondale’s more mainstream take on the full-power eMTB category.
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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Stuff We Like: September 2025
In this edition of ‘Stuff We Like,’ our reviewers discuss all the latest gear they’ve been testing, from fly fishing packs to GPS watches, sleeping pads, hiking boots, ultralight carbon handlebars, and more.
Flash Review: 2026 Norco Revolver 120
Norco’s Revolver 120, featuring the lightest full-suspension frame the Canadian company has ever produced, is shaping up to be an option deserving — but not conforming to — the “World Cup XC Bike” moniker. Check out our initial 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.)
20 Years of Flylow w/ Dan Abrams, Flylow President & Co-Founder (Ep.376)
Flylow turns 20 this year, so we talk with Flylow co-founder, Dan Abrams, about the big victories, scary setbacks, and endless challenges he’s seen. Then, have you ever wondered why some jackets cost $700 and others only $200? They walk through the Flylow lineup as an exercise to lay out exactly what you get and what you don’t at all these different price points.
2025-2026 Atomic Bent 110 GFD
Atomic, Chris Benchetler, and the Grateful Dead have once again teamed up to release a limited-edition ski — here are the details on the Bent 110 GFD.
Our 25/26 Winter Buyer’s Guide: Trends, Controversies, & Luke’s Least Favorite Thing In It (Ep.362)
Luke and Jonathan talk about our big new book, the Blister 25/26 Winter Buyer’s Guide, including the big takeaways, trends, and controversies. (Plus, stick around to hear Luke’s insane bear story at the end.)
Revel ReRun
Revel’s first eMTB is a burly, 165 mm travel rig, but the ReRun’s performance proved that looks can be deceiving. Check out our thoughts after several months of testing.
Win a Travel Pack from The Brown Buffalo
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get a Conceal Waistpack from The Brown Buffalo!