BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
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.
Coffee Gear, Pt. 5: One-Year Update on Jonathan’s Coffee Setup & Journey (Ep.82)
Eli talks with Jonathan Ellsworth about what’s new in his setup; what he’s learned (or rejected) from the depths of coffee forums and online videos; and whether his coffee journey has been a brilliant pursuit of flavor, or just an expensive rabbit hole.
Santa Cruz Hightower 4
The 4th-generation Santa Cruz Hightower isn’t just a mid-travel All-Mountain bike — it’s a confident descender that could have been a true Enduro bike just a few years ago. With stable, versatile geometry and plush suspension, the Hightower 4 stands out as a capable one-bike quiver option.
Deep Dive: Santa Cruz Hightower 4
We compare the Santa Cruz Hightower 4 to the Santa Cruz Hightower 3, Santa Cruz Bronson 5, Santa Cruz Megatower 2, Santa Cruz Tallboy 5, Specialized Stumpjumper 15, Ibis Ripmo V3, Spot Mayhem 140, Cannondale Habit, Pivot Shadowcat, Transition Sentinel V3, and Trek Fuel EX Gen 7.
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‘Chasing The Triple Crown’ w/ Hannah Otto (Ep. 49)
Hannah Otto has been ticking off impressive FKTs, and her latest film documents the highs and lows of her White Rim record-breaking effort, as well as the struggles of riding and filming in very unforgiving terrain.
Spark R&D + ATK Bindings: a New Collab Sparked at the Blister Summit
Today’s episode contains a number of “firsts.” So tune in to learn about a new collab between Spark R&D and ATK bindings, or tune in to hear Jonathan caught completely off guard multiple times.
Mountain In My Mind: When Ski Films Talk About What We Don’t (Ep.370)
Filmmaker John Padilla joins us to talk about his ski film series, Mountain In My Mind, and how he’s opening the conversation about mental health in mountain communities.
Flash Review: Fox 34 SL
Cross-Country race courses have gotten a lot gnarlier in recent years, and bikes and parts have had to adapt. The new Fox 34 SL offers up to 130 mm of travel in a very lightweight package, but how does it ride? We are ready to share first impressions from a few rides with Fox’s new race-oriented XC fork.
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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Win Apparel From Curious Creatures & Party Shirt International
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get a pair of Bitterroot Bloom or Sun Dog shorts from Curious Creatures and a Sun Hoodie from Party Shirt International!
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
SRAM Motive Brakes
The SRAM Motive is squarely aimed at the XC and Trail market, promising near-Code power at a Level-like weight. Did SRAM succeed in hitting both marks?
Flash Review: Hope EVO GR4 Brakes
Hope’s new GR4 brakes look more like an evolution of the Tech 4 V4 that they replace than a ground-up redesign, but there are a lot of changes lurking below the surface. Here’s our take on how they’ve added up after a handful of 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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Reviewing the News w/ Cody Townsend, September 2025 (Ep.377)
Cody and Jonathan discuss Andrzej Bargiel’s ski descent of Everest; the return of the FIFTY+ project; the life of Jane Goodall; Outside Inc.’s firing of Wes Siler; and Lincoln Knowles’ response to our last RTN conversation. Plus, they rate your takes and share what they’ve been reading & watching.
Flash Review: Madrone Jab Derailleur
The Madrone Jab derailleur sounds very promising on paper (and looks great), but how does it perform compared to the big-name options on the market? Here are our initial 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.
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Madrone Jab Derailleur
Madrone got its start offering replacement parts for SRAM derailleurs, and now they’ve made a full standalone derailleur of their own, with a design that’s focused on being fully rebuildable and adaptable to a wide array of drivetrain options. Check out the new Jab, and our early impressions of how it performs.
Stinius & Hoji on Developing the New 4FRNT Sinister (Ep.363)
Today we’re talking with Hoji and Stinius Skjøtskift about the creation of Stinius’ new pro model, the 4FRNT Sinister. There are lots of great stories in this one, plus you’ll find out why a number of us at BLISTER are extremely intrigued by this ski.
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.