BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Shimano XT M8200 & M8220 Brakes
Shimano’s XT brakes have gotten an overhaul to go with the new wireless XT Di2 drivetrain. Here’s what’s new, what isn’t, and the full rundown on the XT brake options.
Specialized Gravity Racing & Brembo Announce Partnership
The speculation about the prototype brakes that Specialized Gravity Racing has been racing on can be put to rest: they’re from Brembo. Here’s what we know so far.
‘Forrest Gump’ w/ Brendan Leonard & Jonathan Ellsworth (Ep.41)
Forrest Gump premiered on June 23, 1994, and Tom Hanks won the Oscar for Best Actor. But according to Brendan Leonard (semi-rad.com), the real story is that Gump introduced millions of people to ultrarunning. Brendan and Jonathan discuss that and a whole lot more.
Jib League & the Future of Freeskiing with Woodsy (Ep.361)
We talk with James Woods (aka Woodsy) about how he and fellow pro skiers, Ferdinand Dahl and Oystein Braaten, created Jib League to fill voids that they were noticing in the freeskiing world. The unique event series they created has been loved by athletes and viewers alike, and the story of how it came to be is just as interesting as all the absurd tricks put down by the riders at each stop.
Aenomaly Switchgrade 2.0 Evo Seat Angle Adjuster
The Aenomaly Switchgrade is a clever way to allow on-the-fly seat angle adjustment, but how beneficial is it in practice? We’ve been testing the updated Switchgrade Evo 2.0, and are ready to weigh in.
Flash Review: 24/25 ON3P Woodsman 92
Update 6.13.25: Jonathan Ellsworth adds his thoughts on the Woodsman 92, where it excels, and what sort of skiers ought to consider it.
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Win Alpaca Apparel from Arms of Andes
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get a $200 gift card from Arms of Andes!
The New Rules of Apparel: PFAS, What’s Changed, & What It Means for You (Ep.351)
In this panel discussion from Blister Summit 2025, we asked apparel designers from Patagonia, Flylow, Ortovox, and Rab to discuss what you should expect from the new generation of PFAS-free apparel; how it compares to what you’ve used in the past; and what you can do to make the most of it.
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.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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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
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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
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BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
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.
Specialized’s Updated Butcher and Eliminator Tires
Specialized has continued to invest heavily in its tire program, and the refreshed Butcher and Eliminator bring big changes to two of their most popular tires. We’ve been riding both tires for several months, and they’re some of the Big S’s most impressive work yet.
Win Sunglasses From Ombraz
The winner of our Giveaway will get any pair of Ombraz Armless Sunglasses!
Our New Mountain Bike Buyer’s Guide (Ep.285)
We just published the first chapter of our new Mountain Bike Buyer’s Guide, so we sat down to talk about what’s in it; how it’s structured & why; what makes it different — and better — than other buyer’s guides; and wrap with a guessing game about each other’s bike preferences.
Flash Review: Propain Hugene 3 CF
The variety of ride traits across mid-travel Trail bikes is wider than ever, so where does the new Propain Hugene slot in? We’ve got some thoughts after about a month on board the updated Hugene 3.
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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OUR GUY WON! Celebrating CRAFTED co-host, Eli Brown, on His Grant Award + What’s Next for His Project (Ep.79)
On CRAFTED ep. 75, we told you about the proposal Eli submitted re: N/A cocktails. Well, Eli won the very competitive ‘Raise the Bar’ grant, so Jonathan talks with him about why this is a big deal, and Eli shares more details about his project. Congrats, Eli!
RockShox Vivid Coil
The coil shock market is loaded with great options, but the RockShox Vivid Coil stands out for merging easy setup with ample adjustability — and distinct on-trail performance. Our Full Review unpacks our thoughts after six months with RockShox’s flagship coil shock.