BLISTER — Outdoor Gear Reviews, Podcasts, Buyer’s Guides, Giveaways

BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles

Zack Henderson reviews the COROS Dura cycling computer

COROS Dura Cycling Computer

COROS recently broke into the cycling computer market with their new Dura, promising exceptional battery life at a compelling price point. So how does it perform after several months in the field? Our Full Review has the answers.

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David Golay reviews the Maxxis High Roller for Blister

Flash Review — Maxxis High Roller

The new Maxxis High Roller doesn’t look anything like the earlier tires to bear that name, but how does it perform? Check out our early impressions.

Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions

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Zerode on Gearbox Bikes, World Cup DH Racing, & Building Stuff in a Shed (Ep.235)

Zerode on Gearbox Bikes, World Cup DH Racing, & Building Stuff in a Shed (Ep.235)

A lot of mountain bike companies started with one or two people building stuff in a shed, but not many of those folks *began* by building their own gearbox, and even fewer have stayed committed to gearbox bikes. But Zerode isn’t most bike companies, and we sat down with them to hear all about their history, how they got where they are today, their thoughts on gearbox bikes, and a whole lot more.

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Zack Henderson reviews the Forge+Bond Shift 30 EM wheels

Forge+Bond Shift Series Wheels

Forge+Bond’s Shift wheels are one of the most affordable ways to get into a US-made carbon fiber wheelset — and use the same rims as Forge+Bond’s higher-end wheels — so is there a catch? Check out our Full Review to see how they’ve fared.

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David Golay reviews the Privateer 161 V2 for Blister

Flash Review — Privateer 161 V2

Privateer made a name for themselves by building super burly, affordable Enduro race bikes and we’ve started spending time on their latest take on that theme, the 161 V2. Check out our take on how it’s faring so far.

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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Luke Koppa's reviews the Armada Declivity X 108 for Blister

Flash Review: 24/25 Armada Declivity X 108

Revamped for 24/25, the Declivity X 108 bridges the gap between Armada’s big-mountain Declivty X 115 and the more all-round Declivity X 102. So, which of its siblings does the new 108 most closely resemble? 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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David Golay reviews the Hope XCR Pro E4 Brakes for Blister

Hope XCR Pro X2 and E4 Brakes

Hope’s new pairing of their lightweight, bare-bones XCR Pro lever with the four-piston E4 caliper may seem like an incongruous one, but there are good reasons to consider the XCR Pro E4s besides just weight savings.

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BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:

David Golay reviews the Vorsprung Smashpot V2 for Blister

Vorsprung Smashpot V2 Coil Spring Fork Conversion Kit

Vorsprung’s new Smashpot V2 still lets you convert your fork to a coil spring, but V2 offers increased tunability, a wider range of travel and fork compatibility options — including dual-crown ones — and a new dual-rate progressive spring setup for longer-travel configurations. Check out our First Look for all the details.

Zack Henderson reviews the Formula Nebbia

Formula Nebbia

The Nebbia is Formula’s first air shock, with a strong focus on tunability and ease of service. After a few months of testing, we have gotten a good sense of how it performs — and the results are even more interesting than expected.

Enve’s Fifth-Generation M-Series Wheels

Flash Review — Enve M6 Wheels

Enve says that their new M-Series wheels ride very differently from Enve wheels of old, and we’ve started putting those claims to the test with their new Trail bike wheels, the M6. Check out 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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Enve’s Fifth-Generation M-Series Wheels

Enve’s Fifth-Generation M-Series Wheels

Enve has launched the fifth-generation versions of their flagship M-Series mountain bike wheels, promising a very different ride feel from past M-Series wheels. The data they’ve provided to quantify that is pretty eye-popping, and there’s a lot of interesting stuff going on with their design — including new, Enve-designed hubs. Check out what they’ve come up with.

BLISTER — Outdoor Gear Reviews, Podcasts, Buyer’s Guides, Giveaways

How Do You Know How “Safe” Your Helmet Is? | Blister Summit Video

Testing standards are hugely important, but when it comes to ski/snowboard and cycling helmets, the current ones have limitations. In this clip, Steven Kennedy, Sr. Director of R&D at Giro, shares some thoughts on Giro’s in-house testing approach, the Virginia Tech helmet testing standards, and more.

'A Sunday in Hell’ w/ Joe Parkin (Ep.26)

‘A Sunday in Hell’ w/ Joe Parkin & Simon Stewart (Ep.26)

We revisit the 1977 film ‘A Sunday in Hell,’ often regarded as one of the greatest bike racing films of all time. To do it justice, Simon Stewart is joined by former pro cyclist Joe Parkin, who raced Paris-Roubaix himself in 1988, and knows what it takes to suffer through “The Hell of the North.”

Blister reviews the Trek Slash+

Trek Slash+

The Trek Slash+ combines big travel with a little motor — a pairing that sets it apart from the rest of the market. We have logged plenty of miles on the Slash+ this summer and have a lot to say about its impressive performance — and some tradeoffs that come with it.

BLISTER — Outdoor Gear Reviews, Podcasts, Buyer’s Guides, Giveaways

Reviewing the News w/ Cody Townsend, September 2024 (Ep.327)

Cody and Jonathan discuss the release of Cody’s first FIFTY+ film; some big controversies in the world of FKT’s & running; a great edition of Blevin’s Corner; mountain guides and the often confusing practice of tipping; what they’re reading & watching; … and more.