Trail bikes | Blister

Ben Sims, Eric Freson, & Dylan Wood review the Pivot Switchblade for Blister

2021 Pivot Switchblade

April 28, 2021April 28, 2021 by Ben Sims

Over the past several months, three of our reviewers spent time on Pivot's do-it-all Trail bike, the Switchblade, and they think it does an impressive job of standing out in a very crowded category. Check out our full review to see why.

Eric Freson and Luke Koppa review the Revel Rail 27.5 for Blister

2020 Revel Rail

July 3, 2020 by Eric Freson

We've now had two reviewers riding Revel's 165mm-travel bike, the Rail, and they've both come away very impressed by its versatility. Check out our full review to see why, and how it compares to some other options in its class.

Dylan Wood reviews the Yeti SB130 for Blister in Gunnison, Colorado.

2020 Yeti SB130

June 7, 2020May 26, 2020 by David Golay

We've had more reviewers spending more time on Yeti's mid-travel 29er, and have updated our review of the SB130.

Dylan Wood reviews the Santa Cruz Megatower for Blister

2020 Santa Cruz Megatower

May 12, 2020May 12, 2020 by Eric Freson

We've now had two reviewers on Santa Cruz's 160mm-travel 29er and have updated our review with more thoughts on what kinds of riders will appreciate it and how it compares to its predecessor, the Santa Cruz Hightower LT.

Noah Bodman & David Golay review the Guerrilla Gravity Smash for Blister

2020 Guerrilla Gravity Smash

April 24, 2020April 13, 2020 by Noah Bodman

We’ve now had two reviewers convert Guerrilla Gravity's 120mm-travel Trail Pistol to their 145mm-travel Smash (an option that's noteworthy in itself) and they both think the Smash is one of the more versatile and easy-to-recommend bikes in the Trail category. Check out our full review of the Smash.

2020 Transition Scout

February 13, 2020 by David Golay

Transition just released an updated version of their mid-travel 27.5” bike, the Scout, and the new bike looks like a very intriguing mix of playful and aggressive. Check out our thoughts in our First Look.

2020 Trek Fuel EX

November 27, 2019 by Banks Kriz

This year Trek overhauled their most popular Trail bike, the Fuel EX, and we’ve started spending time on the Fuel EX 9.8 XT. Check out our First Look and initial on-trail impressions.

Noah Bodman reviews the Alchemy Arktos 29 for Blister

2019 Alchemy Arktos 29

November 14, 2019October 6, 2019 by Noah Bodman

While there are now lots of “do-it-all” Trail bikes on the market, the Alchemy Arktos 29 brings something a bit different to the table. Check out our full review for more.

Noah Bodman reviews the Devinci Spartan for Blister

2019 Devinci Spartan

November 10, 2018 by Noah Bodman

Devinci’s Trail bikes have historically occupied a versatile middle ground — pretty good on the up, and pretty good on the down. So does the most recent iteration of the Devinci Spartan continue this trend?

2018 Pivot Mach 5.5

June 21, 2018June 21, 2018 by Noah Bodman

The new Pivot Mach 5.5 is a compelling option in the “does-everything-pretty-well” category of Trail bikes.

Noah Bodman reviews the Ibis Mojo HD4 for Blister

2018 Ibis Mojo HD4

June 24, 2018June 14, 2018 by Noah Bodman

If you generally pedal to the top of your rowdy descents, the Ibis Mojo HD4 is one of the best bikes we’ve used.

Noah Bodman reviews the Marin Wolf Ridge for Blister Review

2018 Marin Wolf Ridge

May 31, 2018 by Noah Bodman

The Marin Wolf Ridge features a unique suspension system that has garnered a lot of attention. So how does this longer-travel "Trail" bike actually perform on the trail?

Pivot Announces New Trail 429

May 17, 2018May 17, 2018 by Noah Bodman

Pivot just released their brand-new Trail 429 model. Check out the specs and our initial thoughts on the bike.

Noah Bodman reviews the Santa Cruz Hightower for Blister Review

2017 Santa Cruz Hightower

July 28, 2018October 17, 2017 by Noah Bodman

We've put about 1000 miles on one of the most popular trail bikes on the planet. So we weigh in on its durability, and also which configuration of the bike we liked best.

Noah Bodman reviews the Patrol 672 for Blister Review

2018 Patrol 672

October 8, 2017 by Noah Bodman

The Patrol 672 is a new budget-oriented Trail bike, so how how much “bang” do you actually get for your buck?

Kevin Bazar reviews the Guerrilla Gravity Megatrail for Blister Gear Review

2015 Guerrilla Gravity Megatrail

October 18, 2021August 10, 2015 by Kevin Bazar

The Guerrilla Gravity Megatrail is a stiff, stable, adaptable trail bike that delivers an extremely impressive ride.

How Much Bike do You Really Need?

April 13, 2015 by Marshal Olson

Long-travel trail bikes are all the rage, but are they overkill? Marshal Olson shares his thoughts brought on by a midlife biking crisis.

Eric Melson Reviews the Knolly Warden, Blister Gear Review.

2014 Knolly Warden

December 3, 2014 by Eric Melson

Knolly's first 650B bike, the Warden, is durable; reliable on quick, punchy climbs; and offers a very fun yet stable feel on descents.

Noah Bodman reviews the GT Sanction Pro, Blister Gear Review

2015 GT Sanction

October 21, 2014 by Noah Bodman

The GT Sanction is a purpose-built machine that likes speed and steep terrain more than most 160mm bikes on the market.

Noah Bodman reviews the GT Helion, Blister Gear Review.

2015 GT Helion Carbon Pro

October 19, 2014 by Noah Bodman

The GT Helion is a solid option if you’re looking for a XC or light-duty trail bike, and you’re not a fan of 29” wheels.

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