BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
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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Propain Hugene 3 CF
The new Propain Hugene gets less suspension travel and more aggressive geometry than the prior-generation one — so where does that leave their do-it-all Trail bike? Here’s the rundown on its design and our early on-trail impressions.
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.
Stuff We Like: July 2025
In this edition of ‘Stuff We Like,’ our reviewers discuss some new hiking / trekking boots, ultralight sleeping pads, impressive everyday apparel, portable bike ramps, and more. Check it out to see which products have been standing out this month.
‘Quicksilver’ w/ Steve Smith & Simon Stewart (Ep.47)
Former San Francisco bike messenger Steve Smith joins Blister senior editor, Simon Stewart, to talk about this film starring a young Kevin Bacon. The lads dive right into why the film had a memorable bike influence on them, how realistic it is, and what the hell Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon is all about.
Blister Mountain Bike Buyer’s Guide
It’s here! Our new Mountain Bike Buyer’s Guide, comparing the many current bikes we’ve reviewed, in a more digestible format than ever before. First up: All-Mountain bikes.
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.)
Kona Hei Hei 10
The latest Kona Hei Hei strikes a balance between XC climbing efficiency and trail-ready descending capability. After months of testing, we break down its fit, climbing and descending performance, and how it stacks up against XC race bikes and shorter-travel Trail bikes alike. You’ll also read why we think this is a great do-it-all short-travel MTB for riders who love to climb fast but don’t shy away from technical descents.
Deep Dive: Kona Hei Hei 10
We compare the Kona Hei Hei 10 to the Yeti SB120, Revel Ranger, Cannondale Scalpel, Yeti ASR, Commencal T.E.M.P.O, Niner JET 9 RDO, Cannondale Habit, Pivot Trailcat SL, SCOR 2030, Specialized Epic Evo, and Trek Top Fuel.
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.)
Rebecca Rusch on Battling Back, Switching Gears, Mtn Biking vs Gravel Biking, & More (Ep.367)
What happens when you go from being so tenacious that you earn the name, ‘the Queen of Pain’ to struggling just to get off the couch? Today, Rebecca Rusch shares the story of her journey, and it’s a journey that every single one of us will relate to, and all of us need to hear.
Big News & Updates: Our New Mtn Bike Buyer’s Guide; Our Winter Buyer’s Guide; & the State of Buyer’s Guides in 2025 (Ep.357)
We’re releasing our first-ever Blister Mountain Bike Guide, and we’re doing it in a way that we don’t think has ever been done in the bike (or ski) world. We’re also talking about the state of buyer’s guides in 2025, and you’ll get the latest updates on our 25/26 Winter Buyer’s Guide.
Flash Review: Shimano XT M8200 Di2 Drivetrain and Brakes
We’ve been quite impressed with Shimano’s latest XTR Di2 groupset, so how close does the XT version get in terms of performance, for about two-thirds of the price? 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.
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.)
Win Titan Straps
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get a bunch of Titan’s multifunctional straps — 2 of each length of Utility Straps, 2 of each length of Industrial Straps, and 4 of each length of Mini Straps for a total of 28 Titan Straps!
Pre-Order Our 2025-2026 Blister Winter Buyer’s Guide
Our 25/26 Winter Buyer’s Guide: it’s bigger than ever, as honest and accurate as it’s always been, and it’s now available to pre-order. Here’s how to get your copy.
Stashed’s Elliot Tanner on Making Innovative Bike Storage Systems (Ep.284)
In today’s conversation, Simon talks with Elliot Tanner, founder of Stashed, about his fascinating journey from being involved in designing and making parts for Marker’s iconic Kingpin touring binding to engineering and manufacturing the innovative Spacerail Bike Storage System, and more.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
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.
Propain Hugene 3 CF
The new Propain Hugene gets less suspension travel and more aggressive geometry than the prior-generation one — so where does that leave their do-it-all Trail bike? Here’s the rundown on its design and our early on-trail impressions.
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.
Stuff We Like: July 2025
In this edition of ‘Stuff We Like,’ our reviewers discuss some new hiking / trekking boots, ultralight sleeping pads, impressive everyday apparel, portable bike ramps, and more. Check it out to see which products have been standing out this month.
‘Quicksilver’ w/ Steve Smith & Simon Stewart (Ep.47)
Former San Francisco bike messenger Steve Smith joins Blister senior editor, Simon Stewart, to talk about this film starring a young Kevin Bacon. The lads dive right into why the film had a memorable bike influence on them, how realistic it is, and what the hell Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon is all about.
Blister Mountain Bike Buyer’s Guide
It’s here! Our new Mountain Bike Buyer’s Guide, comparing the many current bikes we’ve reviewed, in a more digestible format than ever before. First up: All-Mountain bikes.
Kona Hei Hei 10
The latest Kona Hei Hei strikes a balance between XC climbing efficiency and trail-ready descending capability. After months of testing, we break down its fit, climbing and descending performance, and how it stacks up against XC race bikes and shorter-travel Trail bikes alike. You’ll also read why we think this is a great do-it-all short-travel MTB for riders who love to climb fast but don’t shy away from technical descents.
Deep Dive: Kona Hei Hei 10
We compare the Kona Hei Hei 10 to the Yeti SB120, Revel Ranger, Cannondale Scalpel, Yeti ASR, Commencal T.E.M.P.O, Niner JET 9 RDO, Cannondale Habit, Pivot Trailcat SL, SCOR 2030, Specialized Epic Evo, and Trek Top Fuel.
Rebecca Rusch on Battling Back, Switching Gears, Mtn Biking vs Gravel Biking, & More (Ep.367)
What happens when you go from being so tenacious that you earn the name, ‘the Queen of Pain’ to struggling just to get off the couch? Today, Rebecca Rusch shares the story of her journey, and it’s a journey that every single one of us will relate to, and all of us need to hear.
Big News & Updates: Our New Mtn Bike Buyer’s Guide; Our Winter Buyer’s Guide; & the State of Buyer’s Guides in 2025 (Ep.357)
We’re releasing our first-ever Blister Mountain Bike Guide, and we’re doing it in a way that we don’t think has ever been done in the bike (or ski) world. We’re also talking about the state of buyer’s guides in 2025, and you’ll get the latest updates on our 25/26 Winter Buyer’s Guide.
Flash Review: Shimano XT M8200 Di2 Drivetrain and Brakes
We’ve been quite impressed with Shimano’s latest XTR Di2 groupset, so how close does the XT version get in terms of performance, for about two-thirds of the price? Here’s our early take.