Tested

If you’re in the market for a new clipless shoe, we’d suggest you grab a beverage and read this little piece about an extensive redesign for the Five Ten Hellcat Pro. With the help of Greg Minnaar, Five Ten has taken an already popular shoe and addressed previous issues while increasing performance and comfort. Sound too good to be true? Keep reading and we’ll tell you how they did it. Strengths Weaknesses Lighter, more comfortable and more breathable than previous model Excellent performance in wet conditions with less mud build-up on sole Improved toe box protection Orthopedically-correct...

When you think of carbon wheelsets, you're usually talking about an exponential price jump to almost unobtainable prices for most riders' budgets. When does the madness stop? What if it didn’t have to be that painful? Bontrager set out on a mission to give you the benefits of high modulus hoops and precise engagement hubs with the Line Pro 30 wheels – all for hundreds less than the vast majority of the competition. We put the working man’s carbon wheelset to the test on both 27.5 and 29-inch bikes to see how they stack up after a long season on the trail. Highlights Available in 27.5 and 29...

Carbon wheels are a polarizing component in the mountain bike world. On one hand they offer promises of performance increases, weight reduction, and that unmistakable "wow" factor. Conversely, some have commented their durability, overly stiff nature, and price point leave a lot to be desired. Santa Cruz set out to build the best wheelset on the planet some three years ago, and finally released their Reserve Carbon creation this spring. Most notably, the wheels feature a true lifetime warranty – the first in the business to do so. Not a company that simply regurgitates what is already out...

Big wheels keep on turning, or at least that’s how the saying goes. Wagon-wheeled bikes have come into the limelight this year, and for good reason. When paired with capable suspension and well-thought-out geometry, they offer rock crushing roll-over and traction smaller-wheeled bikes simply can’t provide. We’ve spent the better part of three months on the new Santa Cruz Hightower LT sussing out the finer details of the bike. Who is it for? How did it hold up? Where did it perform best? We set out to answer all of these questions and more. From downhill bike worthy gravity laps to high alpine...

There is no shortage of options when it comes to hauling your precious rig to the trail: roof racks, cheap, strap-on trunk racks, hitch racks, and even those wild suction-cup racks. Each style of rack has its own advantage, whether it be ease of securing your bike, staying out of the way of your trunk/tailgate/hatch, or simply meeting your budget. Hitch racks are a common option. They are often secure and convenient, don’t destroy your gas mileage as much as a roof rack, you don’t run the risk of forgetting your bike is on the roof when pulling into the garage or low overhang, and in general...

Race Face has over the past couple of years been busy expanding their lineup of cranks to the point where they have an option available for any riding style and any budget. However, that is not to say that there isn’t room for something more – and for 2017, that something is the R family of components. In case you wonder what the R stands for, it’s rally. And rally, as we all know, translates to riding your bike. Slotting into the range in between the ultra-light Next and the DH-rated SixC product families, the Next R carbon cranks aim to combine the best of two worlds in a package that should...

For the last year some friends and I have been toying with the idea of riding the Colorado Trail from Molas Pass to Durango – a ride actually deserving of the word "epic." Three weeks ago we made the high-country adventure happen. We planned to tackle the beast over two days with a sag-wagon full of friends and post-ride libations to meet us in the middle. The day before we began everyone was busy ensuring their rides were ready for the challenge. "Did you swap out that 34-tooth ring?" "Damn straight, I'll take every advantage I can get!" replied my buddy, Nate Work, who, just days earlier...

How much effort do you give? This is a question 100% has been asking for years, but it’s only more recently that they’ve applied it to mountain biking. To be precise, their line of MTB-specific apparel was only launched in 2016, a few years after the iconic brand experienced a general revival that saw it begin to expand its product line beyond t-shirts and goggles. It’s an interesting story for a company that started out in 1982 with a cable guide for motocross and the need for a name that would stick, so we decided to check out the goods for ourselves to see how it would stack up. Read on to...

We have a love-hate relationship with dropper posts, because although things are looking up, we’ve yet to find the perfect solution to building a telescoping, remote-controlled tube that allows you to get your seat out of the way at the push of a lever and do so with absolute reliability. We are perhaps being unreasonable, as components that need no service and never break are not exactly commonplace, but we have many dropper post failures behind us that still leave a sour taste in the mouth and we want posts that do better. Coincidentally, so did the good people at 9point8 which is why the...

OneUp Components is a relatively young, Squamish-based company that started out making wide-range drivetrain add-ons, but their product range has expanded since then to include all kinds of clever bits and pieces, like the innovative steerer tube mounted EDC multitool for example. Working their way out from the drive train the good people at OneUp were always going to end up taking a look at pedals at some point, and that is just what they have done with the recent introduction of a pair of brand new, aluminum and composite pedals. We’ve put the former through three months of hard riding to...

As the banter increases around 29-inch wheels in downhill, we've decided to throw it back to 26-inch days and offer up a very long-term review of Light Bicycle's Heavy Duty Carbon rims designed for downhill and enduro use. With key players like ENVE, Industry Nine, e*thirteen, SRAM, Reynolds and others holding the majority of the carbon wheel market, Light Bicycle has been building steam over the years by creating a price point rim they claim performs like the big names at the fraction of the price. At just $181 per rim, we decided to purchase and abuse a set of rims to see how they would hold...

With each passing year, more and more riders are looking to extend their riding season as long as possible. This usually means that trails are more muddy, loose and wet – leaving a lot of compromises to be made when it comes to picking the right tire for the conditions. Maxxis stepped up to the plate to provide trail riders with a tire that bridges the gap between a mud spike and a tire meant for dry conditions. The Forekaster is a tire that allows riders to ride with confidence when trail conditions start to deteriorate. We tested a new 27.5 x 2.6-inch Wide Trail version. Strengths...

Longer travel 29-inch wheeled bikes seem all the rage these days. Santa Cruz has thrown their proverbial hat in the ring with their updated Hightower model dubbed the "Hightower LT." A bike developed specifically by Santa Cruz's Enduro World Series team, the new big-wheeled bike features a bump in travel, a small tweak to the frame geometry, and more capable suspension. Santa Cruz Hightower LT Highlights Made for enduro racing and aggressive trail riding 150mm (5.9-inches) of front and rear wheel travel VPP suspension design 29-inch wheels only (no 27.5+) Available in CC and C carbon Double...

Quality tools make all the difference when you’re working on your pride and joy, and that holds true out on the trail as well. Finding out that a vital tool is missing or that your old pump no longer works can be all that stands between a rad ride and a long walk of shame back to the carpark. Crankbrothers didn’t want to run the risk of your favorite MTB journalists getting stranded out in the woods, so they sent over a couple of their latest portable workshop goodies for us to test. The results are in! Crankbrothers Klic HV Handpump Highlights Crankbrothers F15 Mini Tool Highlights High...

Typically, when a new test bike arrives at our door we know what to expect in regards to geometry, the build spec, travel, etc, but that wasn’t at all the case when the 2018 Rocky Mountain Altitude showed up. Unboxing the bike and building it up, we were scratching our heads wondering how much rear travel the bike had or what the head angle was. Being that the bike was brand new, no online literature had been published, no product manual was included in the box, and Rocky Mountain was being very hush-hush about the whole thing, we were pretty much in the dark. So aside from measuring the FOX...

What does it take to make the perfect knee pad for trail riding? Scott's revision of their Soldier pads aims to achieve just that through the clever combination of a redesigned D3O protector and carefully selected mesh fabrics. These strapless pads are not only extremely comfortable, but also mean business when the unavoidable happens. After over six months of abuse on the legs of two testers, it's time to fill you in on all the little details and how they're holding up. Soldier 2 Knee Guard Highlights Designed for trail, enduro, and all-mountain use EN 1621:1 Level 1 certified Ergonomic and...

Santa Cruz is set to ruffle some feathers in the wheel world with the launch of their new Reserve lineup of wheelsets. The high performance, top dollar wheelset is aimed at leaving no compromises, complete with a lifetime warranty. Is it indeed a game changing product or mere marketing riffraff? Read on for our first look... Highlights Available in 27.5 and 29-inch diameters 29-inch wheels in three widths: 25, 27 and 30mm internal 27.5-inch wheels in two widths: 27 and 30mm internal 1.5:1 width to height ratio 28 spokes pre wheel with three-cross lacing pattern Asymmetrical profile and offset...

With their roots first sprouting in Vancouver, BC, and now hailing from Ferndale, WA, Kona has a reputation for building burly, durable bikes intended to be pushed hard over the often adverse conditions throughout the Pacific Northwest region. With a goal of redesigning the Operator to be both a bike park slayer as well as a capable World Cup race bike, Kona went back to the drawing board as the market shifted from 26-inch steeds to the modern 27.5 standards. Development began in 2014 with Connor Fearon and his mechanic, Mathieu Dupelle, with a modified rear triangle to swap over from 26-inch...

Back in 2014, Vital MTB awarded Yeti Cycles with the coveted Bike of the Year Shreddy Award for the SB5 Carbon, noting how incredibly capable and efficient the short-travel steed felt on trail. Fast forward to 2017 and Yeti has revised the SB5 with tweaked geometry, updated standards, an exclusive shock configuration, a much more pleasing aesthetic, and a host of fresh components that bring it up to date with the latest and greatest trail bikes. Curious to see just how much the changes improved the ride, we shifted into overdrive on Tucson, Arizona's notoriously rowdy Mount Lemmon trails while...

Lance and Chris Canfield began their journey as frame builders in the late nineties after feeling their needs weren’t being met by frame options at the time. Since the glory days aboard their 12-inch travel Big Fat Fatty Fat they’ve been coming up with their own interpretation of what mountain bikes should be. In 2011, Canfield Brothers launched their first 29-inch-wheeled bike, the Yelli Screamy, which was among the first wagon-wheeled bikes with sub-17-inch chainstays. Just a few years later, they launched their first dual-suspension wagon wheeler called the Riot, which also featured...

It's back! Following a short hiatus, Rocky Mountain introduced an all-new 2017 Slayer. The new breed sports a full carbon frame, 165mm of rear travel, unique blind pivots, and looks that could kill. Whether it's an enduro race, bike park laps with the crew, or getting your freeride on, the Slayer is designed to take no prisoners with its ultra-aggressive geometry and progressive suspension. With that in mind, we pointed it down the rowdiest bits of trail we could find in Tucson, Arizona during the 2017 Vital MTB Test Sessions. Highlights Smoothwall carbon frame 27.5-inch wheels (26+ compatible...

Subscribing to long, low, and slack frame geometry, Bellingham-based Transition Bicycles designed the Scout to be a ripping 27.5-inch mid-travel trail bike. New for 2017, the frame is available in carbon. Built to ride down the mountain like a slopestyle bike with a little cushion, the lightweight package is also ready to pedal big miles getting up the next. Tucson, Arizona's wild mix of trails served as an excellent place for our female shredders to try it out during the 2017 Vital MTB Test Sessions. Highlights Carbon frame 27.5-inch wheels 125mm (4.9-inches) of rear wheel travel // 140mm (5...

In mid-2016, Trek surprised many by killing off the widely-loved Slash 27.5 all-mountain/enduro bike. To fill the newly created void for a long-travel, ready-for-anything 27.5 rig, the all-new Remedy stepped up with a touch more travel at 150mm, completely revised geometry, and a host of fresh features claimed to improve the ride. Part Remedy, part Slash, it's aggressive enough that many of Trek's testers lovingly referred to the new bike as the "Rash" prior to its launch. We were eager to get this potential heavy-hitter back in some wild terrain following our limited time on the bike when it...

Santa Cruz’s Hightower was just released a year ago, benefiting from the company's continued refinement of the VPP suspension system. It combines 135mm of travel with 29-inch or 27.5+ wheels to create a bike that can take on a wide variety of terrain while keeping up speed and staying as efficient as possible. With the most travel of any 29/27.5+ bike in their lineup, the Hightower is more than just an efficiency sled with some travel – it is truly a do-it-all bike. Santa Cruz has some of the most trusted carbon frames in the business and relatively affordable pricing on some models as well...

Totally new to Liv for 2017 is the Hail series. This line of enduro/all-mountain bikes was designed from the ground up to fit and perform for women riders looking to ride technical trails. A first of its kind, this women’s bike has a healthy 160mm of travel front and rear and 27.5-inch wheels. The Hail has one goal in mind: to get you to the bottom of the mountain… and fast! Lucky us as Tucson, Arizona's Mount Lemmon loomed over the desert during Vital MTB's 2017 Test Sessions. There will be mud. There will be sand. There will be rock. Lots of them. Let’s see how the Liv Hail handles it...

Entering the scene in the spring of 2016, the new Optic is Norco’s addition to the growing short-travel trail bike market. Featuring 110mm of rear wheel travel, our test bike is built around 29-inch wheels but is also available in a surprisingly similar 27.5-inch option. The Optic was created simply to be a fun bike and is aimed at riders seeking a pedal smashing ride with trail capability. The varied and rocky terrain of Tucson, Arizona was a great place to see if Norco’s latest model lives up to the claims. Highlights Carbon frame with aluminum stays 29-inch wheels 110mm (4.3-inches) of rear...

"The truth about the world, he said, is that anything is possible. Had you not seen it all from birth and thereby not bled it of its strangeness it would appear to you for what it is, a hat trick in a medicine show, a fevered dream, a trance bepopulate with chimeras having neither analogue nor precedent, an itinerant carnival, a migratory tent show whose ultimate destination after many a pitch in many a muddled field is unspeakable and calamitous beyond reckoning." – Cormac McCarthy, Blood Meridian What do we really know? We know that the story you want to tell can be so much more compelling...

Hailing from a long legacy of trail and enduro performance, the 2017 Specialized Enduro brings some updates to a classic design. Available in both 650b (27.5) and 29/6Fattie (27.5+) versions, the new frame is longer, lower, comes in more sizes, and sports a little more travel. With 170mm of suspension and not-quite-plus 2.6-inch tires, the new Enduro is on the leading edge of new trends in an ever-changing category. We thrashed the Enduro Comp 650b down the loose and rocky trails of Tucson, Arizona during Vital MTB Test Sessions to see if this price point model can take a serious beating...

Recluse: [noun] A solitary person who avoids the company of others. Brown Recluse: [noun] One of two poisonous spiders in North America. The bite of the brown recluse causes necrosis (death) of the tissue. Intense Recluse: [noun] A brand new carbon fiber all-mountain bicycle from a reputable American company. Was the new robin egg blue head turner from California going to be more like the hermit in the woods or the small nightmarish spider that causes your skin to turn black and die? Perhaps it would be neither, instead providing a ride so good that it would "keep you alone, out in front of...