Gear of the Year, 2024

Mountain bikes are, in many ways, better than ever, but we’re also seeing fewer and fewer bikes that feel like truly specialized tools for a specific job. And for many folks, that’s great — many big Enduro bikes climb pretty well, plenty of more versatile Trail bikes still hold their own in burly terrain quite effectively, and so on.Being well-rounded is certainly one way for a bike to stand out, but it can also make for a bike that doesn’t truly excel in any specific area. So we got a bunch of our bike reviewers together to talk about — and argue over — the bikes and other gear we were most impressed with from 2024, and talk about what makes them stand out.RELATED LINKS:BLISTER+ MembershipThis Week’s Gear GiveawayTOPICS & TIMES:Cannondale Moterra SL (2:41)Santa Cruz Vala (4:26)Kavenz VHP16 V7 (9:06)Deviate Highlander II (13:58)Privateer 161 V2 (16:23)Spot Mayhem 140 (21:42)Specialized Stumpjumper 15 (25:20)Specialized Epic Evo (28:54)Trek Top Fuel (32:19)Yeti ASR (34:15)Chromag Lowdown (39:42)Schwalbe Radial Tires (43:45)Michelin Wild Enduro MS & DH22 (51:15)Michelin DH16 (56:12)Manitou Mara Pro PB (58:38)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDGEAR:30Blister PodcastOff The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.