Alpinestars’s Paragon Plus is one of the best MTB body armour vests on the market. It’s also £30 cheaper than POC’s VPD, but the basic design is almost identical, whereby…
Mick Kirkman
Contributor/tester
Deity Bladerunner pedals review
Plenty of the best flat pedals, like these Deity Bladerunners, strive to be super thin. In fact Deity claims they are its lowest profile (and lightest) model. But to achieve…
Ride Concepts Hellion Elite (2023) review
We’ve tested the Ride Concepts Hellion Elite shoe previously and awarded it full marks and added to our buyer’s guide to the best mountain bike shoes, but how does this…
Birzman Travel Tool Box review
Birzman’s Travel Tool box is a new addition to the brand’s range that’s much more affordable than the larger Studio Tool Box that scored 10/10, previously won our group test…
Altura Esker Dune Insulated Gilet review
Altura’s latest line-up of biking kit is undeniably fresh and good looking. This Esker Dune gilet is a prime example, looking like the sort of down gilet you’d see in…
Hope F22 flat pedal review
It’s been a full decade since Hope launched its F20 flat pedal. Ample time, then, to iron out the problems with the old design, and come up with an improved…
Best mountain bike cranks: single ring chainsets for all riders
It’s easy to underestimate the importance of the best mountain bike cranks – and the better they are, the easier they are to forget.
Altura Ridge Thermal Waterproof trousers review
It’s that time of year when the keenest riders keep on getting out regardless, but the rest of us need some extra motivation to tackle freezing cold and soaking wet…
The Trans Savoie: a wild, epic big-mountain race like no other
There’s a mountain bike event in France that’s been going on for ten years now, in which clusters of riders stand around at the end of a trail completely dazed…
Bell 4Forty Air MIPS helmet review
This 4Forty Air MIPS is part of Bell’s latest helmet range, and thanks to considered design and features it’s one of the best mountain bike helmets we’ve tested. It’s an…
Scott Six Days hip-belt bag review
If you’re opting for a mountain bike waist bag or hip pack rather than a rucksack, you’ll want something that’s secure, allows you to keep all your essentials to hand,…
Öhlins RXF34 m.2 fork review
The latest model from legendary Swedish suspension brand Öhlins is this 34mm stanchioned RXF fork. It’s the lightest and most expensive fork in our comparative test against the Fox 34…
Fox Hip Pack review
After ditching bulky backpacks a decade ago, I’ve tried MTB bum bags (more commonly labelled hip packs these days) from all the leading brands. This Fox Racing version has two…
Mavic Lombarde SL jacket review
The Mavic Lombarde jacket uses Gore-Tex Shakedry material and has been developed in partnership with outdoor experts Arcteryx – but does it have the features, durability and performance we look…
Kask Caipi helmet review
This new Caipi is a more affordable MTB helmet from an Italian brand with a cult following on the road bike scene. Kask already offers a more angular, enduro-styled, Rex…
Suntour Durolux 36 EQ RC2 fork review
SR Suntour might not be the first name that comes to mind when looking to upgrade your enduro fork, but the Durolux proves that it can compete with the best…
Marzocchi Bomber Z2 Rail fork review
Legendary Italian suspension firm Marzocchi, pretty much built its entire reputation on simplicity, plushness and durability. It came into the same ownership structure as Fox a few years ago though,…
RockShox Pike Ultimate (MY23) fork review
RockShox’s ambitious new changes for 2023 sees the brand update and redevelop every single aspect of its forks from Zeb to Pike, so it’s like ground zero for this popular…
Specialized Purgatory Grid 2Bliss T7 tyre review
The latest Specialized Purgatory is still a pure trail tyre, but it has been completely redesigned to offer more cornering grip and extra braking traction for aggressive riders and faster…
The Fox 34 Float Factory GRIP2 fork review
Installed in a chassis redesigned last year for extra stiffness and other benefits, Fox’s latest Float 34 fork has a damper and air spring that’s been tuned and updated for…