The MTB Lab Best of 2021

by Brian Mullin on January 5, 2022

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Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT GPS Bike Computer

The new Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT has a 64-color, high-contrast screen, making it easy to focus on ride data. The 2.2” inch screen is made of durable, scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass. Now featuring Smart Navigation, the ELEMNT BOLT automatically reroutes riders who stray from their planned route, lets riders change destinations, route back to the start, and retrace their rides right from the computer, without having to use their phone. An updated user interface offers customizable, color-highlighted fields to make it simple to focus on specific data metrics. An ambient light sensor automatically adjusts the backlight to ensure that the screen is always easy to see, even on dawn patrols or dusky rides.

The aerodynamic, low-profile body carries on the sleek design of the original BOLT. Quick View LEDs on the top of the screen provide turn-by-turn directions, signal approaching Strava Live segments, and provide notifications. With a 15-hour runtime and onboard memory increased to 16GB (from 4GB), the BOLT is designed to make exploring simple with millions of miles of roads and trails already preloaded.

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As with all their bike and watch computers, setting the BOLT up using their smartphone ELEMNT app is simple. To pair the BOLT up to your phone, read the BOLT’s on-screen QR code, and the app and BOLT will walk you through all the setup steps. From there, you can customize the screens, pages, data, LED’s, sounds, notifications, sensors, etc., as desired. The app interface allows you to customize what the BOLT is doing instantly, so you don’t have to use the BOLT itself for any changes. I happen to like the top LED’s to show my heart rate, so I can follow the color-coding (blue, green, yellow, orange, red) to see what my current HR zones are during a workout. The app makes it very intuitive to use and set up the BOLT, and you can customize things to your heart’s content.

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The new BOLT has an amazingly sharp and crisp screen, with easy-to-read font and maps. The 64-color is an excellent addition, as is the more significant onboard memory. The screen is nice and bright, making it easier to read things in both bright sunlight and when things get dim out. They added advanced navigation features to keep yourself on track, on the route, retrace the route, etc. The top three buttons have a nice tactile feel and distinctive click, and it’s easy to page through the screens.

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The new compact and aerodynamic BOLT offers a vivid and crisp 64-color screen and features advanced navigation functions, a USB-C connector, tactile convex buttons, a rich UI, increased memory, and an ambient light sensor.

The new ELEMNT BOLT (MSRP $299.99) is available at Wahoo dealers and Wahoofitness.com.

Click here to purchase the ELEMNT BOLT GPS Computer

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Pearl iZUMi Expedition Bib Short

When your next ride is a big one, the Expedition Bib Short is the right choice. They integrated low-profile cargo pockets on the thighs and lower back for easy access to smartphones and snacks and the flexibility to wear any top you prefer without worrying about carrying capacity. This bib short was created to go the distance with a plush and breathable Elite Escape 1:1 Chamois, the perfect companion for long days in the saddle.

  • Compressive ELITE Transfer fabric made with recycled content
  • Thigh cargo pockets provide additional storage options
  • The centered rear pocket at the base of the straps fits a shell jacket or nutrition
  • ELITE Escape 1:1® Chamois with floating top sheet design reduces friction for all-day comfort
  • Laser-cut bib straps provide superior next to skin comfort
  • Silicone print holds cuffs in place and provides a smooth transition from the short to skin
  • MSRP $125

I have pretty much lived in these bibs and found them highly comfortable, with just enough snugness to keep them from drooping. The ELITE Chamois is nicely padded and provides plenty of cushioning, even on long multi-hour rides. The ELITE Transfer fabric was compressive and had plenty of stretches where needed, and it transpired moisture, so they never got overly damp. It became my go-to chamois for almost every ride, and I’d use it with and without baggy shorts, depending on temperature and riding conditions. Love them!

Click here to purchase Expedition Bib Short

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Xero 360º Shoe

The Xero 360º is a minimalistic casual mesh lightweight cross-training shoe with a grippy rubber sole and a sure-footed tread pattern. It was designed for super aggressive activities, such as cross-training, cross-fit, exercising, court sports, parkour, and just about anything that requires quick lateral movement. It’s ultra-comfy, and its barefoot-inspired design lets your feet and body feel connected to the world. They have an ultra-wide toe box that allows your toes to spread, and your foot relaxes along with their “XERO-drop” sole, which has a non-elevated heel and a low-to-the-ground design that provides improved posture, balance, and stability. The shoe is highly flexible, so your foot can bend, move, and flex like it’s barefooted.

It features a breathable open mesh textile and suede microfiber upper, their standard 2mm EVA insole, and a new rubber outsole design with an omnidirectional grippy high-traction tread. The lightweight shoe weighs nine ounces, has a smooth lining that is perfect for that barefoot feel, and it’s highly breathable. And it’s 100% vegan-friendly!

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The toe box and heel cup have protection bumpers for durability and strength. It’s secured with a top lacing system tied into their traditional cinch strap system. The Huarache-inspired heel cinch strap is highly functional, providing a secure and stable fit. The “inverted V” adjustable instep straps allow you to lock down your instep while still letting your toes move freely. It features tacky strips on the toe and front midsole to protect the upper and even offers a gripping rubber inlay for rope climbing and scaling obstacles.

Overall, the 360º is an uber-comfy, breathable, flexible barefoot-designed sneaker, with a lace and cinch strap system that is secure, and it feels perfect right out of the box. The mesh upper, tacky toe strips, grippy sole, and suede bumpers offer additional features to an already excellent shoe. It lets your foot – bend, move, flex and feel.

Click here to purchase the XERO 360º.

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Jetboil Stash Stove

Jetboil designed the all-new Stash to be efficient and compact, maximizing your pack space without sacrificing that iconic Jetboil performance. At 7.1 oz, the .8L Stash is 40% lighter than their .8L Zip.

It features their FluxRing cook pot system to maximize cooking efficiency and an innovative nesting system. The gas canister snaps into the lid (with a spot for a lighter) and sits upside down in the cooking pot, while the burner sits in a soft bag at the bottom. It’s perfect, got ultralight backpacking, and seems ideal for bikepacking!

  • Stand-alone stove with titanium burner and .8L FluxRing cook pot is the lightest Jetboil system ever made.
  • FluxRing technology ensures a rapid 2.5 minute boil time
  • Nesting design makes taking anywhere compact and easy
  • Cook pot with lid and attached pour handle makes for easy handling
  • Fuel stabilizer keeps everything stable and steady
  • Storage for 100g JetPower fuel canister makes adventuring anywhere easy
  • Compatible accessories include the Grande Coffee Press, Hanging Kit, and JetSet Utensils
  • Jetpower Fuel sold separately
  • MSRP $129.95

This is the perfect stove for backpacking and bikepacking. It includes a cooking pot, lid, pour handle, tripod, and stove that weighs just 1.15 lb/522 g. The stove, tripod, and fuel canister all nest in the pot, and the innovative lid hold onto the canister upside down. Their FluxRing cooking pot helps boil water quickly, and it’s the perfect system when just heating water for coffee, tea, and freeze-dried food.

Click here to purchase the Jetboil Stash Stove.

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Wolf Tooth 8-Bit Multi-Tool System

The new Wolf Tooth 8-Bit System is a group of multi-tools designed to work together to solve most trailside fixes. They are lightweight, strong, versatile, and small enough to fit in a jersey pocket or riding tool wrap.

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Three multi-tools begin the 8-Bit System:

  • 8-Bit Chainbreaker + Utility Knife Multi-Tool, which also includes a tire plug – $69.95
  • 8-Bit Tire Lever + Rim Dent Remover Multi-Tool – $19.95
  • 8-Bit Pack Pliers with 17 functions on their own – $69.95

A total of 22 functions between the three tools will keep you rolling to the next town or trailhead. All three tools nest together via magnets and clever machining. Buy them separately or as a complete system.

  • 8-Bit Kit One $139.95

I’ve been using the 8-Bit Pack Pliers for around a year now, and they are my go-to tool while mountain biking. The addition of the new tools will make 8-Bit System the ideal multi-tool for field use for any biking. The ‘8-Bit Chainbreaker + Utility Knife’ combined with my ‘8-Bit Pack Pliers’ means I can perform almost any repair work out in the field. All the tools are handy and have the typical excellent craftwork from Wolf Tooth. 

Click here to purchase the Full 8-bit Kit
Click here to purchase the 8-Bit Pack Pliers
Click here to purchase 8-Bit Chainbreaker/Utility Knife
Click here to purchase 8-Bit Tire Lever + Rim Dent Remover

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Hydro Flask 5 L Down Shift

The Hydro Flask 5 L Down Shift Hydration Hip Pack was designed to keep your water cold and back ventilated while offering lumbar hugging stability and comfort. The pack provides 1.5-liters of chilled hydration for biking and hiking with optimal airflow, and it features Hydro Flask’s innovative Cold Flow System that keeps water cold for 3+ hours.

The 5 L Down Shift Hydration Hip Pack is available in Sapphire (tested) and Black colors and retails for $99.95.

The Hydro Flask 5 L Down Shift Hydration Hip Pack with its 5-liter capacity was just about perfect for most mild mountain biking forays. The pack’s storage layout with its two elastic hip sleeves and front pocket offered outstanding organizational characteristics. The main with the long curved zipper had a functionally wide opening, making gear retrieval easy. The front compressions straps provide additional carrying capacity for armor, jackets, and bulkier apparel.

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The innovative Hydro Flask Cold Flow System utilizes a 1.5-liter HydraPak IsoBound reservoir and an insulated sleeve in the pack that works together to keep iced water cold for around 3+ hours. The HydraPak reservoir, with its slider-top, made the filling and cleaning easy, and the bite valve offers an excellent draw and flow.

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Once the waist belt and compressions straps were tightened down, the pack sucked snuggly and conformably into your back, for a Velcro-like fit, with tons of stability, security, and comfort, even in the dynamic motion encountered during rough rides. The padded backpanel and hip belt worked in synergy to help this design become part of your back, with an almost invisible feeling while wearing the pack.

Click here to purchase the 5L Down Shift.

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Removable nose guard and side shields attached

Julbo Ultimate Cover

The original Julbo Ultimate offered performance-oriented optics with a flexible frame that bends at the temple points to create a custom fit. This year they reinvented mountain goggles/sunglasses with the new Ultimate Cover, combining high protection and ultra lightness. This model provides optimum protection for the eyes and face thanks to a removable nose guard and removable Spandex side shields that comfortably protect against sun, wind, and cold. Its modular design can accompany the mountaineer from training in the valley to reaching the highest peaks.

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The CustomFIT temples provide precise and long-lasting adjustment and produce a tailor-made grip and a lightweight spec combined with the Grip Tech structure. GripTech is designed to provide added grip on the nose and ears to keep the Ultimates in place without pulling on hair. Fitted with a 3D Nose, the glasses offer flawless hold when you’re working flat out, with or without a helmet. A panoramic lens creates an energetic style while giving you protection. The optional REACTIV Photochromic lenses react immediately to ambient light, changing shades to meet the needs of changing environments.

Specs:

  • MSRP: $179.95-$249.95
  • 3D Nose Fit: Special nose-pads are adjustable in every direction so that glasses fit every type of nose shape and ensure unbeatable hold in all conditions.
  • Comfort-Fit with Helmet
  • Cord Attachment: This allows the attachment of a cord.
  • CustomFIT Temples: The temples are designed for precise adjustment to guarantee a perfect and long-lasting grip. No readjustment of grip is required for each outing.
  • Full Venting: Highly vented sunglasses structure allowing total circulation of air to prevent fogging.
  • Grip Tech Temples: Exclusive soft material on the temples that doesn’t stick to hair for perfect grip and comfort.
  • Panoramic View: Wide lens surface for maximum field of vision.
  • Removable Spandex Shields: Spandex side protection from sunlight. Spandex is soft, light, and comfortable to wear synthetic fiber. This material is heat, cold, and water-resistant.
  • It comes in four versions: REACTIV Photochromic lenses (cat 1-3 or cat 2-4), and Spectron lenses (cat 3 or cat 4)
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Without nose cover – With and without side shields.

The Ultimate Cover is a highly comfortable set of sunglasses that offers superb Julbo optics, with a large expansive panoramic lens. The new addition of a nose cover and side shields, which are all removable, make the Ultimate Cover highly useful when out on the water, the snow, and anywhere that you want to protect your nose and face from the brunt of the sun. You can switch between a standard set of sunglasses or add the nose/side shields for a protective pair of glacier sunglasses. It’s a simple and easy swap out to either style, making them ideal for any time of year and conditions.

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The tested pair has a Dark Gray/Blue frame and their REACTIV Performance 1-3 lens with polarization. They were lightweight and uber comfy, superb optics, and an ideal goggle-like wrap-around lens. The Reactiv lenses quickly got darker or lighter to match variable light conditions, and the Multilayer Blue lens coloration was enjoyable out on the trail. The vast and panoramic field of view was greatly appreciated when flying down singletrack, as they offered wind, sun, and debris protection.

Click Here to purchase Julbo Ultimate. 

Click here to purchase Julbo Ultimate with REACTIV Lens.

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SKS Mudrocker Fenders

The SKS Mudrocker front and rear mudguards are made of high-performance impact-resistant plastic so that you can keep the focus on the trail – and the mud off your face and back.

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Mudrocker Front Fender

The existing SKS Mudrocker Front Fender for mountain bikes is your perfect trail companion. Provides excellent mud and splash coverage on 27.5, 650b, or 29er wheels with a maximum tire width of 3.0″. It attaches to fork legs with hook and loop straps.

Hook and loop strap fasteners or cable ties can be used to mount the Mudrocker to the fork bridge. The Mudrocker can be securely mounted with the included adapter if the fork bridge is perforated.

Depending on the fork bridge, the fender can be adapted with scissors if necessary. Perfect companion with the Mudrocker Rear Fender.

  • Measurements: 490mm
  • Weight: 112 grams
  • Compatibility Notes: Compatible with disc brakes. Not compatible with V-brakes.
  • Made in Germany
  • $37.99

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Mudrocker Rear Fender

The new SKS Mudrocker Rear Fender for mountain bikes protects you and your suspension and linkage from water and mud. Provides excellent coverage on 27.5, 650b, or 29er wheels with a maximum tire width of 3.0″.

The fender attaches to the seat stays with hook and loop straps (or cable ties if preferred). With the included frame adapter pads, the user can adjust the angle of the fender. The included rear extender can be snapped on and used for extra protection in the bottom bracket/derailleur area.

Perfect companion with the Mudrocker Front Fender. (If you lose your Adapter Pads or your Extender, they are both sold separately as well.)

  • Measurements: 840mm
  • Weight: 172 grams
  • Made in Germany
  • $49.99

I love the extra coverage that the Front Mudrocker fender offers, and the additional length in the front and rear keep the dirt and crud from flipping up from the fork. I tend only to use the Rear Mudrocker when I know I’ll be encountering mud, rain, and snow. It has an enormous amount of coverage and works well with long-travel bikes. The Rear Mudrocker keeps your back and butt from getting splattered with debris when flying down the trails. Both the Front and Rear Mudrocker are quick and straightforward to remove.

Click here to purchase the SKS Front Mudrocker

Click here to purchase to SKS Rear Mudrocker

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