All Arround MTB

If you can afford it, Fox’s Transfer is a totally bombproof, sweet-performing post that can be switched between internal and external routing. It uses a typical hook-ended actuator lever design, but cable clamping and cutting is done at the lever end, making it a much easier process. The light-action remote lever is available in under-bar shifter style or vertical ‘universal’ format, too.You do have to buy that separately, for $105, on top of the $554 post cost, though, which seems steep given its average, wobbly-from-new design. Function is silk smooth though, with excellent speed and position control. Every Transfer we’ve used has stayed that way indefinitely, no matter how bad the conditions or minimal the maintenance. That makes the high price a reasonable investment, and the Performance version skips the gold Kashima coating of the Factory post to save $75.You can even switch to external operation using an actuator at the collar. Weight 646g Stroke 100, 125, 150mm Diamet...

There’s a lot of science behind the Attack Pro jersey. The sleeves are made from four-way-stretch Cordura, which feels relatively heavy and is deliberately used that way to increase durability where it matters. They felt like they were going to be too tight, but once on the bike, they fitted perfectly and articulated well. Lighter-weight Polartec Delta is used through the body, which also has a slim fit. It’s a jersey that feels like it’ll be warm but doesn’t overheat easily out on the trails. When it does get sweaty, it dries before you know it. Straight off the shelf, the contrasting fabrics mean it looks and feels a little odd – as if the sleeves belong to another top altogether. It’s a jersey that needs to be ridden in ‘in anger’ in order to appreciate all of that technology properly. Price $97

Fox’s latest 36 fork (right) may not appear any diferent to their current long-travel single-crown, but look a little closer and you’ll discover it contains a new‘FIT GRIP2’damper. This four-way adjustable cartridge not only gives a wider range of compression settings but introduces external high and low-speed rebound adjustment for the first time, using Fox’s ‘VariableValve Control’(VVC) design. This works in a similar way to changing shims and, along with new seals, is said to noticeably reduce stiction.At 2,095g (650b), the top-end ‘Factory’ fork weighs 75g more than the 2018 model – a price worth paying for the extra tunability.We can’t wait to give it some hammer on the trails. On the shorter-travel side of things, Fox have released the 34 SC (left), which is designed for epic rides and marathon events where more travel (120mm) and stifness is required than is provided by the skinnier Fox 32. Like on the 32 SC, ‘Step-Cast’ lowers allow a narrower stance and shave some grams....

This is the second jacket on test that uses the excellent new Polartec Alpha breathable insulation (we predict a slew of new coats featuring it next year), but what Fox have done here is consider every detail of what makes a jacket MTB-specific, in terms of fit and cut, and worked those in too. The fabric combination alone is complex – stretch softshell panels are used at the sides and under the arms, with Cordura abrasion-resistant reinforcement on the elbows and lightweight ripstop stretch nylon through the rest of body, all DWR treated. This translates to a wind and waterresistant jacket that’s warm enough to wear with just a baselayer underneath at a frosty 4°C but doesn’t overheat at 12°C. This is what Polartec’s Alpha insulation was engineered to do, and it works. But fabrics alone don’t make a jacket. The second part of the equation that makes the Pro Fire so good is its fit. Complete freedom of movement through the shoulders means no cold spots and a jacket you’re hardly aw...

We reckon these are the nicest looking goggles here, and a wide field of view means they’re nice to look out of too. They stay in place well and work great with open-face lids. Generous padding makes them particularly comfy, and there’s no pinching of the nose. The pre-curved lens has minimal distortion. They’re not the best ventilated, so they can get a tad sweaty and the clear lens fogs up easier than most on muggy rides and at slow speeds, despite its anti-fog coating. Only one lens is included and replacements are fairly expensive ($24 clear, $34 tinted). Price $97

The soft fabric of the Indicator makes it incredibly comfy and gives it a slightly more subtle look than a regular jersey. It also wicks sweat well and dries quickly too. Sizing is accurate enough, erring towards a more tailored cut, with decent length in the body and arms. It’s good the fabric is stretchy because the forearms feel a bit tight initially. Flat seams across the top of the shoulders mean it’s comfy when wearing a pack too, and there’s a tiny stash pocket for a lift pass, though it’ll not carry much else. It’s missing a lens wipe, but the comfort, cut and styling make up for that. Price $70

The FIT4 version of the 36 maximises user-friendly, all-trail convenience while keeping the fork’s ultimate flat-out, tightly-controlled, race-feel performance. Some riders will miss the old 20mm axle option but stiffness gains were slight and the QR15 skewer is far more convenient. The massive 36mm stanchions and fat crown mean it’s plenty stiff anyway, with multiple travel (including ‘TALAS’ external adjustment) and wheel size options covered. No matter how hard, relentless or random the impacts, the multiple compression and rebound damping circuits keep the fork totally consistent and immaculately communicative, connecting grips to tyre knobs with amazing HD clarity. Previously that’s been at the expense of a soft top end but the FIT4 damper is now plenty smooth in ‘open’ mode, which has 22 micro-tune sub-levels to play with. The fact you can also flick it into ‘medium’ and ‘firm’ settings means you can run it soft without affecting climbing/pedalling performance too. Alternati...

Fox’s mid-weight 34 fork has long struggled to match the categoryleading performance of their XCorientated 32 and aggro 36, but this latest Performance series version is lighter and consistently reliable, even if the damper is a little on/off for us. It uses the same chassis as the $225 pricier Factory fork, but lacks its ‘Kashima’ stanchion coating and upgraded seals. It’s adequate rather than amazing in terms of tracking and braking stiffness, but at least it’s now significantly lighter than the 36. We’ve had no wear issues with the black stanchion finish, despite a year of regular use, and forks on complete bikes have been similarly reliable. While the ‘Float’ air spring is the same as in the Factory fork, the Performance 34 gets a GRIP rather than FIT4 compression damper. This is a simplified shim/metal-sprung IFP system. Three main settings (open, medium, firm) plus intermediate clicks give easy feel adjustment. Even when run fully open it often has a harsh, spiky feel in the...

We loved the look and fit of Fox’s original trail/all-mountain helmet, the Flux. A decade on, the market’s a lot more crowded but the new Metah still stands out, with striking looks and better coverage than its predecessor.

SO GOOD… The edgy, angled looks of the Air Defence Libras will win many over, but for us, it was the high-level comfort courtesy of the triple-layer foam that did it.

If your Fox 32, 34 or 36 feels sticky but isn’t due a service, re-lubing its foam rings could boost performance

WHILE THE NEW 36 Float FIT4-Adj is 90$ cheaper and offers faster flick-lever compression adjustment, the RC2 is still the go-to version for full-gas Fox fans. That’s primarily because the high-speed compression damping is fully adjustable externally rather than preset. This lets you open up the fork more in the mid stroke for an easier ride on your wrists when you’re off the brakes and on a mission.

FOX’S MID-SIZE trail fork packs the same damping and air spring technology as their big-hitting 36 Float into a lighter and cheaper but less rigid chassis.

AIR-SPRUNG SHOCKS used to be a rare sight on the DH World Cup circuit, but the introduction of Fox’s X2 has helped change this. It was ridden to numerous podiums in 2015 and used by Aaron Gwin to win the series title. So, just how good is it?

THE GRADIENT JACKET will get you noticed on the trail, but it’s not just the lairy looks that make it stand out for us. The lightweight two-way stretch material gives a close fit and excellent mobility, and there’s room to layer up underneath.The slightly dropped rear gives a bit of bum coverage, the underhelmet hood stashes away to form a comfy collar, and we love the laser-cut underarm vents, which help with cooling without the bulk of a pit zip.

Although the airlines are from Fox’s moto range they’re don’t feel out of place on the trail and we really like the pared back, no frills design.

Fox's Kashima coating and SKF seals, plus a revised CTD damper offer superb small bump performance, but this adjustable travel TALAS version is relatively heavy.

For shorts that bill themselves as downhill fare, the Fox Demo DHs feel surprisingly light and airy, but make no mistake – the 600-denier shell is tougher than it looks. Fox makes a big deal about the Demo’s ‘freedom of movement’ and there’s truth in advertising here–the shell has a light feel and a nice degree of stretch to it. Sure, you can wear these things at the bike park, but they’re just as ideal for allday pedals in the backcountry. The Demos sport a fairly long inseam (14 inches), so they completely cover kneepads and prevent the dreaded gorby gap.

With an all-new chassis, air spring and damper, the 2016 34 fork really is a fresh start over the outgoing version. Tipping our scales at just 1760g, it’s been on a radical diet, as has the price tag. It’s now 100g lighter and also 46$ cheaper than the comparable RockShox Pike, with models ranging from 120 to 140mm travel in 29in and 140, 150 or 160mm in 650b. A travel adjustable TALAS model is available too giving 30mm of travel adjustment.

We were kind of hoping that the Portage Pack would have a cool bike-carrying feature for genuine hike-a-bike portage sections, but sadly that dream is yet to be realised.