I’ve been incredibly lucky this year because work has enabled me to embark on some whirlwind adventures. I spent nearly three weeks rattling down Morzine’s breathtaking trails and a fortnight conquering Whistler's legendary terrain.
Because I’m UK-based, these globetrotting escapade forced me to be picky with my gear, narrowing down my choices to the essentials and cherry-picking my favourite pieces of kit.
After countless descents and heart-pounding moments, I've curated a list of standout gear and a surprising gem that has wowed me this year. So, without me rambling on any longer, here’s my 2023 Gear of the Year.
RockShox BoXXer Ultimate
This is the best downhill fork I’ve ridden. Okay, I admit there are some out there I haven’t tried, such as the latest Manitou Dorado and Öhlins DH38 M.1 forks, but the BoXXer packs a punch and is an extremely capable performer.
My appreciation of this fork was helped by spending a couple of weeks in Whistler, British Columbia, and several days in Morzine riding it.
It turns screams of terror as I nearly crash into whoops and laughs, salvaging my sketchy riding as I hurtle down a mountainside pretending I’m 23 years younger than I am.
The BoXXer Ultimate delivers brilliant comfort, impressive support and a burly new chassis, earning it a place among the best suspension forks.
It was the first downhill fork I really wanted back in my youth, and to this day the BoXXer’s red lower legs stand out as an item of desirability. I’m happy to say this fork's performance is as good as its heritage.
- £2,029 / $1,899 / €2,279
Crankbrothers Mallet Boa Clip
I suffer from a limited choice of mountain bike shoes and, for me, they need to be white. So, when Crankbrothers released its shoe range, it was good to see this colour option become available.
The Mallet Boa Clip shoes are strong performers with great comfort, moderate breathability and weight, and a gravity-focused cleat recess that allows for plenty of setback. I also like the Boa dials' ease of use and tensioning. These shoes tick a lot of boxes.
Since I got them earlier this year, they’ve been on pretty much every ride with me, until I started testing winter shoes late this autumn. Trail rides, downhill laps and plenty of enduro loops, these have tackled everything with a robustness that saved my toes on plenty of occasions.
Sure, they’re a little stained, but until the next pair of stylish white MTB shoes are released, these will be my go-to pair.
- £164.99
Leatt AirFlex Hybrid knee pads
These knee pads were supposed to be part of a lightweight trail pad group test. However, they were too robust for the category, making them ideal for the aggressive trail and enduro riding I do most often.
They’re still lightweight enough for all-day pedalling duties, thanks to their strapless sleeved design, which holds the pads in place well.
The knitted construction is impressively comfortable with good compression. They breathe well too, especially considering there’s a cut-out at the rear ensuring material doesn’t bunch behind the knees.
The AirFlex gel protection hardens on impact and the additional hard shell should help your knees skid rather than thud during impacts.
Fortunately, I’ve only had to put them to the test once, crashing a downhill bike while trying to show off in front of former downhill world cup champion Matt Walker. My hip, elbow, shoulder and ego were shredded, but my knees were fine.
As a caveat, I don’t recommend these for downhill riding, but as a trail-riding or enduro pad, these are great, if a little expensive.
- £119.99
SRAM Force XPLR groupset
It’s strange to have included a non-mountain biking product in my list. However, when I got my mitts on SRAM’s Force XPLR groupset for my gravel bike (read my commuting bike and Tour of Flanders ride – I don’t ride gravel), it was an electronic gear revelation.
I don’t have electronic gears on my long-term test bike, but I’ve tested plenty of mountain bikes with them fitted. I’ve been impressed, but this was the first time I was amazed by how smooth drivetrains can be.
Maybe it's because of the rough treatment mountain bike drivetrains receive, being bashed, knocked and covered in muck, but they’re still not quite flawless.
Electronic gears on a gravel (road) bike though, seem impeccable. This was a fit-and-forget situation. I bolted it on and didn’t need to adjust a b-tension or limit screw. I shortened the chain to the correct length and off I went.
Pedalling in every gear is smooth, with no skipping or grinding. Gear changes are smooth, precise and quick every time.
This is how I want electronic gears on mountain bikes to feel. Unfortunately, I feel the sets I’ve tested so far aren’t quite as impressive as the road/gravel equivalent. Well done SRAM for its XPLR groupset!
- SRAM Force AXS HRD shifter/brake, front – $350 / €420
- SRAM Force AXS HRD shifter/brake, rear – $350 / €420
- SRAM Force XPLR AXS rear derailleur – $377 / €360
- SRAM Force 1x crankset – $275 / €330
- SRAM XPLR XG-1271 cassette – $222 / €237
- SRAM Force chain – $50 / €60
