JCR - Sliders Installed

Check out the XJ rocker protection... Click

LTB tire update!

Okay, they are very loud on the street!
No problem, I did not buy a Jeep because of their "quiet-ness" or comfy ride. Off road is a whole new story, just air them down and let them loose. The Super Swamper LTB tires are superior! I have gone places where other XJs with 31" tires get stuck. I have taken the same line with open diffs. They seem to have a definite edge over other tires. I will let you know how they last.

XJ got a lift!

The 2001 Jeep Cherokee has a new look. Rubicon Express 3.5" Lift, JKS Trac Bar, and 31" Super Swamper LTB tires. Look for reviews and keep up with the changing info at dedicated XJ blog page.

Super Swamper LTB tires

Just received the 31 x 11.50 x 15 Super Swamper LTB tires to test. These will be going on the Jeep XJ along with a Rubicon 3.5" Super Flex lift kit. Click this link for updates! At first glance, these tires look like they could literally climb a tree. The tread is aggressive! They are mounted to Pro Comps Rock Krawler rims with 3.75" backspacing. This should be a perfect match for the lift and still be able to cruise down the highway.

New Test Vehicle!

We have a new member to our family of testers and trail riders. Welcome the 1973 CJ-5. Running a AMC 401 V8 and 35" tires. This rig will be hard to get stuck. Look for future trail and product reviews in the coming months. Watch the video or Click here to see some pics!

Colorado Aspens

Pictures of some Colorado Aspen trees on Highway 119 "Peak to Peak" from Central City to Estes Park. Beautiful. Best times to go are late September to middle October before the first snow fall.

NEW! Jeep XJ Cherokee T-Shirts

Trail Heads Review's tribute to the Jeep XJ.
You can purchase a T-Shirt here.

Geared up and ready to go!

All packed up and ready to hit the trails!

Just kidding. I found this pic on the web. If you see me driving this jeep and trailer, I would have won the lottery and will have no time to blog. : )

Forte CM310 MTB Shoe

Just got a hold of a pair of Forte CM310 mountain biking shoes. The local bike shop highly recommended these so I thought I would put them to the test. I am hard but not abusive to MTB gear. After a season of riding I will tell you my thoughts. Check back.

Boots Tested in Whistler, BC

Where could I properly test these boots? How about Whistler, BC! ...So I hopped a plane and went for a snowboard week in Canada. While there, stomped around the snow and wetness and took a tree zip-line tour
in deep snow and wind. The boots worked perfect. No complaints at all. Side Note: If you ever make it to Whistler / Blackcomb B. C. You will have to try Zogs and Splitz. Best food in town. Those wacky Canadians eat "poutine" n: poo-teen: (fries with gravy and cheese curds. Sausage is extra) VERY GOOD STUFF!

Are $50 boots a good deal?

I thought this would be a good test of what you get for the money. These Kamik boots cost $50 on sale. I do a fair amount of outdoor hiking in the winter and am always conscience of how the elements and temperature can effect your abilities. Your feet are no exception and should be warm and dry as much as possible. These boots work great for keeping you dry and warm. They offer a Thinsilate removable liner, Rubber sole, Leather upper. Compared to their competition (Sorels) These are a much better deal. The only negitive is that the soles are soft and you can "feel" the ground and rocks under you.
This is easily taken care of with a sole insert from Dr. Shouls. This will also give needed arch support for long walks.

Specialized FSR Comp - Update

Even though I went off on the tires, I am still very pleased with the bike. I learned a along time ago that you should buy a bike for the frame quality and its geometry. Because if you truly "ride it like you own it" you will be replacing pretty much all of the components as they break. Take it from my personal experience, there is not a single part on a mountain bike that I have not broke or bent. If you are interested, I can send you a list of all the carnage. : )

Specialized Bike Tire Update

Well, I am disappointed in the "Resolution Tires" that came with the FSR. They do not shed mud very well and are slow on dry dirt. I wish bike manufacturers would just use 3rd party tires instead of pushing their sub-standard "brand" tires to the public. The "front OR rear" tread pattern is a joke and just an excuse to use the same tire on the front and rear. More BS marketing hard at work. Not much will beat a "Smoke and Dart" combo on a mountain bike. I will be riding on a set from Panaracer ASAP!

Official Vehicle Decals

Official Trail Heads Review vehicle decals are here. If you see one of our team driving around, please say hi. We would like to hear your ideas for product reviews and places we should check out. If you would like a die-cut vinyl decal for your vehicle, email me and I will send you one. $15 covers the decal and shipping. Also check out our link for T-shirts and other fun stuff. TrailHeadsReview@gmail.com

Tom Brown Tracker Knife

When we received the Tom Brown Tracker knife made by Tops Knives USA, we were excited to put it to the test. The knife is superior in every way. This is a tool that can save your life. The basic abilities include: chopping, scraping, carving, splitting, sawing, notching, scoring, wire breaker, quarter rounder, gut hook, thrusting spear, drilling and scrimshaw. This knife is solid and balanced in your hand. All of the usual specs can be seen on their website at: www.topsknives.com. The sheath is bombproof and has two clips on the back. Although this is not a lightweight knife, it is very purposeful and I would not trade it in a real life situation where you could need it. If Tom Hanks had this knife in the movie Castaway, he would have never left the island : )

Rocky Mounts Bike Rack

Trail Heads Review has tested the Rocky Mounts roof rack on the top of a Jeep Cherokee with factory cross bars. As the photos show, pretty basic stuff. We are impressed with the attention to ergonomics with the locking skewer and the overall materials used. The head unit does have a notch for a disc break - good feature. The wind noise has not been an issue however, we are driving a Jeep! We have tested it for over 6 mo. now and we have no problem recommending it to you.

Specialized FSR Comp - Breakdown

After more than a full month of testing, this is how I see it...

A. The shifters work well. It dose take a bit to get used to the push/push levers verses the push/pull of the past. The grips are crap. They have ripped and twisted to the point of no return. I will be putting some Yeti ones on asap!

B. The saddle is not the most comfortable. It seems that Specialized spent more on marketing than R&D on this item. I will be switching this out soon.

C. The front Fox Float 120 RL fork is a great fork. Very stiff and can easily handle big hits.
The Avid Juicy 5 breaks are perfect. No noticeable fade or drag.

D. Specialized really did their homework on the "ProPedal" geometry. The bike is solid on side to side digs and as hard as it is to believe, there is no bobbing when climbing.

E. The Bottom Bracket is very stiff and smooth. I like this newer design very much.

F. The 3 positions for the Fox Triad rear shock (full, pro-pedal, lockout) work great.
I do suggest getting a Lizard Skins cover and the dorky rear fender for protection from the elements. The shocks location is a magnet for mud.

So far this 250 lbs. thrash style rider has only great praise for the Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Comp bike. At this price point you have a lot of options but I would say no other will be this satisfying.

In Test Mode

Well, we just received the bikes. One is Black / Medium and the other is Green / Large.
Both FSR's look great. We will let you know over the next few weeks our thoughts and share some pics.

Leatherman Wave Multi-tool

When we received the Leatherman Wave multi-tool we were impressed from the start. As we put the tool through tests it performed very well. The size is small enough to carry in your pocket and has all of the basic tools. Check out their website for specs: Leatherman.com Over-all review of this product is good.

Specialized FSR Review

Coming Soon -
What the mountain bike community is calling "the bike of the year" for 2007.
We will put this bike through the paces and give you feedback that you can trust.