Liam’s Favorite MTB Things of 2025

As a Gear Junkie, What Products Did I Find Myself Grabbing The Most In 2025

As we wrap up the year, I look back and realize 2025 was a big gear year for me. Between racing, big adventure days, and a bunch of work trips, I put a ton of stuff through the wringer. A few products really stood out because they did exactly what they were supposed to do, all the time, with no drama. This list is that short roster of things I keep reaching for over and over again. Some are new for this year, some are not, but defined my 2025. 

Yeti ASR

If there is one bike that defined my 2025, it is the Yeti ASR. It is that perfect modern XC / downcountry race bike that can line up for a big marathon race on Saturday and still be the most fun thing to rip mellow local loops on Wednesday. With 130 mm up front and 115+ mm out back, the geometry and travel hit that sweet spot for today’s more technical XC courses and everyday riding. 

This is now my third ASR build, I have a full review on it so I won't go into details on this bike too much. Im still riding it as this review show,s but now have on some WTB Peacekeeper tire front and rear. It's absolutely my favorite short travel bike I have ever ridden to this day. It is the bike I grab when I want to go fast but still have fun, and it has earned a permanent spot in my fleet.

SRAM Motive Brakes

SRAM’s Motive Ultimates are new for this year and have found them on my Yeti ASR since they day I got them. The pitch is simple: Code-level power in a package that is closer to Level weight. In practice, you get a lightweight, trail and XC friendly brake that still has the power and consistency to handle real descending, or bigger mountain days without feeling undergunned.

I love that the top-tier Motive Ultimate pairs that power with a very refined feel and high-end hardware. The carbon lever blade, titanium bits, and clean finish keep weight impressively low, with complete brakes coming in around the mid 200 gram range. On the trail they feel predictable and strong, with a nice balance of initial bite and modulation. If you like to ride fast but do not want a heavy, gravity-only brake on your XC or trail bike, Motive hits a really good middle ground.

Daysaver Essential 8 & Coworking 5

The Daysaver Essential 8 and Coworking 5 combo is my “never leave home without it” tool setup. The Essential 8 is already a wild little piece of Swiss engineering: eight tools at just 33 grams, nested bits, magnetically held together, and shaped like an oversized Allen key so it disappears in a pocket or ride wallet. Add the Coworking 5 extension and suddenly that tiny tool covers tires, chains, and pretty much every important bolt on the bike, all in a total package around 68 grams.

The reason I love this setup so much is torque and practicality. Even though it is tiny, you can get legitimate torque on 8 mm bolts like SRAM Transmission rear derailleurs or your pedals, which is not always the case with super mini multi-tools. It also handles the usual trail emergencies: loose stem, flat tire, broken chain. It is small enough that I literally always have it on me, even on shorter rides when I am not carrying a pack. It is the closest thing I have found to a “real” shop tool that still lives in my ride wallet.

Maurten 160 Gel & Solid Bars

Fueling has been a huge focus for me in the last few years, and Maurten has become the brand I rely on the most. The Gel 160 is a big part of that. It is a higher carb gel in a single packet, which is ideal for MTB racing where you rarely get long stretches to sit up and dig around in your pockets. One packet, a quick squeeze, and you get a serious hit of carbs without needing to juggle multiple products or remember a complicated schedule.

The Solid 160 bars are the second half of that equation. They are easy to chew, sit well in the stomach for me, and have a clever half-notch so you can snap one in two, eat half, and shove the rest back in a pocket for later. They give you that “real food” feeling while still being designed specifically for performance fueling. Between the Gels 160 and Solid 160, it is really easy to build a simple, repeatable high carb plan for long rides and races without upsetting your stomach or overthinking every hour.

USWE Rush 8 Vest

For big adventure days, shuttle laps in places like Tasmania, or long enduro-style rides where I need to carry more than just a bottle and a tube, the USWE Rush 8 has become my go-to pack. It is built as a high performance vest for mountain bike and gravel riders and uses USWE’s NDM vest fit system so it cinches tight without bouncing around or feeling like it is choking you. The elastic side panels move as you breathe and pedal, so it stays locked in place even on chunky descents or when you are out of the saddle a lot.

What I appreciate most is how much real-world stuff it holds without feeling like a giant backpack. I can carry food, a layer like my KETL Breakwind Jacket, tools or a small medical kit, and even camera gear. Two rear compartments make it easy to separate a hydration bladder from everything else. It is the pack I choose for 10k vert days, exploratory missions in the mountains, or those multi-shuttle days where you still want to be self-sufficient if something goes sideways. Best part is you can still access rear bib storage pockets as this sits high enough above those. 

WTB Peacekeeper Tires

The WTB Peacekeeper is one of those rare “does almost everything” tires that actually delivers on that promise. It slots perfectly between fast XC treads and more aggressive enduro rubber, with a 29 x 2.4 profile and a tread that balances rolling speed with real cornering bite. On paper it is built as a versatile trail tire. On the trail it feels like a true all-rounder that you can race, ride all day in the backcountry, or take to a more technical trail network without stressing about tire choice.

I have run Peacekeepers in different compounds front and rear, including pairing a High Grip version up front with a faster rolling version in the back. That combo has worked incredibly well on everything from rowdy “downcountry” terrain to pairing it up front with a faster rolling rear tire for xc races like the Downieville Classic. If you want one tire setup that can live on your xc or trail bike through most of the year without feeling like a compromise, the Peacekeeper is very close to that ideal.

KETL Breakwind Jacket

The KETL Breakwind Ultralight Jacket is my default outer layer for pretty much anything that involves a chilly start or unpredictable mountain weather. It is part of KETL’s VF Series, which focuses on technical, packable pieces, and this one nails that brief. It is ultra light, fully windproof, and packs down into its own chest pocket so it disappears in a pack, hip pack, or even a larger jersey pocket.

On the bike, it is that perfect “throw it on for the first climb” layer. Off the bike, it is just as useful for travel and hiking. The hood will fit over a helmet when needed, and laser perforations under the arms and across the back keep it from turning into a sweaty garbage bag when you are working hard. This is a piece I have been waiting for from Ketl Mtn for a long time, and it quickly made it into my don't leave home without it gear bag. 

Garmin Epix Pro Gen 2 Sapphire

Out of all the “everyday carry” items in my life, the Garmin Epix Pro Gen 2 Sapphire might be the most important. I wear it every day, whether I am riding, running, hiking, lifting, or just existing as a human who sleeps and tries to be semi-healthy. The Sapphire version adds a sapphire crystal lens and titanium hardware, which keeps it durable and scratch resistant, while the AMOLED screen makes data easy to read at a glance. (Its been replaced but much like the new Garmin Fenix 8, 47mm AMOLED)

What keeps it on my wrist is the mix of performance and health tracking. It logs rides, runs, hikes, and workouts with solid GPS and training metrics, and it also gives me useful daily data like sleep score, resting heart rate, HRV, step count, and more. The watch has a crazy long battery life, most weeks I charge it once, and I use the built in flashlight way more than I would have thought, even just going to the bathroom at night and not waking up the girlfriend. I do not really think of it as just a “watch” at this point. It's like an extension of myself. Im so dedicated to the watch that I actually left a un-tattooed circle for my heart rate monitor so I can have the most accurate data possible.