Neil Beltchenko

Earlier this year, Relentless Components launched the Mule Rack, a unique, weld-free rack designed to carry heavy loads with a wide range of mounting options for cages, panniers, and dry bags. Neil has been testing it since July, and in this video, he shares his thoughts on this distinctive cargo solution. Find his full Relentless Mule Rack review here…

What makes a bikepacking trip “full value?” It’s not just the miles, hardships, or views—it’s something more. After wrapping a three-day, two-night ride on our Peaks & Plateaus route in Utah, Neil and friends knew they’d found it. In our latest video, he unpacks what “full value” really means and shares why these trips stick with you long after the dust settles…

Not every piece of gear has to be expensive or overbuilt to make life at camp easier. In this roundup, Neil shares 13 functional, affordable, and game-changing little pieces of gear that have earned a spot in his kit. From cooking to sleeping and staying clean, these little things just work…

The new Tailfin SpeedPack is a lighter, more minimalist take on the brand’s rock-solid, rack-mounted rear bag. It features a 10-liter main capacity (plus a 3-liter expandable pocket), a carbon-frame body, and the new FitLink seatpost connector for dialed clearance (even with droppers). We put it through the paces on gravel and singletrack to see where it shines for this full review…

Earlier this year, REEB announced the return of the Sam’s Pants, their long-standing drop-bar bike. Neil’s been testing it over the past month on everything from short day rides to a bikepacking trip, putting in over 300 miles for a full test. Watch and read the REEB Sam’s Pants review here…

Wolf Tooth just dropped a trio of SPD-compatible pedals (CTRL, ALT, DEL) with a slick party trick: tool-simple, adjustable Q-factor for a dialed stance on any bike. Neil tested the CTRL and ALT trail and XC pedals and came away impressed. Find our full Wolf Tooth pedals review for ride impressions, specs, and pros/cons here, plus a back-to-back comparison with Shimano SPDs.

After a decade, Surly’s cult-classic drop-bar do-everything bike finally got a thoughtful refresh. We put the 2025 Straggler through daily rides, some dirt touring, and chunky gravel to see if the updates—new axle setup, revised sizing, and fork options—modernize it without losing that Surly weird-in-a-good-way charm. Find our full Surly Straggler review here, including what works, what doesn’t, and all the nitty gritty details…

Built from the ground up by Goodday + Curiosity, Neil’s “Gila Monster” blends a playful twin top tube, smart geometry, and dialed bag integration into a bike that’s purpose-made for bikepacking on singletrack. Dive into the build, the fit, and the details, and find out whether a custom bike can change how (and what) you ride here…

Over the last five months, Neil has put the new Wahoo ELEMNT Roam 3 through its paces on everything from quick day rides to multi-day bikepacking trips. Along the way, he’s logged enough miles to deliver clear takeaways on the updated hardware, features, and what’s changed from the previous version. The big question: Is it fit for bikepacking? Watch now to find out…

Neil has been putting the Hover Air X1 ProMax through its paces over the past several months, bringing it along on bikepacking trips and day rides. It’s become a go-to tool for capturing B-roll for reviews and other videos. In his latest review, he digs into all the details and showcases a wide range of shots he’s captured along the way…

After a busy first half of the year packed with riding and camping, Neil compiled his latest list of favorite gear for this mid-year Editor’s Dozen. From comfort items and tasty camp dinners to bags and surprising gadgets, this collection spotlights standout items from his spring and summer adventures…

In our latest tent review, Neil takes a detailed look at Durston’s new X-Dome 1+. Despite some initial skepticism, he came away thinking that this freestanding shelter might be the best one-person tent available. In our Durston X-Dome 1+ review, he covers everything from setup and materials to packed weights and the standout features that distinguish it from the competition. Find it here…