How good is the Stumpjumper FSR? One tester’s guy friend threatened to steal it and hock his own titanium hardtail on eBay. In short, this bike took best-in-show on technical singletrack. With a Shimano XT/XTR/LX drivetrain and Avid Juicy hydraulic brakes, Specialized spared no expense. You get almost five inches of trail-tuned suspension with the quick-lockout Fox Triad rear shock and Talas RL fork. It felt a touch sluggish on climbs but beat all comers going down. 27 lbs (medium); www.specialized.com
Bonus: The women-specific saddle earned apr猫s-ride smiles all around.
Bummer: No convenient way to carry it on a hike-a-bike.