HUNT PROVEN CARBON RACE XC 29 MTB WHEELSET
£1,099 www.huntbikewheels.com
HUNT’s first attempt at a carbon fibre wheelset left us a bit underwhelmed, but they aim to change that with their Proven range. With a completely new rim design, a reasonable price (for carbon) and a free lifetime crash replacement warranty, the Carbon Race XCs have proven to be tough, relatively light wheels that can handle a lot more than just cross-country racing – they work just as well on lightweight trail bikes, too.
The all-new, 29in-only, 30mm-wide (internal) rim features tailored carbon construction using mainly unidirectional fibres, with 3k ones in the spoke bed for reinforcement. Twenty-eight triple-butted, straight-pull spokes are used at both ends, with spares included in all four lengths. The hubs are made from forged and CNC-machined 6061-T6 aluminium, and spin on cartridge bearings with dual full-contact seals, with heat-resistant grease also used. At the rear, the six-pawl freehub bites the ratchet in a 3x2 pattern for five degrees of engagement.
Hubs are only available in 110x15mm and 148x12mm Boost widths, and with Center Lock disc mounts, although HUNT do offer the option to add Torque Caps for use with compatible RockShox forks. The usual choice of SRAM XD and Shimano HG or Micro Spline freehubs is available. Our test set weighed 1,506g, including tape and valves – a fair chunk more than the claimed 1,469g.
On the trail, the Proven wheels shine, with an incredibly smooth yet precise feel, remaining laterally stiff enough to be hoofed into corners and hold lines consistently when battering through rock gardens and off-camber sections. While we’ve ridden stiffer hoops and comfier ones, these strike a good balance. They’re light and extremely responsive, spinning up to speed quickly and making climbs feel less burdensome, aided by the fast engagement of the freehub. The rim and hubs have proved incredibly tough, too. Our first set exhibited repeated spoke creak issues, but a newer, revised pair have been trouble-free.
If you want a lightning-fast and sturdy wheelset, you could definitely do a lot worse than these. Tom L
Reasonably light, tough and keenly priced, these are a sound choice for privateer racers and weekend warriors