Hunt has updated the XC Wide wheelset, which is now in its third iteration and features an increased internal rim diameter with differing widths for the front and rear. Additionally, the rim material has been revised. Although the price has risen, the wheelset still offers good value, boasting rapid hub engagement and improved stiffness. However, despite the increased width and 'Wide' moniker, can these Hunts be considered wide when looking at the current crop of best mountain bike wheels?
- Shimano Deore XT M8120 wheelset review
- Levati XC32 wheelset review
- The best trail and enduro mountain bike wheelsets, tried and tested
Hunt XC Wide V3 MTB wheelset – Technical details
Starting from the exterior, the rims have undergone the most significant update with the alloy material upgraded from 6066-T6 to 6069-T6, offering a 25% increase in fatigue resistance. The rims boast a work-hardened, shot-peened matte black finish with laser-etched graphics. The front rim has a 28mm internal width, while the rear is 26mm wide. The rims also feature different profiles, with Hunt claiming the mismatched measurements optimise the performance for each wheel's specific demands. The front wheel is wider to support a broader tyre profile and enhance comfort, whereas the rear wheel is designed to bear the rider’s weight and withstand greater impacts, common at the rear. As expected, the rims are tubeless-ready, with pre-installed tape and included valves.
The rear hub features a six-pawl, 36-tooth RapidEngage freehub with a five-degree engagement angle, available for purchase in Shimano HG, SRAM XD, or Shimano Microspline, in both Boost and non-Boost axle options.
The rims are laced to the hubs with 28 spokes front and rear, in a three-cross pattern using J-bend, triple-butted Pillar spokes, and alloy spoke nipples. Hunt provides four spare spokes – one for each length used on the wheel – along with spare spoke nipples.
The wheels have a claimed weight of 1,693g without tubeless tape fitted. The test wheels weighed 1,720g (795g front, 925g rear) with tape fitted but without the tubeless valves. Hunt allows for a 3% margin, indicating that even with the tape fitted, the test wheels are well within the specified margin.
Hunt XC Wide V3 MTB wheelset – Performance
The wheels arrived true with spoke tension measured and equally balanced on each side. They came with tubeless tape pre-fitted and, while the tape installation was an improvement over the V2 wheels, it still wasn’t as clean as some wheelsets we’ve seen with an unstuck edge that allowed sealant to seep in.
Fitting tyres to the wheels was straightforward, though the relatively low rim wall height and rim hook could pose problems if you were looking to use tyres with a looser fit. Once fitted, both sets of tyres inflated easily with a track pump and popped into place nicely.
Hunt states the wheels can accommodate tyres from 1.4- (36mm) to 2.8in, recommending 2.2- to 2.4in as the optimal sizes. With the tyres fitted and inflated, a WTB Macro 2.4in measured 2.3in. This is expected given WTB sizes its tyres based on the size fitted to a rim with a 30mm internal diameter.
On the trails, the wheels performed well and remained true throughout testing. There is some flex under harder accelerations on the rear wheel, especially when compared to a high-performance carbon rim wheelset but not enough to affect performance significantly. The front wheel flex is less noticeable and can be advantageous through rougher sections, allowing the rim and tyre to adapt to the trail profile. The rims feel comfortable, with no high-frequency vibration detected, although this is helped as the tyres used for the majority of the testing were run at low pressures and have a supple carcass. Running low pressures does mean the rim is more susceptible to impacts, and there have been several occasions where I’ve hit the rim on larger rocks and the wheel is not showing any damage or deformities and they are both running as true as the day they arrived.
The rear hub’s performance is superb, with the five-degree engagement feeling quick and secure under aggressive accelerations. The rear hub produces some noise but it isn’t loud or obtrusive.
For a cross-country wheelset weighing a little over 1,700g, they are light, though not exceptional if compared to pure race wheelsets. The very lightest carbon wheels weigh around 1,200g but cost over £1,000 or £2,200 in the case of the Roval Control SLCL wheelset.
After over 1,000km of mixed riding, the bearings remain smooth and consistent with the performance of all previous Hunt wheels, demonstrating the British company’s understanding of the harsh riding conditions.
Hunt XC Wide V3 MTB wheelset – Verdict
The wheelset has a retail price of £480 – a £130 increase over the previous XC Wide V2 version we tested. While the updates were necessary and beneficial, this price increase positions the wheelset closer to other options in a very competitive market.
The trend towards wider tyres for cross-country riding, especially for increasingly technical cross-country races, continues to grow. However, wheel and rim development is progressing more slowly. Many wheels with 30mm internal rim widths are still classified as trail or all-mountain wheels, built heavier for their intended use. Some carbon wheels are advancing this genre, with brands like Roval and Bontrager leading the way, with the Bontrager Kovee Elite wheels being one example, priced at £950 and with a claimed weight of 1,585g.
For alloy wheelsets, JustRidingAlong offers the TrailDog wheels, which, despite their name, have a claimed weight of 1,769g and a lower price of £390.
Hunt has designed the XC Wide V3 wheels to meet specific weight and price targets. However, if these factors are not your main priorities, there may be better options available, possibly even within Hunt's own range of wheelsets. If weight is not your primary concern and an internal rim width of around 30mm is crucial, the Hunt Trail Wide wheelset offers a wider rim width for the same price and a claimed weight of 1,831g. SILT, the mountain bike arm of Scribe, provides the AM Alloy wheelset at an exceptionally competitive price of £296 with a comparable specification.
For riders looking for light, affordable wheels, the Hunt XC Wide V3 are definitely worth a look. They feel stiffer and maintain excellent hub performance with quick engagement.
3 comments
You can find details on Hunt's H_Care service, crash replacement scheme and warranty here - https://www.huntbikewheels.com/pages/warranty-and-tech-support
Thing is that you can get Elite Carbon wheels that are 1300g at £500 with Sapim spokes nowadays. I've had lots of Hunt wheels in the past but they are becoming less favourable at the price. We also broke two hunt XC rims this year training and of course there is no cover or crash support.
Thing is that you can get Elite Carbon wheels that are 1300g at £500 with Sapim spokes nowadays. I've had lots of Hunt wheels in the past but they are becoming less favourable at the price. We also broke two hunt XC rims this year training and of course there is no cover or crash support.