I run Spank OOZY's on my Chromag and can't agree more. Truly great hardtail wheels. Super durable, relatively inexpensive, tough and I quite agree with the 'Feel' Steve talks about.
@@eriksdodges853 i had freehub issues with my v1’s after 3 or 4 weeks. Had to replace it and then the second one started to do the same thing- slipping. Also found the rims dented easily. However for the money I couldn’t really complain. A lot of wheel for the money. They felt great and were lighter than the previous set i had on the bike
@@philstadnicki7882 I've heard of the early hubs having issues, I took a chance and bought mine after they made some changes to the first run and I have had zero issues at all...I think my engagement might not be as good as the 1st ones but I haven't been left stranded! I believe the 1st ones had 90+ tooth and the ones I have are in the 40's, 6 pawl....I might pick up a V2 rear wheel just to compare!
Great review. In my opinion I feel you were spot on with your assessment about spank taking a beating on super chunky trails. I almost purchased the spank 359’s but ended up getting the hunt trail wide in mullet style. I’m looking forward to riding them soon. Thanks again for the review.👍👍👍
Ive had the Horizon V2 for a while now and they have been solid. Used them on the hardtail then moved them to the full suspension and have zero complaints. Especially for the cost.
I've been a gravel rider for the last 6 years. I recently preordered the spec chisel frame and now have to buy all new stuff to build it up, as most of my old parts won't fit a mtn bike. Love the channel, and thanks for schooling me on ways of the hardtail.
I've been riding the trail wides for a year on my Jeffsy and love them. Great value. Just checked and it looked like chain reaction has one of the spanks left in stock with free shipping to us.
A few more things... 1) this video focuses on complete wheelsets, not custom built mix and match rims/wheels 2) I focused on high-engagment hubs because they make a huge difference, and if you're upgrading wheels, you should spring for higher engagement. 3) The Hunt trailwides have recently been updated and feature a new rim. That's good news, good because the rims featured in this video have been extremely soft and they dent easily. In fact, I've never used a rim rhat dents so easily. Because of this, i recommend a different wheelset unless you live in extremely smooth areas. I'll come back from a ride and see 4 new dents in areas where the other wheels would be fine. 4) the Nukeproof hzn v2 a have been fantastic and have really held up well. 5) the stans flow (not pictured here) have been fantastic wheels as well. I just don't own a set and can't speak for the longevity of the hubs.
@@LordDijamco and the price went up, too, to $509. I went with Nukeproof V2s based on Hardtail Party's recommendation and they've been great so far. About 4-5 rocky, rooty rides in.
Best upgrade ever I mean ever for me was going to 1/12 GX that came stock on my new hardtail. My older full suspension came 2/10. I was out of shape first ride of the season and could climb better than I have in the past
Thanks... Another great video 🙌🏼 personally I am DT Swiss fan 🤩The only issue is availability now 😂 I was thinking about trying Hunt wheels, but since Brexit... Well I somehow sorted another DT Swiss set from Germany 🤩
Great insight with real world opinions that we’ve all grown to trust! When talking bikes with people in my circles, I refer them to so many of your videos to help them make the right choice for them. Great job, you are building an amazing resource for all of us that love pedaling! Thank you Hardtail Party!
My bike came with Stan's Flow D rims, which I think are OE only, and I'm super happy with them. Like Steve said, you couldn't ask for an easier rim to set up tubeless.
I love stans, great value and super durable. I have a set of crest v2s laced to Chris kings on my xc hardtail and a set of stans arch wheels with the neo hubs on my banshee prime. I would recommend stans rims to anyone who is looking to upgrade but I haven't ridden any other higher end stuff and I'm sure all of these wheels are great.
They're a bit heavier than the Trail Wide wheels. Do you notice it? Or, do you just want the peace of mind from the more bombproof wheels? I'm 150lbs and don't hit it that hard. But, I am a big believer in peace of mind. So I'm leaning towards Enduro wide, but my common sense says Trail Wide is fine. Cheers
@@BrianRPaterson I’ve not ridden the trail wide, but am a pretty big guy, so just wanted something super bombproof really. I have the Hunt Gravel Wide on my gravel bike and just can’t fault either set to be fair.
@@domfluin1819 Excellent. Hunt sounds like a winner. I'll give the Trail Wide hoops a go. They should be ideal for day-in day-out trail riding. Thanks for the info. Cheers
@@BrianRPaterson did you buy the set, and how does it perform? I have the same dilemma, the trail should be enough but you know the enduro are bombproof
Dt 350 straightpulls and archs or flows depending on your weight or riding. You can build a 1500g set for 600 bucks, great budget ultra racing wheelset. You MUST use conical nipple washers and sapim secure lock nipples per discussion with Stans, I didnt and mine fell apart...several times. Stans wheels radially deflect more than about any other hoops due to the low section height. This means when you rim strike the wheel deflects and spokes go slack instead of denting (can still happen though, less likely). The slack spokes allow the nipples to back off if not spoke frozen or locking nipples. When the spokes regain tension the nipple washers spread out the load.
I think Bontrager Line 30 Comp would be a good option if you are on even tighter budget. They just updated them about a month ago. 29 id, 54t but can be upgraded to 108t with extra springs and pawls for $30. I think they are $300 for wheelset! Granted, this may be more of a sidegrade for some people, but still an upgrade for lower end bikes with narrower, maybe non tubeless wheels and low engagement hubs. Wonder what your thoughts are on those. Too bad I made a small dent in the rear one running too low of a pressure so mine can now be used with tube only. I have a Horizon v2 rear waiting to be setup on my Middlechild, so great to hear you like them.
Helpful. Thank you. Can I ask your advice on alloy rims? I ride a 2019 Salsa Timberjack 29 mostly for long distance bikepacking. 2.35 front & 2.2 rear tires. For example, like the "Fools Loop" in your area (2 years ago), I ride mostly gravel roads & chunky jeep trails. Rarely do I do anything more "spicy" than the Black Canyon Trail section of the loop. That said, the Maah Daah Hey 100 & Leadville are still on my bucket list. Still, my tires are almost always on the graound.... What alloy rims should I keep in consideration?
Love this video! Love your very honest transparent information. Very very helpful. I'm in the middle of getting my new wheelset for my Trek Stache... Going with spank Oozy 395 rims. (29 x 2.6) DT Swiss Champion spokes with brass nipples and Race Face Vault hubs. I'm a big Rider at 6'4 215 lbs. Your video gave me a lot more confidence on my decision thank you very much
I picked up a Norco Torrent S2, and was lucky enough to get it with Stan's Flow S2 rims. They were assembled with cheap Shimano hubs, but the Stan's rim profile is impressive. I may get a Flow Mk 4 rear wheel to take advantage of their new magnetic hub with 1.66° of engagement! Even the E-sync is decent at 8.18°. They look more robust than the outgoing hubs.
I'm a light and moderately aggressive full sus rider and I had the Hunt Trail Wide V1 and they were pretty soft (although I agree they felt really nice). My Stan's Flow are holding up perfectly since 2 years.
Great info. Need to get a new wheelset on the Krampus. My shop always recommends We Are One, but idk if I'm willing to spend that much. Have been really interested in Spank.
FYI if your stans hub blows up but the rim is still ok, the flange size on a Hope pro4 is close enough you can lace up a new wheel using all the same spokes.
Completely agree.. I’m a rougher enduro rider don’t flow over the rocks like you :). I’ve been through 3 carbon rims and dingged some aluminum. I finally threw on a spank rear wheel and a carbon front. The spank vib just keeps taking a beating and rolling 👍🏼
Great review and thank you for all the information! Have you tried the Industry Nine 1/1 enduro S wheelset? I'm contemplating purchasing the Hunt Trail wide or the Industry Nine. I know that the industry nine cost more and not sure if they are worth the extra cash. Take care!
Another great review Steve - thanks. I hope We Are One sends you a set of Converts to try out. A different level of wheel but would love to hear your thoughts on them specifically for a hardtail. Still waiting for my Fuse to bolt them to...
On my 2019 Santa Cruz Chameleon the rear wtb i40 wheel has stress fractures in a few spots near the spokes and its time for a new wheel set and i'm ditching the 27.5 for 29ers and it looks like the hunts will fit that at a very good price! although bummed that its broken happy to save up for some new wheels!
Not that I’m saying they’re the best but the Bontrager Line Comp 30s are pretty good value-wise. I just ordered the 40s since I run plus tires but $199 rear and $149 front.
I’ve only just seen this video! Nice work as always Steve, refreshing in a world of marketing BS! I have stan’s crest mk4’s for my xc/trail wheelset which I still jump and bike park I just avoid really rocky stuff. They fit a 2.3 to 2.5 maxxis no worries at all they all tend to come out at 2.3 ish anyway! They feel beautifully forgiving and zippy. I had them hand laced with sapim CX rays and to high engagement yet cheap Bitex hubs. Came out at 1600g the pair and I’ve only just buckled the rear after several months of abuse on the rear of the sirius S5. Do you think the quality of the build and spokes have a big impact on feel and strength?
I have the Hunt trail wide tires on my Ibis Ripmo and they feel good, I do get your comment on it feels like it may chop your tires and cause a pinch flat. I did push them hard through a rough rock garden and dented the rear wheel only after a month of riding them. The wheel hold air and didn’t pinch flat but got pretty out of true. I did get it back in true and plan on replacing the rim after some more time on them.
Great vid, as usual ;) I think the hunt enduro are in 28/32 spokes guise whereas the trail hunt are only 28 spokes front and rear. I have this wheelset (hunt trail, 29") and I'm a heavy rider on a BC podsol (bought thanks to you, Steve) and unfortunately I put too many dings on the rear wheel, pinch flat 2 times. I've swapped for a dt swiss rear wheel (E1900, budget friendly) and it is so much more robust ! I'm keeping the hunt trail front wheel for the time being. Thanks for this channel !
@@hardtailparty it's been the bike I was waiting for, without knowing it (if it makes sens). Without you, I would have missed it ! I'm very pleased with the Podsol, an amazingly capable bike. Thanks again for the great work you do !
Nukeproof horizon v2 wheels are amazing for the price. Hub sounds amazing which is a bonus. Had to replace my wheel set after a one month old shimano xt hub died. At least with nukeproof I can buy freehub bodies separately
Put the nukeproofs on my SS honzo build based, in part, your in depth review. So far they are fantastic, but my only other wheel experience is the stock wheels on entry to mid level bikes, so in comparison to those, it is a major step up!
Horizon V2 rear with Tannus Armour Tubeless has been an absolute treat. Interested to see how the updated version of the Hunt wheels do, looks like they made some changes to the rim profile to address the dents / tire pinching
It's not a 1-1 comparison, but I have the Hunt Enduro Wide's and the rim profile is much lower than their previous rim profiles. I think they are great. Very easy to set up, comfortable, and look nice. I do plan on adding a rear insert soon though.
@@hardtailparty Nope. I didn't see that they announced new ones. I got mine a month or two ago, but I have an older Hunt Wheelset as well and these enduro wides have a much more moto style rim profile than my others.
Im running the new bontrager line elite carbon wheels for $900 and upgraded to six pawls and I'll say these are the best value carbon rims available, plus they ride amazing!
I've got Stan's Arch S1 on my full suspension 29r with some 2.4 inch tyres and the nice hub and they are great. I know people obsess over thick rims, but 2.4 is right in the middle of their recommended width.
Steve! Hey, are these still your top 4 aluminum wheels to date? Or are there any new ones that you like as much or better? Binge watching your vids again. Cheers!
Great review. Just found ya through your timber jack review. Subscribed! If you’re running tubeless then the Hunt pinch flat factor shouldn’t be an issue right? I’m tight on cash so I’m leaning for the Hunt purely from a price point factor, but the new wheels will be going on my bikepacking hardtail - do you have an opinion as to which of these would hold up best under load?
You talked about the two ends of the spectrum (these versus wheels like Zipp), but one of the best things to happen in he last 4 years or so is the growth of the middle ground. The ~$850 mark can get you carbon rims now as well as some really nice aluminum rims with incredible hubs.
Yes, but most of those rims ride extremely harsh, especially on a hardtail. Not all carbon is created equal. If i could find $850 wheels that ride like my ZIPPs, they'd be my top recommendation. I prefer these aluminum wheels over any sub $1k carbon wheelset.
aHa, thanks for the review. I just bought a new rear wheel and am getting the matching front in a 28h. I got... the Arch Mk3 for my Spesh fuse. I am running 2.3's and I wanted a lighter wheel. It's not terribly rocky here in Socal where I ride and I just wanted something to keep up with the rocket friends for the climbs and for the odd race or 5 that I may jump into when local races come back. Will it be too hot to come ride with you guys in AZ in late May..? I'd bring a beefier tire and rim set. Thanks! Oh, and just upgraded to a GX groupset. My rig is feeling tight!
This was great info as always, thank you! Would you say the Stans would be good on a gravel/xc setup with 29x2.2 xc tires? Do any of these come in 35mm & above?
Great video! Love my Kona Lava Dome but I am looking to upgrade the wheelset. Did I miss the links to purchase any of these wheels? Didn't see them in the video description.
awesome! love the video, love the detail. one question: my past experience with spank is they dent notably easy, has that been an issue for you with these?
I have i handful of rides on these so far and no dents, but i can't speak to long-term reliability of them. Unfortunately I had to send them back right after this review. Hopefully others can chime in. The rim profiile of this model looks great. I'm not normally a fan of spank products but i really like these wheels
I read a review on the OOZY where author said he talked to Spank at interbike and Spank said their rim walls are designed to dent, not crack. I was looking at 350VC or 359VC set myself so this is timely review
Hi Steve, could you please make a similar video for the 27.5/27.5+? I think it'd be really interesting especially for the plus ones, since I find them the most fun for enjoying the riding.
I don't have many 27.5 bikes to try then on, and i don't have many 27.5 wheels sadly. Most of these wheels are available as 27.5 though, so it should give you a good amount of info
Just wondering where you would slot in the Bontrager line comp 30 wheels into this comparison. I noticed Steve you like them quite a bit on your Roscoe 9 review.
I recently brought horizon v2 as a replacement rear wheel on my trial hardtail. I trashed my rear wheel and my front wheel is still running great and has the same inner width as the v2s. Love the high engagement and the compliant ride feel compared to the stock rear wheel. I ride really agressive and it held up great so far not even a loose spoke. Great hardtail upgrade also if it's only the rear wheel especially for the price!
I love the Spank stuff, but I've used the Spike bar with and without vibracore. Cannot tell the difference. A buddy of mine has one of their 27.5 wheelsets with vibracore. Same thing - he said he can't tell the difference. Maybe we're just not sensitive enough. I think they make great products, but I'll stick with the non-vibracore. To each, his own.
I have a factory set of the 35s. The Sun Ringle hubs engagement is not great and not upgradeable (36 or similar POE). They are nothing on the 350s (54 POE) on my other wheelset. Been happy with the rims and compliance particularly for the low retail cost available locally to us in Australia. They ship with HG and XD freewheels, pre taped tubeless, with valves and sealant supplied which is a bonus. They were cheaper than the models reviewed in this video - like half the price of the spanks in Australia. I've been happy but would think I would prefer the Spanks, NP or Hunts personally but made a choice based on available funds to get me out and riding. If I was to upgrade anything on my hard tail it would be the wheels but I'm going to ride the Ringles into the ground first!
Steve, have you had a chance to try out a front Vibrocore? I know it won't be as "impactful" (ha!) as having Vibrocore on the rear, but curious what your impressions may be. Seems a Vibrocore front is harder to come by so was thinking of getting a Vibrocore on the rear and a standard on the front. Thanks!
Hey Steve, love you content. I’m building up a Ragley Big Al and in huge part from your video. I’m going to be getting Hunt wheels. I don’t ride enduro style but I do want 2.6 wheels… would you recommend the trail wide or the enduro wide in the hunt line up? Would 2.6 be fine on the trail wide?
I prefer 35i rims for 2.6. You can technically put 2.6s on just about any mtb rim, but the narrower the rim, the more squirm you're going to feel and the more likely you'll burp them on hard cornering.
HI THANKS FOR THE REVIEW IM KEEN ON THE HUNT AS IM IN UK AND PRICE IS A FACTOR. COULD YOU TELL ME ARE THEY VERY NOISEY AND FOR THE QUICK ENGAJEMENT DO YOU HAVETO HAVE A NOISEY HUB
Nice wheel comparison. Are you moving on from 27.5 plus size wheels? Are they becoming less relevant to you? It seems more bikes are coming with 29er wheels.
I need a 29er wheel set that can hold up to all the hucks to flat and stair sets I bomb on my hardtail as well as trail riding.... I wonder if any of these would work
@@hardtailparty In the UK, you can get Hope Fortus 35 hoops with Hope Pro 4 hubs for the same price as the Horizon V2 wheelset. I have Nukeproof on my 29er and Hope on my Stanton Slackline, running 27.5 x 2.8 rubber.
@@IndiaMikePapa to be perfectly honest I can't swear it does. But what I can say honestly is I have pretty bad arthritis in my hands and I can still ride full days even though it still hurts. In my honest opinion I do think that the vibrocore in my handlebars and in my wheels lets me ride longer
I've tried the old enduro 305s. I loved em on my full sus, but they were pretty stiff for me harstail. Do you ride them kn your full sus or hardtail? Do you prefer the rim feel, of the engagement of the hubs?
I have them on my full suspension. The engagement is good and the are bomb proof. The wider profile provides the stiffness I like and can run my 29x2.6 hellkats just fine. I haven't made it to the dark side of hard tail yet, but live your content and info. Bought a velocirax last year off your recommendation.
My current bike is running the DT Swiss M1900s (29er). It’s pretty rocky where I live, and there is a very real possibility I may have to replace the back wheel at some point (so far it only has a few nicks in it). Would the Stan’s flow be a good replacement? My daughter’s bike has them, and I do love the way the tire sit in the bead
New to mtb coz im a roadie, im riding mtb as part of my winter training for the road, i will be riding gravel and road only on my mountain bike, im looking for a light mtb wheelset best suited for gravel and tarmac, which would u recommend, im thinking hunt as i have easy access to a dealer living in the UK, also thinking of switching to thickslick 29r tyres, sorry to offend any true mtb riders but im using my mtb 2 to 3 times a week as part of my winter race training plan for the road, any help on my questions would be much appreciated
I havent found any affordable ones that i love yet. They're such a niche size that there isn't a ton of demand, so a lot of companies don't feature them on their budget wheels.
I love real information on products and this channel is chock full of real world info, thanks Steve!
You are the best reviewer out there! I really appreciate your knowledge and honesty.
Thank you, I really appreciate it. Hopefully word spreads and we can keep growing the channel to get more opportunities to review stuff.
I run Spank OOZY's on my Chromag and can't agree more. Truly great hardtail wheels. Super durable, relatively inexpensive, tough and I quite agree with the 'Feel' Steve talks about.
The 395+
Keep looking at up grades for my hard tail. I am 78 and still look forward to really cool stuff for my bike. Thanks
Have Hunt Trailwide on my Orange P7 29er. Brilliant value, the weight saving, engagement and feel have made such a difference to the bike 👍
My horizon v2’s have held up so well compared to the v1’s i had. Massive improvement. Great wheels
How do the v2 compare to the v1? I'm going on 2 yrs with my v1's with zero issues...
I wish the rim join was a welded construction as mine failed there, the wheels are really nice, nice hubs etc, bomber if they were welded.
@@eriksdodges853 i had freehub issues with my v1’s after 3 or 4 weeks. Had to replace it and then the second one started to do the same thing- slipping. Also found the rims dented easily. However for the money I couldn’t really complain. A lot of wheel for the money. They felt great and were lighter than the previous set i had on the bike
@@philstadnicki7882 I've heard of the early hubs having issues, I took a chance and bought mine after they made some changes to the first run and I have had zero issues at all...I think my engagement might not be as good as the 1st ones but I haven't been left stranded! I believe the 1st ones had 90+ tooth and the ones I have are in the 40's, 6 pawl....I might pick up a V2 rear wheel just to compare!
Great review. In my opinion I feel you were spot on with your assessment about spank taking a beating on super chunky trails. I almost purchased the spank 359’s but ended up getting the hunt trail wide in mullet style. I’m looking forward to riding them soon.
Thanks again for the review.👍👍👍
you almost read my mind.. Was looking for these wheels, and you came up with the perfect vid. thanx!!!
Ive had the Horizon V2 for a while now and they have been solid. Used them on the hardtail then moved them to the full suspension and have zero complaints. Especially for the cost.
Perfect timing! I'm shopping for wheels at this very moment and have a couple of these sitting in my cart.
I've been a gravel rider for the last 6 years. I recently preordered the spec chisel frame and now have to buy all new stuff to build it up, as most of my old parts won't fit a mtn bike. Love the channel, and thanks for schooling me on ways of the hardtail.
Thank You ! For your thoughts !
I love my Hunt wheels! works excellent and the price its amazing
I've been riding the trail wides for a year on my Jeffsy and love them. Great value. Just checked and it looked like chain reaction has one of the spanks left in stock with free shipping to us.
Based on the earlier review I bought the NukeProof for a 2015 Salsa Spearfish (my 19 year old sons bike) and they are an absolutely amazing wheelset.
Thanks man exactly what I was looking for. I was trying to decide between the Spanx and the Nukeproofs, so sounds like the spanks it is! Great reviews
Thanks! I’ve been waiting for a wheel review like this.
A few more things...
1) this video focuses on complete wheelsets, not custom built mix and match rims/wheels
2) I focused on high-engagment hubs because they make a huge difference, and if you're upgrading wheels, you should spring for higher engagement.
3) The Hunt trailwides have recently been updated and feature a new rim. That's good news, good because the rims featured in this video have been extremely soft and they dent easily. In fact, I've never used a rim rhat dents so easily. Because of this, i recommend a different wheelset unless you live in extremely smooth areas. I'll come back from a ride and see 4 new dents in areas where the other wheels would be fine.
4) the Nukeproof hzn v2 a have been fantastic and have really held up well.
5) the stans flow (not pictured here) have been fantastic wheels as well. I just don't own a set and can't speak for the longevity of the hubs.
Hunt also changed their hubs. 72POE big change from 120POE
@@LordDijamco yeah, i was sad about that, as i like the engagement of these hunts i have here.
I agree on the hunt wheels, I dented mine after a month of riding on a full suspension.
@@LordDijamco and the price went up, too, to $509. I went with Nukeproof V2s based on Hardtail Party's recommendation and they've been great so far. About 4-5 rocky, rooty rides in.
@@dkubarek1 Yes! Big factor to my decision were the POE and price. So I had to cancel
Best upgrade ever I mean ever for me was going to 1/12 GX that came stock on my new hardtail. My older full suspension came 2/10. I was out of shape first ride of the season and could climb better than I have in the past
Thanks... Another great video 🙌🏼 personally I am DT Swiss fan 🤩The only issue is availability now 😂 I was thinking about trying Hunt wheels, but since Brexit... Well I somehow sorted another DT Swiss set from Germany 🤩
Great insight with real world opinions that we’ve all grown to trust! When talking bikes with people in my circles, I refer them to so many of your videos to help them make the right choice for them. Great job, you are building an amazing resource for all of us that love pedaling! Thank you Hardtail Party!
Thanks for spreading the word, I really appreciate it.
Great info. I ran Stans Flow rear wheel for awhile and it was a great wheel and hub.
My bike came with Stan's Flow D rims, which I think are OE only, and I'm super happy with them. Like Steve said, you couldn't ask for an easier rim to set up tubeless.
I just got a bike with Stan's Flow S1's and it really was the easiest tubeless set up ever. Got it done easily with a floor pump
I agree, I run Flow MK3 in the front and Baron MK3 in the rear and both are easy to set up even using just a normal floor pump.
I love stans, great value and super durable. I have a set of crest v2s laced to Chris kings on my xc hardtail and a set of stans arch wheels with the neo hubs on my banshee prime. I would recommend stans rims to anyone who is looking to upgrade but I haven't ridden any other higher end stuff and I'm sure all of these wheels are great.
I’ve a set of Hunt Endurowide on my Stanton Switch9er and absolutely love them. Super quick engagement and so solid feeling. Great for the money.
They're a bit heavier than the Trail Wide wheels. Do you notice it? Or, do you just want the peace of mind from the more bombproof wheels?
I'm 150lbs and don't hit it that hard. But, I am a big believer in peace of mind. So I'm leaning towards Enduro wide, but my common sense says Trail Wide is fine.
Cheers
@@BrianRPaterson I’ve not ridden the trail wide, but am a pretty big guy, so just wanted something super bombproof really. I have the Hunt Gravel Wide on my gravel bike and just can’t fault either set to be fair.
@@domfluin1819 Excellent. Hunt sounds like a winner. I'll give the Trail Wide hoops a go. They should be ideal for day-in day-out trail riding. Thanks for the info. Cheers
@@BrianRPaterson did you buy the set, and how does it perform? I have the same dilemma, the trail should be enough but you know the enduro are bombproof
Dt 350 straightpulls and archs or flows depending on your weight or riding. You can build a 1500g set for 600 bucks, great budget ultra racing wheelset. You MUST use conical nipple washers and sapim secure lock nipples per discussion with Stans, I didnt and mine fell apart...several times. Stans wheels radially deflect more than about any other hoops due to the low section height. This means when you rim strike the wheel deflects and spokes go slack instead of denting (can still happen though, less likely). The slack spokes allow the nipples to back off if not spoke frozen or locking nipples. When the spokes regain tension the nipple washers spread out the load.
Great points about the stans rims. A lot of people build them incorrectly and pay the price.
I think Bontrager Line 30 Comp would be a good option if you are on even tighter budget. They just updated them about a month ago. 29 id, 54t but can be upgraded to 108t with extra springs and pawls for $30. I think they are $300 for wheelset! Granted, this may be more of a sidegrade for some people, but still an upgrade for lower end bikes with narrower, maybe non tubeless wheels and low engagement hubs. Wonder what your thoughts are on those. Too bad I made a small dent in the rear one running too low of a pressure so mine can now be used with tube only. I have a Horizon v2 rear waiting to be setup on my Middlechild, so great to hear you like them.
I have a 29 and a 27.5 set of the line comp 30's. I really like mine a lot and a great wheel for the price
Helpful. Thank you. Can I ask your advice on alloy rims? I ride a 2019 Salsa Timberjack 29 mostly for long distance bikepacking. 2.35 front & 2.2 rear tires. For example, like the "Fools Loop" in your area (2 years ago), I ride mostly gravel roads & chunky jeep trails. Rarely do I do anything more "spicy" than the Black Canyon Trail section of the loop. That said, the Maah Daah Hey 100 & Leadville are still on my bucket list. Still, my tires are almost always on the graound.... What alloy rims should I keep in consideration?
Love this video! Love your very honest transparent information. Very very helpful. I'm in the middle of getting my new wheelset for my Trek Stache... Going with spank Oozy 395 rims. (29 x 2.6) DT Swiss Champion spokes with brass nipples and Race Face Vault hubs. I'm a big Rider at 6'4 215 lbs. Your video gave me a lot more confidence on my decision thank you very much
I picked up a Norco Torrent S2, and was lucky enough to get it with Stan's Flow S2 rims. They were assembled with cheap Shimano hubs, but the Stan's rim profile is impressive. I may get a Flow Mk 4 rear wheel to take advantage of their new magnetic hub with 1.66° of engagement! Even the E-sync is decent at 8.18°. They look more robust than the outgoing hubs.
I love my hunt enduro wheels, favorite wheels I have owned in a long time
From an Australian perspective the value choice is the Nukeproof (Stock notwithstanding) -
Spank Vibrocore 359 rear wheel - AU$667
Nukeproof Horizon V2 rear wheel - AU$459
Spank Vibrocore 350/359 wheelset - AU$919
Hunt Trail Wide V2 wheelset (only) - AU$805 (they add delivery and tax on top of the listed price)
Nukeproof Horizon V2 wheelset (with ARD liner) - AU$629
I'm a light and moderately aggressive full sus rider and I had the Hunt Trail Wide V1 and they were pretty soft (although I agree they felt really nice). My Stan's Flow are holding up perfectly since 2 years.
Great info. Need to get a new wheelset on the Krampus. My shop always recommends We Are One, but idk if I'm willing to spend that much. Have been really interested in Spank.
FYI if your stans hub blows up but the rim is still ok, the flange size on a Hope pro4 is close enough you can lace up a new wheel using all the same spokes.
Hi, I think the most important component on any bike, doesn't matter if MTB or road or gravel, is the tire! Would love to see a review from you soon.
I 100% agree
Good review.. do have a buddy who has dented the heck out of his hunts.. and he had never dented rims previously.
Completely agree.. I’m a rougher enduro rider don’t flow over the rocks like you :). I’ve been through 3 carbon rims and dingged some aluminum. I finally threw on a spank rear wheel and a carbon front. The spank vib just keeps taking a beating and rolling 👍🏼
It really is surprising what that rim will do
Great review and thank you for all the information! Have you tried the Industry Nine 1/1 enduro S wheelset? I'm contemplating purchasing the Hunt Trail wide or the Industry Nine. I know that the industry nine cost more and not sure if they are worth the extra cash. Take care!
It might be an idea to do a similar comparison video of forks. This is a pretty important topic for hardtails.
Another great review Steve - thanks. I hope We Are One sends you a set of Converts to try out. A different level of wheel but would love to hear your thoughts on them specifically for a hardtail. Still waiting for my Fuse to bolt them to...
On my 2019 Santa Cruz Chameleon the rear wtb i40 wheel has stress fractures in a few spots near the spokes and its time for a new wheel set and i'm ditching the 27.5 for 29ers and it looks like the hunts will fit that at a very good price! although bummed that its broken happy to save up for some new wheels!
Not that I’m saying they’re the best but the Bontrager Line Comp 30s are pretty good value-wise. I just ordered the 40s since I run plus tires but $199 rear and $149 front.
I got the Horizon V2s when they were 50% off, though I have to wait until spring to try them.
I’ve only just seen this video! Nice work as always Steve, refreshing in a world of marketing BS!
I have stan’s crest mk4’s for my xc/trail wheelset which I still jump and bike park I just avoid really rocky stuff. They fit a 2.3 to 2.5 maxxis no worries at all they all tend to come out at 2.3 ish anyway!
They feel beautifully forgiving and zippy. I had them hand laced with sapim CX rays and to high engagement yet cheap Bitex hubs.
Came out at 1600g the pair and I’ve only just buckled the rear after several months of abuse on the rear of the sirius S5.
Do you think the quality of the build and spokes have a big impact on feel and strength?
Nice Review Steve , appreciate the time you put in.
Does spoke count matter on a hardtail ? 28H vs 32H ?
I have the Hunt trail wide tires on my Ibis Ripmo and they feel good, I do get your comment on it feels like it may chop your tires and cause a pinch flat. I did push them hard through a rough rock garden and dented the rear wheel only after a month of riding them. The wheel hold air and didn’t pinch flat but got pretty out of true. I did get it back in true and plan on replacing the rim after some more time on them.
Did you have the v2 version? Becausr the v1 were easily dented
@@SidiNic yeah mine are V1, I got mine just before they updated them to the V2.
Great vid, as usual ;) I think the hunt enduro are in 28/32 spokes guise whereas the trail hunt are only 28 spokes front and rear. I have this wheelset (hunt trail, 29") and I'm a heavy rider on a BC podsol (bought thanks to you, Steve) and unfortunately I put too many dings on the rear wheel, pinch flat 2 times. I've swapped for a dt swiss rear wheel (E1900, budget friendly) and it is so much more robust ! I'm keeping the hunt trail front wheel for the time being. Thanks for this channel !
Congrats on the killer bike. That podsol is super fast.
@@hardtailparty it's been the bike I was waiting for, without knowing it (if it makes sens). Without you, I would have missed it ! I'm very pleased with the Podsol, an amazingly capable bike. Thanks again for the great work you do !
I had Arch on Scott Genius, they cracked after usual one season of XC fan rides, even without jumping. Weight 90kg
Love my spank 359 vibrocore rear wheel. Bought it for just the hub
Nukeproof horizon v2 wheels are amazing for the price. Hub sounds amazing which is a bonus. Had to replace my wheel set after a one month old shimano xt hub died. At least with nukeproof I can buy freehub bodies separately
The new shimano stuff is junk. I'm not impressed at all.
Awesome video!
Put the nukeproofs on my SS honzo build based, in part, your in depth review. So far they are fantastic, but my only other wheel experience is the stock wheels on entry to mid level bikes, so in comparison to those, it is a major step up!
Horizon V2 rear with Tannus Armour Tubeless has been an absolute treat. Interested to see how the updated version of the Hunt wheels do, looks like they made some changes to the rim profile to address the dents / tire pinching
Unfortunately these are the older hunt rims. I don't have the new ones in, but I'd like to test them.
It's not a 1-1 comparison, but I have the Hunt Enduro Wide's and the rim profile is much lower than their previous rim profiles. I think they are great. Very easy to set up, comfortable, and look nice. I do plan on adding a rear insert soon though.
@@loganmumma3337 do you have the brand new ones that were announced a week or two ago?
@@hardtailparty Nope. I didn't see that they announced new ones. I got mine a month or two ago, but I have an older Hunt Wheelset as well and these enduro wides have a much more moto style rim profile than my others.
@@jeffm5271 I haven't heard great things about the Tannus inserts. Most people I know go for Vittoria Airliners or CushCore.
I picked up a set of nukeproof horizon V2s this week!
You rock!!! keep doin the do. From the UK with love.
I have trail wide and Enduro wide and love em on my sb150
I will say they need a liner if you ride aggressive
Im running the new bontrager line elite carbon wheels for $900 and upgraded to six pawls and I'll say these are the best value carbon rims available, plus they ride amazing!
I've heard good (and bad) things about those. I'd love to try them one day.
Thanks for the upload, great vid. Whats the difference between the spank 350 vibe and the spank 359 vibe?
Here in the UK, the Nukeproof v2's are slightly cheaper than the Hunt Trail wide.
I'd love you hear your review of Hunt's enduro wide :)
I just ordered some v2 enduro wides
Great content as usual Steve!
I am going to try the Hunt Trail Wide with a Tannus insert in the rear
Great content dude!
Thanks Steve! This is a great topic!
I've got Stan's Arch S1 on my full suspension 29r with some 2.4 inch tyres and the nice hub and they are great. I know people obsess over thick rims, but 2.4 is right in the middle of their recommended width.
Stans recommends really narrow rims for some reason. Ibis, on the other hand goes the other way and recommends a 35i for a 2.3-2.6
@@hardtailparty they work a treat and the profile on the tyres is nice.
Steve! Hey, are these still your top 4 aluminum wheels to date? Or are there any new ones that you like as much or better?
Binge watching your vids again. Cheers!
There are a few others I like too. I've been consulting with my patrons on those. These are all decent though.
@@hardtailparty Time to become a patron!
Have you tried the Specialized Stout 29 wheels? If so, how do they stack up against these wheels?
Great review. Just found ya through your timber jack review. Subscribed!
If you’re running tubeless then the Hunt pinch flat factor shouldn’t be an issue right?
I’m tight on cash so I’m leaning for the Hunt purely from a price point factor, but the new wheels will be going on my bikepacking hardtail - do you have an opinion as to which of these would hold up best under load?
You can still pinch flat even with tubeless.
You talked about the two ends of the spectrum (these versus wheels like Zipp), but one of the best things to happen in he last 4 years or so is the growth of the middle ground. The ~$850 mark can get you carbon rims now as well as some really nice aluminum rims with incredible hubs.
Yes, but most of those rims ride extremely harsh, especially on a hardtail. Not all carbon is created equal. If i could find $850 wheels that ride like my ZIPPs, they'd be my top recommendation. I prefer these aluminum wheels over any sub $1k carbon wheelset.
I’ve owned Hunt trail and enduro.
Thankfully I now own hope pro4 on XM481
You had problems with them?
aHa, thanks for the review. I just bought a new rear wheel and am getting the matching front in a 28h. I got... the Arch Mk3 for my Spesh fuse. I am running 2.3's and I wanted a lighter wheel. It's not terribly rocky here in Socal where I ride and I just wanted something to keep up with the rocket friends for the climbs and for the odd race or 5 that I may jump into when local races come back. Will it be too hot to come ride with you guys in AZ in late May..? I'd bring a beefier tire and rim set. Thanks! Oh, and just upgraded to a GX groupset. My rig is feeling tight!
It's pretty warm in may, but we still ride.
Id love if you could get your hands on some silt mtb rims and try them against the hunt set.
This was great info as always, thank you! Would you say the Stans would be good on a gravel/xc setup with 29x2.2 xc tires? Do any of these come in 35mm & above?
Great video! Love my Kona Lava Dome but I am looking to upgrade the wheelset. Did I miss the links to purchase any of these wheels? Didn't see them in the video description.
I wish i had links to purchase for ya, but as you know, many things are out of stock right now.
@@hardtailparty I just found some Spank Vibracore 350 wheelset at a really good price. Any major differences between those and the 359 you reviewed?
awesome! love the video, love the detail. one question: my past experience with spank is they dent notably easy, has that been an issue for you with these?
I have i handful of rides on these so far and no dents, but i can't speak to long-term reliability of them. Unfortunately I had to send them back right after this review. Hopefully others can chime in. The rim profiile of this model looks great. I'm not normally a fan of spank products but i really like these wheels
@@hardtailparty thank you. im thinking of upgrading my nukeproof scout to either the spanks or the horizon wheels
I read a review on the OOZY where author said he talked to Spank at interbike and Spank said their rim walls are designed to dent, not crack. I was looking at 350VC or 359VC set myself so this is timely review
Super helpful video! Thanks!
Thanks for the review. Good info. Do you have a preference on the Hunt Trail Wide vs Enduro Wide?
Depends on your goals. I prefer the Nukeproofs over both. I like the endurowide with 2.4-2.6 tires. I like the trailwide with 2.2-2.4 trail tires.
Thanks, NukeProofs seem to be a bit hard to come by in the states. Very few dealers from their web site. At least you can buy direct from Hunt.
I’m running 2.6 on my fuse. I went with the enduro wide. They feel great. I think they are gonna be hard to beat for the price.
Hi Steve, could you please make a similar video for the 27.5/27.5+? I think it'd be really interesting especially for the plus ones, since I find them the most fun for enjoying the riding.
I don't have many 27.5 bikes to try then on, and i don't have many 27.5 wheels sadly. Most of these wheels are available as 27.5 though, so it should give you a good amount of info
Just wondering where you would slot in the Bontrager line comp 30 wheels into this comparison. I noticed Steve you like them quite a bit on your Roscoe 9 review.
I recently brought horizon v2 as a replacement rear wheel on my trial hardtail. I trashed my rear wheel and my front wheel is still running great and has the same inner width as the v2s. Love the high engagement and the compliant ride feel compared to the stock rear wheel. I ride really agressive and it held up great so far not even a loose spoke. Great hardtail upgrade also if it's only the rear wheel especially for the price!
I love the Spank stuff, but I've used the Spike bar with and without vibracore. Cannot tell the difference. A buddy of mine has one of their 27.5 wheelsets with vibracore. Same thing - he said he can't tell the difference. Maybe we're just not sensitive enough. I think they make great products, but I'll stick with the non-vibracore. To each, his own.
Great review again Steve. Any experience with Sun Ringle Durocs?
A bit, but i was focusing on entire wheel reviews here, not just rims.
I have a factory set of the 35s. The Sun Ringle hubs engagement is not great and not upgradeable (36 or similar POE). They are nothing on the 350s (54 POE) on my other wheelset. Been happy with the rims and compliance particularly for the low retail cost available locally to us in Australia. They ship with HG and XD freewheels, pre taped tubeless, with valves and sealant supplied which is a bonus.
They were cheaper than the models reviewed in this video - like half the price of the spanks in Australia.
I've been happy but would think I would prefer the Spanks, NP or Hunts personally but made a choice based on available funds to get me out and riding. If I was to upgrade anything on my hard tail it would be the wheels but I'm going to ride the Ringles into the ground first!
My stache came with duroc 50s, they have been great but on the heavy side.
Steve, have you had a chance to try out a front Vibrocore? I know it won't be as "impactful" (ha!) as having Vibrocore on the rear, but curious what your impressions may be. Seems a Vibrocore front is harder to come by so was thinking of getting a Vibrocore on the rear and a standard on the front. Thanks!
Not yet. Id like to compare different spank models soon
Hi mate i like your channel. Would you do the review on hunt trail v 2 version? They should be stronger
Hey Steve, love you content. I’m building up a Ragley Big Al and in huge part from your video.
I’m going to be getting Hunt wheels. I don’t ride enduro style but I do want 2.6 wheels… would you recommend the trail wide or the enduro wide in the hunt line up? Would 2.6 be fine on the trail wide?
I prefer 35i rims for 2.6. You can technically put 2.6s on just about any mtb rim, but the narrower the rim, the more squirm you're going to feel and the more likely you'll burp them on hard cornering.
Thanks! I might go with the enduro wide then. I know this is preference but 2.6 and good option in the Big Al?
Did you ever get a chance to test out the Stans Arch Mk4, which is wider 29mm rim with an updated design?
HI THANKS FOR THE REVIEW IM KEEN ON THE HUNT AS IM IN UK AND PRICE IS A FACTOR. COULD YOU TELL ME ARE THEY VERY NOISEY AND FOR THE QUICK ENGAJEMENT DO YOU HAVETO HAVE A NOISEY HUB
Most high engagement hubs are noisy, except for onyx and box
Nice wheel comparison. Are you moving on from 27.5 plus size wheels? Are they becoming less relevant to you? It seems more bikes are coming with 29er wheels.
I still rode 27.5+ a lot and 29+, there's just not a huge market for wheels that size.
I need a 29er wheel set that can hold up to all the hucks to flat and stair sets I bomb on my hardtail as well as trail riding.... I wonder if any of these would work
Was hoping to see Hope wheels in there. Been quiet happy with my set so far!
I'd love to test a set of hopes. I've ridden their hubs, but never a complete wheelset from them.
@@hardtailparty In the UK, you can get Hope Fortus 35 hoops with Hope Pro 4 hubs for the same price as the Horizon V2 wheelset. I have Nukeproof on my 29er and Hope on my Stanton Slackline, running 27.5 x 2.8 rubber.
@hopetech send this man some wheels for proper testing! 💪
Will the Nukeproof wheels be good with a 2.6 tire? Have you also had a chance to test the Crank Brothers Synthesis wheels?
I prefer 35-40i for 2.6
I love the vibrocore stuff. I'm willing to give up the extra weight even on bars for the vibration reduction
Does it actually work well?
@@IndiaMikePapa to be perfectly honest I can't swear it does. But what I can say honestly is I have pretty bad arthritis in my hands and I can still ride full days even though it still hurts. In my honest opinion I do think that the vibrocore in my handlebars and in my wheels lets me ride longer
great write up! Have you tried out the i9 enduro 101s? I like them much better than my mk3s I had.
I've tried the old enduro 305s. I loved em on my full sus, but they were pretty stiff for me harstail. Do you ride them kn your full sus or hardtail? Do you prefer the rim feel, of the engagement of the hubs?
I have them on my full suspension. The engagement is good and the are bomb proof. The wider profile provides the stiffness I like and can run my 29x2.6 hellkats just fine. I haven't made it to the dark side of hard tail yet, but live your content and info. Bought a velocirax last year off your recommendation.
My current bike is running the DT Swiss M1900s (29er). It’s pretty rocky where I live, and there is a very real possibility I may have to replace the back wheel at some point (so far it only has a few nicks in it). Would the Stan’s flow be a good replacement? My daughter’s bike has them, and I do love the way the tire sit in the bead
I haven't been overly impressed with dt's wheels, despite the great reviews they get from the mags.
New to mtb coz im a roadie, im riding mtb as part of my winter training for the road, i will be riding gravel and road only on my mountain bike, im looking for a light mtb wheelset best suited for gravel and tarmac, which would u recommend, im thinking hunt as i have easy access to a dealer living in the UK, also thinking of switching to thickslick 29r tyres, sorry to offend any true mtb riders but im using my mtb 2 to 3 times a week as part of my winter race training plan for the road, any help on my questions would be much appreciated
A lot of good content here.
Steve, is the stans flow ex3 laced to a hydra hubs a good pair? I am putting them on a Specialized stumpjumper?
Steve, what would be your recommendation for a bang for the buck wheelset to fit 29×3 tires?
I havent found any affordable ones that i love yet. They're such a niche size that there isn't a ton of demand, so a lot of companies don't feature them on their budget wheels.
Have you seen any cracking around drive side spokes on your MK3's?