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.
You might also like:
- Best mountain bike pumps and CO2 inflators
- Which MTB freehub body do I need? XD, Micro Spline or HG?
- Mountain Bike Icons – the Evie Richards story
Wheel purpose:
FEA developed alloy XC wheelset with front and rear specific rim profiles for maximum performance.
Wide 28mm front rim width matched to a 26mm rear rim width for unparalleled traction and braking performance. Hand-laced to HUNT XC wheels with triple-butted Pillar spokes.
Tyre size: Optimized for 2.2″ to 2.4″ tyres; work well with 2.0″ up to 2.6″ tyres.
THE PURPOSE:
Enhance your cross-country ride with our XC Wide wheelset, engineered in collaboration with our top athletes and FEA modelled then impact tested at HUNT UK Headquarters. Designed to tackle the roughest and most technical XC terrain, with our unique front and rear-specific rim widths and profiles, paired with our proven hub technology.
Build extra:
Rims
29″ rim 28mm (F) / 26mm (R) internal width. 6069-T6 heat-treated alloy (+69% tensile strength vs 6061-T6) Tubeless-ready – designed to work best with tubeless tyres. Tubeless rim tape and valves included. H-lock bead-seat up-kicks for easy and secure tubeless installation. Matt black work-hardened shot-peened finish with laser etched graphics for superior durability.
29″ rim
28mm (F) / 26mm (R) internal width.
6069-T6 heat-treated alloy (+69% tensile strength vs 6061-T6)
Tubeless-ready – designed to work best with tubeless tyres. Tubeless rim tape and valves included.
H-lock bead-seat up-kicks for easy and secure tubeless installation.
Matt black work-hardened shot-peened finish with laser etched graphics for superior durability.
Spokes
J-bend cold drawn for ease of replacement. 28 F&R spoke count. Pillar Spokes made from Sandvik T302 (18/10) stainless steel. Triple butted 2.0-1.6-2.0 (then 2.2 at the head for the patented Pillar Spoke Re-enforcement). Black stainless treatment.
J-bend cold drawn for ease of replacement.
28 F&R spoke count.
Pillar Spokes made from Sandvik T302 (18/10) stainless steel.
Triple butted 2.0-1.6-2.0 (then 2.2 at the head for the patented Pillar Spoke Re-enforcement).
Black stainless treatment.
Nipples
Hard-anodized alloy for weight reduction and strength. Square body for external adjustment and hex head for easy internal adjustment/tensioning. Long 14mm thread for durability 14 gauge Black hard anodizing
Hard-anodized alloy for weight reduction and strength.
Square body for external adjustment and hex head for easy internal adjustment/tensioning.
Long 14mm thread for durability
14 gauge
Black hard anodizing
Front Hub
Asymmetric flanges for more balanced spoke tensions. Oversized axles. Extruded and CNC machined 6066-T6 heat-treated aluminium alloy body. 7075-T6 aluminium alloy axles. 6 bolt disc mount. Polished anodized black finish with laser graphics.
Asymmetric flanges for more balanced spoke tensions.
Oversized axles.
Extruded and CNC machined 6066-T6 heat-treated aluminium alloy body.
7075-T6 aluminium alloy axles.
6 bolt disc mount.
Polished anodized black finish with laser graphics.
Rear Hub
Extruded and CNC machined 6066-T6 heat-treated aluminium alloy hub body. 148x12mm or 142x12mm spacing. H_CERAMIK freehub body reinforcement coating (Shimano/Sram HG body) provides excellent durability and protects against cassette sprocket damage to the freehub often seen on standard alloy freehub bodies. Boost QR skewers NOT supplied. 6 pawl, 36 tooth RapidEngage freehub, with an engagement angle of just 5 degrees Oversized 7075-T6 heat treated aluminium axles. All freehub standards accounted for. 7075-T6 aluminium alloy axles. 6 bolt disc mount. Polished anodized black finish with laser graphics.
Extruded and CNC machined 6066-T6 heat-treated aluminium alloy hub body.
148x12mm or 142x12mm spacing.
H_CERAMIK freehub body reinforcement coating (Shimano/Sram HG body) provides excellent durability and protects against cassette sprocket damage to the freehub often seen on standard alloy freehub bodies.
Boost QR skewers NOT supplied.
6 pawl, 36 tooth RapidEngage freehub, with an engagement angle of just 5 degrees
Oversized 7075-T6 heat treated aluminium axles.
All freehub standards accounted for.
7075-T6 aluminium alloy axles.
6 bolt disc mount.
Polished anodized black finish with laser graphics.
Bearings
Precision sealed cartridge replaceable units. Large diameter ball bearings for extra durability. Dual full-contact rubber seals.
Precision sealed cartridge replaceable units.
Large diameter ball bearings for extra durability.
Dual full-contact rubber seals.
Tyres Info
HUNT recommends a 2.2″ to 2.4″ tyre for best performance, tyre widths between 1.4″ and 2.8″ are also safe to use.
Axle Sizes
Boost – 148x12mm (Rear) with 110x15mm or 110x12mm (Front). 141x9mm (Rear) QR with 110x9mm (Front) QR adapters and Rock Shox Torque Caps available – just add a comment in the notes section on the cart page. Standard – 142×12 (Rear) with 100x15mm or 100x12mm (Front). QR adapters available (Not compatible with Microspline) – just complete the simple form after checkout. Rock Shox Torque Caps available – just add a comment in the notes section on the cart page.
Boost – 148x12mm (Rear) with 110x15mm or 110x12mm (Front). 141x9mm (Rear) QR with 110x9mm (Front) QR adapters and Rock Shox Torque Caps available – just add a comment in the notes section on the cart page.
Standard – 142×12 (Rear) with 100x15mm or 100x12mm (Front). QR adapters available (Not compatible with Microspline) – just complete the simple form after checkout. Rock Shox Torque Caps available – just add a comment in the notes section on the cart page.
HIGH SPECIFICATION COMPONENTS _
RIMS
Highly impact resistant 6069 T6 rim construction boasting a wide 28mm internal front and 26mm internal rear for optimal performance on any terrain. FEA modelled and tested in the UK to ensure class-leading impact resistance while retaining a comfortable ride at a competitive weight.
RIM BED
HUNT wheels are designed to be used as a tubeless system, featuring our state-of-the-art H-Lock rim bead with unique ‘up-kicks’ to secure your tyre when seated. H-Lock minimizes side-to-side movement, reducing the risk of burping your tyre and enhancing the overall performance of your ride. This system also creates a flawless rim-well seal for effortless installation and easy sealing of tubeless tyres.
SPOKES
We have chosen top of the line, triple butted Pillar Spokes with increased reinforcement at the spoke head. Not only are these spokes extremely lightweight, they are also able to provide a greater degree of elasticity when put under increased stress. The Pillar Spoke Reinforcement (PSR) puts more material at the spoke head, just before the J-Bend to prevent failure in this stress area.
NIPPLES
Hard-anodized 14 gauge alloy nipples offer a winning combination of lightweight design and unyielding strength. The large 14mm square body provides easy adjustability for maintenance and unbeatable durability.
FRONT HUB
Suited to match the needs of the modern trail bike rider. Featuring durable bearings and 7075-T6 series alloy axles to increase stiffness. These hubs have been selected based on their ability to perform on the most aggressive trails.
FREEHUB BODY
Durability is a theme for HUNT as time and money you spend fixing is time and money you cannot spend riding or upgrading your bikes. As a result, we’ve developed the H_CERAMIK coating to provide excellent durability and protect against cassette sprocket damage often seen on standard alloy freehub bodies.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX
Black Shield PET high tensile strength tubeless tape fitted to wheels.
Freehub fitted
Wheel construction
Wheel performance
Wheel durability
Wheel durability extra:
Wheel weight
Wheel weight extra:
Wheel value
All the deals displayed on our review pages are pulled from a constantly updating database feed of the best affiliate deals available. The criteria for deciding on what are the best deals is who is offering the lowest, delivered price. In most cases we will be showing the very best deal available online, but sometimes you may be able to find an item cheaper. If you can please feel free to post a link in the comments box below. To find out more about affiliate links on road.cc click here.
