Hunt’s Enduro Wide wheelset has made a name for itself as a serious contender for one of the best MTB wheelsets, owing to its strength and affordable price point. However, the brand has built on that reputation and unveiled the third iteration of its enduro wheelset, the Enduro Wide V3. Thanks to new rim profiles, the brand claims a boost in strength, making it the strongest wheelset the brand has ever made.
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Designed and tested over two years, the Enduro Wide V3 gets a (kind of) fresh look. While the rims still get that characteristic shot-peened finish, the front and rear wheels get a specific build for each wheel to excel in its intended purpose.
Both are FEA-optimised with the front rim getting wider, 31.5mm internal width, whereas the rear gets a 30mm measurement. This should prioritise traction while the shallower rim depth should encourage compliance, for a more comfortable and composed front end.
The rear gets a deeper V-shaped profile that bolsters the rim against impact, which results in a wheel that requires 20 joules more energy to show initial signs of impact compared to the V2 wheelset. Adding to the strength gains are changes in the rim wall thickness, and Hunt has removed internal non-structural material to shed weight.
The Enduro Wide V3 wheelset marks a change in materials choice as, this time round, Hunt has chosen G609 aluminium, which is said to provide a 30% higher tensile strength over the popular 6061 alloy.
Hunt builds on the newness as the Enduro Wide V3 benefits from Enduro Bearings’ ABEC5 LLU bearings. Thanks to their full contact seals, these should offer better longevity. As for the spokes, both wheels get triple-butted J-bend spokes built from T302 stainless steel. Up front, there are 28, and the rear wheel gets 32.
There are also changes at the freehub as the new wheelset runs on Hunt’s fresh H_Ratchet XL 40T DBL hub. With that, Hunt promises a 9-degree engagement supplied by a 40T double ratchet ring system. The hub itself is built from CNC-machined 6066-T6 heat-treated alloy. It benefits from labyrinth bearing sealing and accommodates six-bolt rotors.
To boost stiffness further, there’s a 17mm wide 7075-T6 stepped axle, and the freehub gets a H_Ceramik coating to prevent cassette gouging.
Priced at £500, the Hunt Enduro Wide V3 wheelset is available in 29-inch, 650b and mixed wheel sizes and with MG, Microspline and SRAM XD freehubs. The weight for a 29-inch wheelset is claimed to come in at 2,096g.
