Hunt has developed an enviable reputation in recent years for building well-performing, high-value wheels, and this is the updated version of its Enduro Wide wheelset, made from super-strong 6069 T6 aluminium.
Like the Crankbrothers Synthesis wheelset that I also had on test, the front wheel has a wider rim bed, boosting tyre volume, as well as a lower spoke count to give more compliance.
The rear wheel is narrower with more spokes to give it more strength.
Hunt Enduro Wide V2 specifications and details
Hunt’s rims come pre-taped and fitted with a very neat valve that incorporates a core removal tool into its lid.
Taping was tidy, though it took a bit of pressure and some decent sealant to get one of the wheels to consistently hold pressure on its first inflation.
Tyres were easy to get onto the rim, with its moderately deep well and not overly tall outer diameter, and popped into the bead with a track pump at reasonable pressures. Once on, they were held securely too.
The rims have a shot-peened finish and laser-etched graphics, which stayed tidy throughout use, while 28 triple-butted Sandvik spokes at the front and 32 at the rear attach the rims to Hunt’s own alloy hubs. These are ready for six-bolt rotors.
Hunt will sell you the wheels with either regular or RockShox ‘torque cap’ end caps at the front, while the rear wheel can come with SRAM XD, Shimano HG or Shimano Micro Spline freehubs with a 5-degree engagement angle, as well as Boost or Super Boost hub spacing.
Hunt will even sell you the wheels with Schwalbe or Maxxis tyres pre-installed.
The Enduro Wide V2s have a recommended upper weight limit of 120kg, including bike and kit, which might be relevant for e-MTB riders especially. In addition to a three-year warranty, Hunt offers a 35 per cent crash-replacement scheme.
Hunt Enduro Wide V2 performance
With plenty of suspension and wide tyres on our bikes, a really nuanced interpretation of a wheel’s performance can be tricky when it comes to ride quality. However, our testers consistently came away impressed by how Hunt’s wheels felt on the trail.
At the front there’s a distinct calmness to their feel, reducing buzz and chatter, which helps you hold a line over sniper roots and prevents you feeling like you’re being rattled from side to side when negotiating a tightly packed rock garden.
The result is more speed, more comfort and more control.
This may be thanks to the reduced spoke count, as well as the increased tyre volume offered by the wider rim.
Regardless of the exact origins, it’s safe to say that the Enduro Wide wheels ride well.
At the back the fast pickup of the hub is impressive, certainly considering how easy the wheelset is on the pocket.
Throughout testing it proved reliable, and I had no issue slipping individual cassette sprockets over my Micro Spline freehub.
Though the rear wheel has been built with strength in mind, I did manage to prang the rim on a rock during testing, leading to a small dent in the rim wall.
I only noticed this once I’d finished the ride because it resulted in no puncture and no damage to the tyre.
This wasn’t the only alloy rim that suffered this, but it highlights that alloy rims can allow you to get away with a little damage, without it being terminal.
At 2,156g, it’s one of the heavier wheelsets on test – as you’d expect for its intended purpose – but only by a smallish margin.
Hunt Enduro Wide V2 bottom line
At just £399 for the pair, with a ton of options, a fair crash replacement policy and test-leading ride quality, it’s very hard to look past Hunt’s Enduro Wide wheelset.
How we tested
Wheels are a pretty pricey upgrade, so we put 12 trail/enduro sets to the test to find out if there’s an inherent benefit to pricey carbon fibre hoops or is alloy better for hard-hitting rims?
The wheelsets were taken on back-to-back runs down selected tracks in the Welsh woods and at BikePark Wales. They were pummelled over and into rocks and drops, turns and berms, and off-camber roots.
To keep things fair, all our testing was done on the same bikes, both hardtail and full-sus, with the same tyres (thanks Specialized!) at the same pressures.
We tested 29in wheels, but most are offered in 650b versions too. While we predominantly ran 2.6in rubber, we also slung some 2.3in tyres on, and we varied the pressures between test sessions to see what difference we could feel.
Bikes shouldn’t be a pain to live with, so we took into account the ease with which tyres could be fitted and inflated. Likewise, we considered how easy it was to access bearings and swap freehubs, too.
Also on test
Product
| Brand | hunt_bike_wheels |
| Price | 399.00 GBP |
| Weight | 2156.0000, GRAM (29in) - per wheelset |
Features
| br_rimMaterial | aluminium |
| br_wheelSize | 29in_700c |
| br_brakeTypeSimple | disc |
| br_hubs | Hunt alloy |
| br_spokes | Triple Butted PSR reinforced Pillar |
| br_freehub | Micro Spline |
| br_rimInternalWidth | 32.9mm (f) / 30.8mm (r) |
| Features | Weight (f): 1,033g Weight (r): 1,123g Engagement angle: 5 degree |
| br_spokeCountRear | 32 |
| br_spokeCountFront | 28 |
