The wheels on your bike are one of the most crucial components. They play an integral part in how well it handles, how resilient it is on technical terrain and how comfortable it is to ride. For this test, we’ve taken nine sets, split between three price points, all with 29in rims and Boost-width hubs (but most available in a variety of options).
Our cheaper trio all sit at around £500 a pair, and are aimed at riders looking to upgrade on a budget or who are putting together a mid-spec bike for general trail use. The middle bunch are at the higher end of what you can expect to pay for alloy wheels, coming in at £700-£850. Then, at the top end, we have money-no-object hoops with carbon fibre rims. These, in theory at least, represent the pinnacle of performance.
All our wheels are designed for trail riders, rather than XC whippets or enduro hard-hitters. This means weights are moderate, but they still have broad rims to suit the latest-generation wide tyres and should be able to put up with the rigours of riding on mixed terrain.
Primarily, we’ve been looking for wheels that ride well. That means they’re comfortable over rocks and roots, but also allow you to stick lines accurately and can be depended upon when going flat-out
