Could a new <2kg, $1500€ Hunt Proven Carbon Enduro wheelset really deliver the strongest rear wheel available today for long-travel, hard-hitting enduro mountain bikes? Hunt certainly thinks so, thanks to a redesigned H_Core-reinforced carbon rim with higher strength-to-weight ratio, more carbon in the rear rim than the front, and a solid wheel build to top it off. And they’ve backed it up with real impact test data to show how the new Proven Enduro wheels stack up.

Hunt Proven Carbon Enduro H_Core mountain bike wheels Play

Hunt set out to build the toughest set of carbon enduro wheels possible with their new Proven Carbon Enduro H_Core wheels. But they still wanted them to be both relatively lightweight and affordable. So, based on the idea that rear wheels tend to take more abuse than the front, Hunt settled on front- & rear-specific carbon rim layups, beads, and wheel builds.

(Photos by James Stokoe/Hunt)

They set their goal to build the strongest rear wheel for aggressive enduro bikes (150-190mm of travel), even at the expense of a few extra grams, knowing they could save a bit of weight on the front while still delivering plenty of strength. The result:

“Category-leading impact resistance: 220J rear wheel/170J front wheel impact rating with H_Core carbon reinforcement and anti-splinter layup technology.”

How did they make it so strong?

Hunt started off with their H_Core carbon rim insert reinforcement concept. They describe it as molding a pre-hardened “carbon-dense” ring into the middle of their pre-preg carbon fibers during layup to significantly strengthen the “high-stress junction between the rim bed and sidewall”, increasing impact resistance without adding weight.

This apparently imparts much higher strength to the point carbon rims typically fail, by ensuring more consistent carbon compaction and smooth fibers bends in the mold.

Then, just like they did with the Proven Trail H-Core carbon rims introduced at the start of the year, Hunt molds this tech into front- & rear-specific rims. Each shares the same 38mm outer width and 23mm depth. But the rear rims gets wider 4mm hookless beads for extra impact strength, resulting in a 30mm internal width. And the front rims use slightly thinner 3.5mm beads, yielding a slightly wider 31mm internal width.

At the same time as making the rear super strong, Hunt settled on fewer spokes and the ~10% lighter carbon layup for the front wheel, which still offered plenty of impact strength.

So, what else is new?

H_Ratchet XL 40T hub Play

Building a bulletproof carbon enduro wheel meant it needed an appropriately burly hub, too. So Hunt builds up the Proven Enduro wheels around a new HUNT H_Ratchet XL 40T hub, “delivering the highest level of durability at reduced weight, featuring an oversized inboard ratchet ring designed to handle high torque loads, 9-degree engagement for reduced pedal kickback, oversized 17mm stepped axle, and improved hub sealing
interfaces to keep the elements out.”

40-tooth engagement isn’t ultra fast. But Hunt wanted to balance quick engagement with the high-load durability you get from big teeth on proven ratchet ring technologies.

The new hubs spin on long-lasting Enduro ABEC5 stainless steel cartridge bearings to keep maintenance needs to a minimum. And they handbuild the wheels with triple-butted spokes and brass nipples with washers for the ultimate in durability.

Tech details

• ride-tuned UD carbon rims with H_Core internal carbon insert for increased strength & better carbon compaction
• 10K weave Anti-Splinter carbon layer molded just below the outermost UD carbon layer to reduce expansion of “micro-cracks”
• same symmetric external rim shape front & rear, but with front- & rear-specific internal width & layup…
• 38mm external x 23mm deep
• 31mm internal front rim with 3.5mm wide hookless beads & locking tubeless shelf
• front laced 3x with 28 triple butted Pillar spokes – 2.0-1.7-2.0 (2.2 at the reinforced head) for increased compliance
• 30mm internal rear rim with 4mm wide hookless beads & locking tubeless shelf
• rear laced 3x with 32 triple butted Pillar spokes – 2.0-1.8-2.0 (2.2 at the head) for extra strength & increased impact resistance
• brass nipples with stainless nipple washers front & rear
• 40POE H_Ratchet XL 40T hub with quick 9° engagement
• premium Enduro ABEC5 sealed stainless bearings
• Shimano HG, MicroSpline & SRAM XD freehubs available
• 29″ only front, 29″ or 27.5″ rear
• 12mm thru-axle Boost spacing only

• 1956g claimed weight for 29er wheelset, 1879g for a Mullet wheelset
• rated for mountain bikes up to 190mm fork travel
• delivered pre-taped tubeless-ready and including alloy Hunt tubeless valves with valve core removal caps, plus spare spokes
• H_Care Free lifetime crash coverage provided

Hunt Proven Carbon Enduro MTB wheels – Pricing, options & availability

These new extra impact-resistant Hunt Proven Carbon Enduro H-Core mountain bike wheels are available globally now online in limited quantities, with quick US, EU & UK shipping from local warehouses. The wheels sell for $1500 / 1450€ / £1200 directly from Hunt.

“Whether it’s solo dawn patrol or getting loose with your mates on the weekend, we built the Proven Carbon Enduro H_Core wheels to hold your line, earn your trust, and keep you charging. They’re for the riders who make it a point to make every ride sketchy; spotting gaps where others see corners, and taking a big pull when others shut it down. We didn’t make these for the showroom, we made them for the kind of rides you still talk about weeks later. Confident. Controlled. Composed. Even when you’re faced with nothing but chaos.”

-James Stokoe, Hunt MTB Brand Manager, USA

HuntBikeWheels.com