Hunt has released two new carbon wheelsets, a cross-country race and an enduro wheelset under the name Proven. These Proven wheels are aimed at racers and riders looking to get the most performance from the best mountain bike wheels.
The wheels have been floating around the race pits for a while. Hunt has been developing and testing the wheels with pro athletes such as Isla Short, Chloe Taylor, Fergus Ryan, Hannah Shell, Shawn Neer, and Daryl Brown with the aim to prove (see what they did there) the new wheel's performance at World Cup cross-country and EWS races over the last few years.
The wheels themselves were developed off the back of the release of Hunt's dynamic high traction All-Mountain Carbon H_Impact wheelset. Hunt continued to develop new rim profiles and new carbon layups and say that they used 'a combination of impact testing, deflection measurements, and athlete feedback' to tailor the rim towards a different types of riding.
Rather than simply update the All-Mountain Carbon H_Impact wheelset, Hunt decided to create the Proven series, releasing two wheelsets with specific rims and select spoke gauges for enhanced performance at specific disciplines.
Hunt Proven Carbon Race XC wheelset
Hunt states that the Proven Carbon Race XC has been ”tailored to offer compliance, damping, control, and strength without sacrificing weight”. The rim has a 30mm inner rim diameter and a rim depth of 22mm. Hunt has used a shallow rim depth to reduce weight and enhance trail dampening properties. To help reduce rim weight, Hunt says that they identified high and low-stress areas, and added and removed material as needed.
The wheels are built using 28 straight-pull Pillar PSR XTRA spokes, and laced to Hunt's CNC Machined 7075-T6 hubs with REVO double sealed cartridge bearings and five-degree hub engagement.
The wheels weigh in at a claimed 1,469g, which is 48g lighter, as well as considerably wider, than its Race XC Wide alloy wheelset. The wheels will only come in Centrelock boost 29er sizing with the option to spec SRAM XD, Microspline, and Shimano HG freehub standard.
Hunt Proven Carbon Race Enduro
While the cross-country mountain biking wheels focus on low weight and durability, the enduro wheels have front and rear specific carbon layup and reinforcement to balance the wheelset’s accuracy, comfort, and strength.
The wheels, which were raced during the 2022 Enduro World Series, use the same 30mm internal diameter and a shallow 23mm rim height but the construction and lay-up has been tailored to offer front and rear wheel specific performance.
It's well known that wheel compliancy not only reduces arm pump but also enhances traction, so Hunt says it has tried to counter these fatigue vibrations while maintaining handling accuracy. The rear wheel features a tougher construction for increased strength and confidence.
It’s not just front- and rear-specific rims that are used, either – the wheels are built with Pillar triple-butted TB2016 spokes upfront and slightly wider gauge Pillar TB2018 rear spokes. You get the same specced CNCed Hunt hubs, though there are a few more options with the enduro wheels, with Boost or Super Boost hub spacings and 29in, 27.5in, and mullet options. You can pick from SRAM XD, Microspline, and Shimano HG, although the Proven Carbon Race Enduro only come in six-bolt disc fitments.
Weight is still important in enduro racing and Hunt is claiming that the 29er Proven Carbon Race Enduro wheelset is 1,920g.
All Hunt wheels are shipped pre-taped, with valves and spare spokes, and will be covered by Hunt's H_Care Lifetime Crash Replacement.
As you would expect from Hunt, the wheels are competitively priced with the Proven Carbon Race XC wheelset retailing for $1,099 / £899 / €1,169 per wheelset, and the Proven Carbon Race Enduro for $1,099 / £899 / €1,169 per wheelset ($1,149 / £949 / €1,239 Superboost).
Wheels will be available for pre-order from Huntbikewheels.com at launch and will be in stock by the end of October.
