Fox 34 Step-Cast Float FIT4 Factory 29 fork £1,009

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Fox introduced ‘Step-Cast’ tech on the flyweight 32 fork last year, in a move to lose weight without impacting on stiffness or performance, and this has been carried over to the more trail-orientated 34 for 2019. The 34 SC is the same width as the standard fork up top, but a narrower section at the base of each leg reduces weight, creating a fork that Fox are aiming towards more aggressive XC riders and those who compete in multi-day enduro stage races. Our 120mm-travel 29er fork weighed 1,650g – 137g less than the non-SC 120mm 34 it replaced, thanks to its altered chassis and lightweight ‘Kabolt’ axle, which is secured with an Allen key, rather than a quick-release lever. (Some OEM forks will use a QR, as seen here.)

The top ‘Factory’ version gets a ‘FIT4’ damper with a three-position low-speed compression damping dial (open, medium, firm). Within the open setting, there’s 22 clicks of adjustment to further tune the feel. The fork uses Fox’s ‘EVOL’ (Extra Volume) air spring, which aids suppleness in the early part of the stroke, adds mid-stroke support and makes it easier to tune end-stroke progression.

All this adds up to a fork that impressed us from the outset. The 34 SC is exceptionally supple through its stroke, which helps remove a lot of the chatter through the bar and means your arms feel that bit fresher on rougher trails. That mid-stroke support meant we didn’t have to rely on extra air pressure to keep it propped up and could run it a touch softer than the current 34. Over matted roots and repeated hits, we never found it getting bogged down or overawed. We added five clicks of damping to the open mode to give extra stability early in the travel, and things still felt incredibly smooth and active.

Later in its travel, it ramps up nicely and, even with just one volume spacer fitted, resists bottoming out harshly. This helps it maintain composure over hits that are perhaps bigger than it’s aimed at. The chassis doesn’t feel any less stiff than that of the regular 34, either. There’s some twist and twang when you’re pushing its limits, but this is a lightweight fork aimed at the more XC end of the market, and it definitely offers a step up in stiffness over the 32. There’s plenty of tyre clearance, too – the 29er fork we tested will fit a 2.6in tyre while the 650b version has room for 2.8in rubber. Tom