MTB Wheels

These rims can run all kinds of treads so can tackle a variety of trails

Versatile all-mountain rims

Mavic XA Light

Mavic has long been making wheels and rims of all sizes, which are intended for many different applications. The XA Light wheelset falls under the company’s trail category and are designed for rough technical trails, but with an emphasis on keeping things lightweight for those inevitable climbing sections.

The XA Light come tubeless-ready straight out of the box, and sealed up nicely on my first try. The 25-mm internal width is wider than your average XC race wheel. The added dimension allows you to use a larger-volume tire without worrying about rolling or burping a sidewall. The XA Light come with all the modern touches you would expect from Mavic including straight-pull double-butted spokes, as well as hub options that accommodate Boost spacing. The XA Light are available in both 27.5" and 29" versions.

Within the first few pedal strokes, I noticed how fast the wheels spin up to speed thanks to their low weight. At 1,760 g for the set of 27.5" hoops, the wheels are competitive with some others that cost almost three times as much. The wheels are not as stiff as some of Mavic’s other offerings, but do have a nice ride quality. They seem to be able to handle some tougher trails without too much worry of regular trips to the truing stand.

Overall, the Mavic XA Light wheels are a good set that will most likely shave some weight from your setup and offer a lot of tire options thanks to the slightly wider rim. If you are looking to upgrade your stock bike, or need a wheel replacement that won’t break the bank, the XA Lights might be the best $599 you can spend. ($ 599, mavic.com)