Tested HUNT ALL-MOUNTAIN CARBON H_IMPACT WHEELSET
LEATT WOMEN'S MTB GRAVITY 2.0 JERSEY
£799
SPECIFICATION Weight: 1,950g (830g front, 1,120g rear) – weighed with tape and valves installed (29in, Microspline) • Options: 27.5in, 29in, Xd/hg/microspline • Contact: huntbikewheels.com
Hunt has made a name for itself in recent years with a nononsense range of affordable wheels. Starting out using only alloy rims, the Uk-based brand branched out into offering a carbon option a couple of years ago. True to form, the price point on these All-mountain Carbon H_impact wheels is impressive. At £799 they are not exactly cheap, but for a full carbon wheelset they undercut most of the competition by a significant margin. And that includes a free lifetime crash replacement warranty for the original owner. The generosity even stretches to throwing in tubeless tape, tubeless valves and spare spokes in the box.
Starting with the rims, Hunt uses unidirectional T24/30 fibres for the bulk of the rim construction with the spoke holes reinforced with 3k weave sheet. Hunt has chosen a hookless design which allows for stronger sidewalls and greater impact protection. This leaves a 28mm wide internal cavity which is a little narrower than some, but still works fine with popular tyres from 2.3in to 2.5in wide. Hunt has also used a special resin in the moulding process that it claims is less brittle than alternatives and should help the rim absorb impacts rather than simply cracking.
Although the front and rear rims outwardly look the same, Hunt has made an effort to optimise both ends by tweaking the carbon lay-up and the spoke count. As such, the front rim weighs a claimed 460g and gets 28-spoke lacing, while the reinforced rear rim weighs 530g and runs 32 spokes.
Moving towards the hub, oversize, asymmetric hub shells allow for larger bearings running on 7075-T6 alloy axles. At the rear, the axle is also oversized to improve stiffness, strength and bearing
XD driver body but Hunt sent over a Shimano Microspline conversion kit, which was easy to swap out with no weird tools or brute force required. Tubeless tyres went up no probs and held air as good as anything ever does.
So far, so good, but what makes me hesitant about these wheels is that I was hard-pressed to tell them apart from any alloy wheelset experience. At 50g under 2kg, they’re not even lighter than an alloy wheelset. But they aren’t harsh or overly nervous across cambered terrain like some carbon wheels can be.
Several months down the line then and nothing has gone wrong with them. The bearings are spinning fine, they’re still straight and true. The one very small niggle I can offer is that, upon stripping them down to write this review, the rim tape has started to lift a bit where it overlaps itself. This is not uncommon on any wheel really – and is easily solved with a bit of insulation/gorilla tape – but is it worth pointing out on wheels costing nigh on £800? Even if they are very good value for a pair of carbon wheels.
If you really, really want carbon wheels, are not too fussed about saving weight, and don’t want to remortgage the house to get a pair, the Hunt All-mountain Carbon H_impact wheelset is just the ticket. But if you already have a decent set of alloy wheels, and want to experience a tangible performance advantage, you would be better off looking at a high-end alloy wheel package, or saving up for a carbon option that offers a genuinely different ride feel, such as those from Zipp and Crankbrothers.
£40
SPECIFICATION Weight: 132g • Sizes: S-XXL • Colours: Black • Contact: hotlines-uk.com
Most jerseys are made from polyester, because it’s lightweight, breathable and easy to wash, but I don’t always find them particularly comfortable against bare skin. Leatt’s new Women's MTB Gravity 2.0 Jersey is a bit different. About 30% different, because that’s how much of it is made from Tencel. According to the blurb, this is an eco-textile derived from Eucalyptus tree pulp, so it’s environmentally friendly and sustainable. It’s also incredibly soft against the skin and is naturally temperature regulating.
The Gravity 2.0 doesn’t have any mesh panels, so is the same warmth all the way round. It has a slight stretch, so fits a range of body sizes and is also comfy, especially at the collar where there’s no hard seam or annoying label. The long body means there is plenty to tuck into my riding trousers, and it never pulled up when I was riding along. It also has a couple of nice details – padding for a neck brace and a goggle wipe under the hem. It has a heavier feel than most of my riding jerseys, but it works really well both under a waterproof jacket or as an outer layer.
Organic and environmentally friendly products always seem to command a premium, but not this time – the Gravity 2.0 is excellent value for money. I fully recommend it.
Alice Burwell