Mountain bike wheels are a big deal. We asked Singletracks readers what they wish they could change about their bikes, and aside from geometry, the #1 response was wheels. In another survey, the second-most common recent upgrade riders reported was wheels again. Wheels have a huge effect on ride feel, acceleration, reliability, weight and overall performance so no wonder they’re such a focus for so many mountain bikers.
For most riders a wheel upgrade means one thing: carbon fiber. When we refer to carbon wheels we’re really referring to carbon rims, as opposed to aluminum alloy rims which are generally less expensive. Just because a wheelset features carbon rims doesn’t mean it’s an upgrade over an alloy set; quality hubs and spokes are almost as important, if not equally so.
Are carbon mountain bike wheels worth it?
Most riders will see a benefit to upgrading to carbon mountain bike wheels. The main advantages are they tend to be lighter weight, are stronger* than alloy wheels, and generally offer improved ride feel and efficiency. Given these advantages, 60% of Singletracks readers who expressed a preference said they preferred carbon rims over aluminum. Listen to this podcast episode to learn more about the advantages of carbon mountain bike wheels.
Singletracks product testers have reviewed dozens of mountain bike wheelsets over the years, from top-of-the-line carbon wheels to budget-friendly alloy sets. For many, the sweet spot in terms of value is carbon wheels in the $1,000-$1,500 range. At this price buyers may not get the most premium hubs but they will usually find the same rims used on more expensive wheels.
The table below lists carbon mountain bike wheelsets from the biggest brands that are currently priced under $1,500.
Carbon mountain bike wheels under $1,500
| Wheelset | Price | Type | Weight | Rim width | POE | Diameter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bontrager Line Elite 30 | $1,000 | Trail | 1890g | 29mm | 108 | 27.5 or 29 |
| ENVE AM30 | $1,400 | All mountain | 1850g | 30mm | 90 | 27.5 or 29 |
| FSA SL-K i25 | $1,454 | XC | 1600g | 25mm | 54 | 27.5 or 29 |
| Hunt Proven Race Enduro | $1,299 | Enduro | 1929g | 30mm | 72 | 27.5 or 29 |
| Hunt X-Wide Carbon Gravel | $999 | Gravel | 1548g | 23mm | 72 | 700c |
| Light Bicycle AM930S | $1,116 | Enduro | 1549g | 30mm | 90 | 29 |
| Nobl TR37 (Hope Pro 5) | $1,400 | Trail | 1910g | 31mm/30mm | 108 | 27.5 or 29 |
| Roval Traverse SL II | $1,500 | Trail | 1,670g | 30mm | 36 | 29 |
| Silt Carbon AM | $1,100 | All mountain | 1758g | 31.2mm | 54 | 27.5 or 29 |
| We Are One Union | $1,399 | Enduro | 1793g | 30mm | 90 | 27.5 or 29 |
| e13 Grappler Race Carbon Enduro Wheels | $1,480 | Enduro | 1944g | 30mm | 60 | 27.5 or 29 |
| Forge+Bond Shift AM | $1,250 | All mountain | 1832g | 30mm | 162 | 29 |
| Ibis S28 Logo Wheelset | $1,349 | XC | 1630g | 28.6mm | – | 29 |
| Novatec M30 | $950 | All mountain | 1982g | 30mm | 40 | 29 |
| Reynolds TR 329 Trail | $1,449 | Trail | 1776g | 32mm | 30 | 27.5 or 29 |
| Zipp 1ZERO HITOP S | $1,350 | XC | 1495g | 30mm | 52 | 29 |
Singletracks-tested carbon mountain bike wheels
These are the sub-$1,500 carbon mountain bike wheelsets Singletracks has tested and reviewed.
Bontrager Line Elite 30
Wheelset reviewer: Travis Reill
- Price: $1,000
- Buy from Trek Bikes
If you are carbon-wheel curious but don’t want to spend $2,000 or more, the Bontrager Line Elite 30 wheelset is a great option. They absorb trail chatter well, are significantly stiffer than the OEM alloy wheelset on many bikes, and have a high-engaging hub. But, there are limitations to this carbon wheelset, and you may consider building a custom, top-of-the-line alloy wheelset for the same price. Still, it’s hard to find a set of carbon mountain bike wheels for sale for less than $1,000 today. Read the full review of the Bontrager Line Elite 30 wheelset.
ENVE AM30
Wheelset reviewer: Matt Miller
- Price: $1,400
- Buy from ENVE
The ENVE AM30 wheels are billed as an all-around “Foundation” wheelset suitable for anything from trail to gravity riding and are priced starting at $1,400. (When they were released, they sold for $1,600+). Under cornering power, the wheels remain stiff and responsive and hold their line. I’ve been using the AM30s on my 120/130mm trail bike and they’ve added more character to the already playful and confident bike. Read the full review of the ENVE AM30 wheelset.
FSA SL-K i25
Wheelset reviewer: Gerow
- Price: $1,454
- Buy from fullspeedahead.com
I’ve ridden the SL-K Off Road i25 wheels on some inappropriately rough trails and through all forms of terrible weather and they remain true as the day I first mounted tires. The cartridge bearings feel smooth and clean, with plenty of life left for summer riding.
By today’s standards 25mm rims are narrow, even for cross-country tires. The brand makes a gravel-specific version of the FSA SL-K, dubbed AGX, that’s priced similarly and available from REI. A carbon wheelset with 29mm-wide rims is available too, though it’s priced just above $1,600 so it misses our price cutoff. Read the full review of the FSA SL-K i25 wheels.
Hunt Proven Race Enduro
Wheelset reviewer: Sam James
- Price: $1,299
- Buy from Hunt
Overall the Hunt Proven Race Enduro wheels are a strong contender, particularly for the money. While not light, they’re in line with most enduro-type carbon wheelsets out there, and in my time on them have proven strong and more comfortable than some stiffer competitors. With a lifetime warranty and easily available parts, the Hunt Proven Carbon Race Enduro wheels are a smart purchase for those wanting to spend good but not crazy money on a set of wheels that will last. Read the full review of the Hunt Proven Race Enduro wheels.
Hunt X-Wide Carbon Gravel
Wheelset reviewer: Matt Miller
- Price: $999
- Buy from Hunt
The Hunt 35 Carbon Gravel Disc X-WIDE wheels are not the lightest gravel wheels out there but for a carbon gravel wheelset, they pack a lot of value. They track well over choppy terrain and ride efficiently without feeling harsh. Read the full review of the Hunt X-Wide Carbon Gravel wheels.
Light Bicycle AM930S
Wheelset reviewer: Gerow
- Price: $1,116
- Buy from LightBicycle.com
Buyers can customize their Light Bicycle AM930S wheelset by choosing the hub, spoke type, spoke count and more. We tested a gravity-oriented custom set that priced out to $1,370, though it’s possible to get a set for less (or more). The Light Bicycle AM930S wheels proved to be lightweight and confidence inspiring, albeit quite stiff. This is the lightest set of sub-$1,500 carbon mountain bike wheels Singletracks has tested. Read the full review of the Light Bicycle AM930S wheelset.
Nobl TR37 carbon wheels
Wheelset reviewer: Sam James
- Price: $1,400 as tested
- Buy from Worldwide Cyclery
Nobl is another brand that allows buyers to customize their carbon wheelset. Unlike other carbon wheels in this group, the Nobl TR37s wheels feature a slightly wider, 31mm rim up front with a 30mm rim in the rear for an optimized balance of handling and tracking. We configured our test set with Hope Pro 5 hubs which offer 108 points of engagement, among the best in class.
Sam says the Nobl TR37 wheels “are a solid choice for all-mountain and enduro riding. While they’re not the most lively feeling wheels, they’re stiff, strong and reliable with a good warranty. Without spending mega bucks on something truly boutique, I feel like that’s about as much as you can ask for from a set of hoops, and the warranty is practically worth it alone.” Read the complete review of the Nobl TR37 wheels.
Roval Traverse SL II wheelset
Wheelset reviewer: Jeff Barber
- Price: $1,500
- Buy from Specialized
The Roval Traverse SL II carbon wheelset delivers a comfy ride feel and excellent tracking with minimal maintenance worries. In our tests they proved to remain airtight and stayed true despite some truly abusive riding. The Traverse SL II wheels aren’t the lightest in this category, but they’re not too far off. Read the full review of the Roval Traverse SL II carbon wheelset.
Silt Carbon AM
Wheelset reviewer: Matt Miller
- Price: $1,100
- Buy from SiltMTB.com
These wheels have a high quality ride feel that balances stiffness and compliance, and a hub with decent engagement and presumed durability. Silt has raised the price on this wheelset by $100 since our review but they’re still among the most affordable, and well worth the price. Read the full review of the Silt Carbon AM wheels.
We Are One Union carbon wheels
Wheelset reviewer: Gerow
- Price: $1,399
- Buy from Backcountry
The We Are One Union carbon wheels boast a fantastic feel on the trail thanks to quality construction. They’ve proven durable and impact resistant, and we didn’t experience a single tire or rim issue during testing. Read the full review of the We Are One Union wheels.
More carbon wheels under $1,500
Though we haven’t tested the following carbon mountain bike wheels yet, all are offered by reputable brands and promise competitive weights and features at prices below $1,500 so they’re definitely worth considering.
- e*thirteen Grappler Race carbon enduro wheelset: These wheels are on the heavier end for carbon MTB wheels but promise to be tough. The brand offers other carbon MTB wheelset options priced below the $1,500 mark too, including the all-mountain Sylvan Race wheels.
- Forge+Bond Shift AM: We’ve tested pricier wheelsets that use the same Fusion Fiber material in these Forge+Bond rims and the ride feel is excellent. And, the price is right on this set, especially with the high-engagement hubs. Listen to this podcast to learn more about Fusion Fiber rims.
- Ibis S28 Logo wheelset: The brand says all sales are final on the Ibis S28 carbon wheels so get ’em while you can. These look to be a solid choice for XC riders.
- Reynolds TR 329 Trail: Singletracks tested the more expensive Blacklabel 329 wheels and they are still going strong. Reynolds also offers carbon enduro and DH wheels at price points that are similar to the TR 329s.
- Zipp 1ZERO HITOP S: These XC wheels are crazy lightweight (under 1500g) and are priced starting at $1,350 for a set.
Carbon MTB wheels under $1,000
Just a few years ago mountain bikers could choose from several carbon wheelsets priced below $1,000. Excluding temporary price drops and closeouts, as of the time of publication we were only able to find one wheelset priced under $1,000, the Hunt X-Wide Carbon gravel wheel. Novatec M30 all-mountain wheels were priced at $950 (and on sale for $800) at the time of publication, though it appears these may be discontinued. The Bontrager Line Elite 30 wheels are priced right at $1,000, and though a few others were at or under $1,000 at the time of review like the Light Bicycle AM930S, Hunt H_Impact, and Silt Carbon AM wheels, unfortunately their prices are currently above $1,000 or are no longer available.
Carbon MTB wheels under $200
We were surprised to learn that a lot of people are searching for carbon mountain bike wheels priced under $200. Unfortunately this is not a thing. Even finding carbon mountain bike wheels for sale for under a grand is pretty rare today.
Some online sellers are taking advantage of budget wheel buyers with misleading product titles like, “Mountain Bike Wheelset, Carbon Hub MTB Wheels.” Look closely and you’ll see the rims are not carbon. Technically the title is accurate, and it only claims a carbon hub, though it’s likely the hub shell is simply wrapped in a cheap carbon-fiber tube that surely adds to the weight of the set. Sadly the $186 wheelset we found isn’t even Boost or tubeless-compatible.
*Carbon rims generally have a higher failure strength than alloy rims, however alloy rims may be more easily repairable depending on the type of damage.
