ENVE

M60 Forty 29in Boost Wheelset

We've been pretty outspoken on our stance that the standard version of ENVE's M60 Forty 29in Boost Wheelset is the ideal set of hoops for everything from epic climbs to screaming descents that'll show up to throw down with a vengeance on race day. The Boost version takes the versatility of the standard version and widens the hubs to the new 110/148 Boost standard. The extra width makes for a better spoke bracing angle, stiffening the wheel and addressing the issue of noodliness that often accompanies 29ers. The M60s pair most effectively with tires between 2.1-inches and 2.25-inches wide to tackle trail, light enduro, or lumpy XC courses.

The M60 Forty targets the space between XC and all-mountain rims with a blend of lightweight speed and big-hit durability that covers the majority of off-road riding, and it's among the lightest wheels we'd pair with a four to six-inch travel bike. The redesigned, hook-less bead is both lighter and more impact resistant than a standard, hooked bead, and the extra width allows for higher tire volume, increasing cornering stability and putting more rubber on the dirt at any given time.

ENVE lays the rims up in a patented process of molding in-spoke holes, nipple seats, and valve stem holes that's largely responsible for the Ogden, Utah-based firm's reputation of creating wheels boasting the highest strength-to-weight ratio in the industry. ENVE routes the carbon fibers around each hole to maintain continuous fiber integrity, which results in both increased rim rigidity and lower weight at the spoke face. When laced to a hub, this system facilitates higher, more uniform spoke tension.

ENVE's construction process also involves removing the inner bladder, resulting in lower weight compared to the many composite manufacturers who leave the rim-shaping, inflatable bladder in the rim once the wheel is complete. While the removal process takes time and involves added expense, it results in a lighter rim and a perfectly tensioned wheel build.

While the rim tells most of the story, two other facts are worth stating. First, the wheels are hand built in Utah to exacting standards for the longevity you’d expect out of a class-leading wheel system. Second, those big, bruising, Boost hubs make for stiffer tracking up front and even more improvements to responsiveness out back. These wheels are almost never caught on the back foot, even while navigating sharp switchbacks and climbing across rocks. As an added bonus, the quick engagement angle of DT Swiss' star ratchet freewheel also helps clear rocky cruxes and makes for a wheelset that may very well outlast your next few frames.