DT Swiss

XM 1501 Spline One 30 Boost Wheelset - 27.5in - Bike Build

If you're willing to forgo the nervousness of risking carbon rims on abusive enduro runs, then your criteria for choosing a wheelset probably involves two things: rim width and tire compatibility. Ok, and freehub engagement. So three things. DT Swiss' 27.5in XM 1501 Spline One 30 Boost Wheelset speaks to all three.

With a 30mm internal width, the rims sit nice and wide. That makes for a solid platform for mid-sized tires—those in the burgeoning 2.4-2.5in category—which we think may be the most significant development we've seen in wide-spread industry tech over the past few years. Yes, even more so than Boost hubs, especialally for those of us who lean more toward recreation than ambitious racing. The Boost hubs do add a nice element of stiffness and let frame builders lop real estate off of chainstays, but mid-sized tires' benefits of a cushier ride with better climbing traction are truly revolutionary.

The rims themselves are built to take a beating. They're not as light as carbon, but they're also a helluva lot harder to crack on rocks and roll-overs, giving them a distinct advantage over multiple seasons in the kind of terrain that best benefits from mid-sized tires' plush traction. The hubs carry equal appeal, as they center on DT Swiss' classic star ratchet freehub body, long the standard for custom wheel builds.