ENVE

M70 Thirty HV 29in DT Swiss 350 Boost Wheelset

When craving a hard-hitting ride, chasing adrenaline down the mountain, we needed a wheel that will handle it. ENVE answered our wishes with the original M70 Thirty wheelset, which managed to capture our hearts with lightweight carbon that wasn't afraid to manhandle the mountain. The ENVE M70 Thirty HV 29in Boost Wheelset retains all of our favorite pieces of the standard model, but it stretches out the internal rim width from 25mm to a generous 31mm, enabling riders to pair the wheels with loftier tire volumes ranging from 2.3 to 2.5in for a supple, traction-laden ride.

The hubs carry on that theme of wider-is-better. With 110/148mm Boost spacing becoming the new standard, ENVE increased the width of the hub on the to capture the needs of today's riders. The extended width increases the wheels' drive stiffness, so you'll have a more responsive ride whether pushing watts up a climb or sticking a questionable line on a descent.

The M70 Thirty HV Boost borrows downhill-specific laminates from its M90 cousin to target the daredevil all-mountain rider with a penchant for gravity speed who still wants the option to climb efficiently when the lifts are closed. The HV model weighs a bit more than the standard iteration, but it's still among the lightest wheels we'd pair with a six-inch enduro 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 ground at any given time.

As with all of its wheels, ENVE utilizes its Smart system to create a strong, stable wheel for any conditions. A patented process of molding in-spoke holes, nipple seats, and valve stem holes is largely responsible for ENVE's proven reputation of creating wheels boasting one of the highest strength-to-weight ratios 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 and more uniform spoke tension than standard bladder molding. Additionally, ENVE uses a process that eventually removes 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. The removal process takes time and added expense, but 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 mentioning. First, the wheels are 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 yet more improvements to responsiveness out back. The small engagement angle of the rear hub's DT Swiss star ratchet freewheel also helps clear rocky cruxes and makes for a wheelset that may very well outlast your next few frames.