In mountain biking, the hub is one of the most crucial pieces in performance and reliability. Since there is a tremendous amount of torque and stress placed on the hub from jumps, aggressive climbs, and sharp cornering, mountain bike hubs need to be built to withstand these impacts without weighing down the bike. A durable bearing set, supported axle and sturdy hub flanges carve out a respectable MTB hubset.
Freehub Engagement
The other important factor to consider when choosing a mountain bike wheel is hub engagement. This is typically measured in degrees (the distance the freehub spins before engaging again) or P.O.E. (Points of Engagement). So, 360 P.O.E. would equal 1° of engagement. The more engagement, the quicker you’ll feel the effects of your pedal stroke in the rear wheel. This is important in mountain biking – as trails get more technical, you’re constantly starting and stopping your pedal cadence. The quicker the hub engages, the faster you’ll pick up speed. Crucial when coming out of a corner, gearing up to a steep climb, or getting into position for a jump.
The Choices
As with most bicycle components, there are a plethora of choices from many of the top component manufacturers. We’ll detail a few of our favorites below and pick out what makes them special.
| Hub | P.O.E. | Hubset Weight | Colors Available | Hole Counts | Hubset MSRP ($USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White Industries XMR+/CLD+ | 48 | 486g | 7 (CLD+ Only) | 24, 28, 32, 36, 40 | $630 |
| Chris King Boost | 72 | 496g | 10 | 24, 28, 32 | $890 |
| DT Swiss 350 | 36 or 54 | 433g | 1 | 28, 32, 36 | $423 |
| DT Swiss 240 | 36 or 54 | 364g | 1 | 28, 32 | $696 |
| Industry Nine 1/1 | 90 | 465g | 1 | 28, 32 | $450 |
| Industry Nine Hydra | 690 | 451g | 11 | 28, 32 | $700 |
| Industry Nine Solix | 605 | 347g | 11 | 24, 28 | $705 |
| Onyx Vesper | ∞* | 584g | Many | 28, 32 | $710 |
White Industries XMR+/CLD+
White Industries makes components and hubs in the US, out of their Petaluma, CA factory. Their mountain hubs are named the CLD+ (Center Lock Disc) and XMR+ (6-Bolt ISO). They offer some classic anodization options in Black, Blue, Gold, Pink, Purple, Red, and Polished Silver, although the boost XMR+ only comes in black or silver. White Industries hubs use a classic 3-pawl ratchet freehub design.
Pros:
- Made in USA
- Up to 40 hole drilling for robust or tandem wheels
- Anodized Options
- 6/4 Titanium Driver Body
- 5 Year Warranty
Chris King Boost
Chris King hubs are engineered and assembled in Portland, Oregon. They offer some unique anodization options and are available as centerlock or 6-bolt ISO. Their patented ringdrive system offers a unique and robust drive system without the use of pawls for claimed improvement for transferring torque from the pedal stroke.
Pros:
- Made in USA
- Ceramic bearing upgrades
- Lifetime warranty
- High engagement RingDrive (Chris King Buzzzz)
- Serviceable bearings
DT Swiss
DT Swiss offer 4 component levels for their hub. Ranging from highest to lowest is 180, 240, 350, 370. Their high end hubs are incredibly light. Their Ratchet EXP technology uses two ratchet rings to engage the hub drive instead of traditional pawls. This system is reliable and easy to maintain. Each hub series comes in one standard color, but many options for straightpull or j-bend spokes.
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Easy to maintain
- Ratchet Engagement Upgrades
- Many Price Points Available
Industry Nine
Industry Nine Hubs are machined in Asheville, NC. They offer three series of their highly regarded mountain bike hubs – the 1/1, Hydra, and Solix (new for 2024). The Hydra and Solix come in 11 anodized color options.
The Hydra is their premium Enduro/All Mountain hub featuring a whopping 690 (.052•) points of engagement, using a dual phase six-pawl design. They use a robust bearing design to take extreme loads and impacts.
The Solix is Industry Nine’s lightweight XC, light trail, and gravel option. Weighing just 347g for the set, it’s one of the lightest mountain hubsets out there. The Solix has 605 points of engagement (.59•) which is just slightly below the hydra, but still ample and snappy out of corners. It features a scalloped out flange to save weight and a revised pawl design to limit drag and freehub noise.
Pros:
- Made in US
- Exceptional Hub Engagement
- Lightweight and Heavy-Duty Options
- Bright and Beautiful Anodization
- Serviceable Freehub Assembly
- Multiple Price Points
- Single Speed Specific Hubs Available
Onyx
Onyx hubs are made in the US (MN), and offer a unique sprag clutch that results in instant engagement when pedaling and completely silent coasting. They come in many color options and specifications, as well as a lighter weight Vesper model or a more robust Classic model.
Pros:
- Made in US
- Noiseless Coasting
- Instant Engagement on Pedal Stroke
- Many Anodized Colors
- Single Speed Specific Hubs Available
- 24h-36h Available