Carbon vs. Aluminum MTB Wheels | Which Is Better?

Carbon and aluminum wheels both offer unique advantages, so we made this video guide to help you choose your next mountain bike wheelset. Sure, carbon is inherently lighter than aluminum, but there are many other factors to consider like compliance, durability, and stiffness.

It’s also important to understand that whether you choose carbon or aluminum, it’s best to choose a wheelset that fits the type of riding you like to do.

Bike Gearheads Chris & Kendall dive into everything from spoke count to internal rim width, and more. They also highlight a handful of our favorite wheelsets for different disciplines and riding styles, don’t miss out!

Questions that our Gearheads get all the time that we answer in this video:

Q: Are carbon wheels better than aluminum?
Q: Do carbon wheels make a big difference?
Q: What does Cush Core do?

Do you prefer carbon or aluminum? Ever broken a rim? Let us know in the comments!

Check out our video from Sea Otter Bike Festival:    • We Went To Sea Otter Classic 2023! Ch...  
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Check out our video about MTB Forks:    • What Is The Best Fork For My Mountain...  
Check out our Mountain Bike Buying Guide: https://www.backcountry.com/explore/h...

Check out the products featured here:

Industry Nine Hydra Enduro 305 V3 29in Super Boost 157 Wheelset: https://www.competitivecyclist.com/in...
We Are One Fuse I9 Hydra 29in Boost Wheelset: https://www.competitivecyclist.com/we...
ENVE M525 Industry Nine Hydra 29in Boost Wheelset: https://www.competitivecyclist.com/en...
All ENVE Wheels: https://www.competitivecyclist.com/en...
All Industry Nine Components: https://www.competitivecyclist.com/in...
All We Are One Wheels: https://www.competitivecyclist.com/we...
All Mountain Bike Wheels: https://www.competitivecyclist.com/mo...
Santa Cruz Megatower Carbon CC X01 Eagle Air Mountain Bike: https://www.competitivecyclist.com/sa...
All Mountain Bikes: https://www.competitivecyclist.com/mo...
Everything Bike: https://www.competitivecyclist.com/

Chapter Timestamps:


0:00 – Intro
0:30 – Materials Breakdown
2:04 – Tire Inserts
3:29 – Wheelset Specs
4:42 – I9 Enduro 305
6:19 – ENVE M525
7:32 – We Are One Fuse
9:22 – Outro

Connect With a Gearhead: 1.888.276.7130 or Email: [email protected]

Competitive Cyclist delivers the most premium bike shopping experience. A curated collection of cycling's standout brands, hands-on expertise from our Gearheads, an assembly operation unrivaled in the industry—we offer the knowledgeable service of the best bike builders and in-house mechanics, along with selection and convenience only possible online.

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