FFWD Outlaw mountain bike wheelset review

FFWD Outlaw wheels are built using chunky 30mm-wide carbon fibre rims, laced to the brand’s own Boost hubs using Sapim CX-Ray and CX-Sprint spokes.

The 29in-only wheels tip the scales at a feathery 1,580g for a pair and cost £1,349 / €1,499, which is reasonable for carbon.

Their three-year warranty backs up a wide range of intended uses, from marathon and cross-country racing through to all-mountain, according to the brand.

After gaining fame and popularity in the road-racing scene, FFWD’s Outlaws first appeared in 2017, winning the MTB cross-country marathon world champs in the same year.

Despite their brutish, chunky looks they’re forgiving and smooth-feeling on rough terrain, but don’t flex so much that steering accuracy is compromised.

Their light weight and relatively low cost are appealing, but heavier or harder riders might be disappointed by the amount of tyre carcass support offered.

FFWD Outlaw wheelset details and specifications

Made from carbon fibre, the Outlaw rim uses a hookless design and has a wide, reinforced rim flange that measures 3.5mm thick.

The brand claims this protects the tyre from punctures and the rim from damage in impacts.

The 30mm (measured) internal width is said to increase tyre volume and help improve carcass support, resulting in lower tyre pressures, upping grip, comfort and control.

Designed for tyres from 1.9in to 2.7in, FFWD states a maximum pressure of 44psi and a “max rider weight” limit of 140kg. They come pre-taped from the factory and tubeless valves are supplied.

A mix of 28 straight-pull, bladed Sapim CX-Ray and CX-Sprint spokes both front and rear are threaded into brass nipples, claimed to improve durability and serviceability.

The rear Boost 148mm hub uses a ratchet-style freewheel and the freehub is offered in Shimano Microspline and HG, and SRAM’s XD driver.

However, the hubs are only available with a Centre Lock disc mount.

My 29in Boost 110 and 148mm hub, Centre Lock XD driver wheels weighed 1,580g, with the front tipping the scales at 720g and the rear 860g.

FFWD Outlaw wheelset performance

Setup and tubeless inflation

Using a high-volume track pump, at only 10psi tubeless tyres fully seated and sealed against the Outlaw rims.

Tyre fitment was relatively straightforward without tyre levers, but only when the tyre’s bead was pushed centrally into the rim’s bed.

Removing tyres can be tricky; because they seat tightly, levers are frequently needed to remove them.

On-trail feel

Deep sidewalls and a broad profile give the Outlaws brutish looks, and you’d be forgiven for thinking they’d feel stiff and harsh on the trails.

The opposite is true, however. On rough, high-frequency, low-amplitude bumps, they feel impressively smooth and forgiving, doing a notable job of insulating the rider from trail buzz.

On cambers or through even chunkier sections of trail, they can be felt deforming around bumps to supply comfort, but most importantly grip and control.

Steering accuracy isn’t compromised, however. Turn hard on a flat or banked corner, and while there is flex that creates grip, the connection between stem and front hub isn’t dulled by a wandering rim.

Despite their marathon and cross-country (XC) bias, they can be pushed hard while maintaining control and before handling is compromised.

They run quietly when pressed; harder hits in rock gardens or landings to flat are silent as the spokes cycle in and out of tension, unlike other mountain bike wheels that use similarly designed spokes.

The tyre profile is reasonably round – or no squarer than any other 30mm internal-width rim – with a taper to the edges. This gives good lean-over transition grip when the tyre’s side knobs are engaged.

However, carcass stability isn’t great; push through a deep, bermed corner and the rear flexes and burps with a predictable regularity.

Higher pressures (over 30psi) helped reduce the problem, but then comfort and grip were reduced.

In this respect, the wheels are better suited to lighter riders, or ones who don’t ride man-made trails as regularly; heavier riders wanting to push hard might get frustrated with frequent air loss.

Freehub engagement is as fast as DT’s 350 hubs, but considerably slower than an Industry Nine Hydra. While not an issue in general use, the fussiest riders might want less free play.

How do the FFWD Outlaw wheels compare to the Crankbrothers Synthesis XCT 11 and Reynolds Blacklabel 329 Trail Pro?

As the least expensive (by around £900) of these three wheelsets, the FFWD Outlaws are only 10g heavier than the lightest Synthesis wheels.

That puts them in great stead for those looking to shave grams without breaking the bank.

On the trail, the Outlaws steer better than the Synthesis, although not by a huge margin. They’re slightly less comfortable as a result, but most riders will struggle to tell a significant difference.

The Reynolds wheels are only 40g heavier, but they feel considerably tougher and stiffer. While not harsh, there’s a marked step up in rigidity over the Outlaws.

If you’re a harder or heavier rider but are still looking for a lightweight set of hoops, the Blacklabels are a better bet.

FFWD Outlaw wheelset bottom line

Balancing comfort, stiffness, cost and weight is no mean feat, but in doing so, the Outlaws are outliers in the high-end carbon wheel market.

They’re not perfect, tyre-carcass stability being their main issue, and a moderately slow-to-engage freehub might put some off.

However, if you can overlook these minor flaws, they’re a great set of wheels for a comparatively moderate price.