Reynolds Blacklabel 329 Trail Pro mountain bike wheelset review

Reynolds’ Blacklabel 329 Trail Pro 29in wheels are built using an asymmetrical MR5 carbon fibre rim, laced to Industry Nine Hydra hubs using Sapim CX-Ray spokes.

Boasting a lifetime warranty, they’ve got a lofty £2,200 / $2,299 price tag and svelte 1,620g weight for a pair (29in, Boost 110 front, 148mm rear, XD freehub, Centre Lock hubs).

Out on the trail, the legendary Hydra hub provides instant engagement and buzzes beautifully when freewheeling.

The rim’s 32mm internal width squares off the tyres' profiles, reducing transitional grip on some tyres.

They’re not harsh on trail chatter, but neither are they particularly forgiving. That direct ride is great for steering accuracy, but translates to a lack of comfort for lighter or less experienced riders.

Reynolds Blacklabel 329 Trail Pro wheelset details and specifications

Industry Nine’s Hydra hub – with 0.52-degree engagement angle – is laced to Reynolds’ MR5 asymmetrical carbon fibre rims.

The MR5 carbon layup uses Impact Dispersing Matrix (IDM) technology, claimed to improve impact resistance.

Laced with 28 Sapim CX-Ray bladed, straight-pull spokes front and rear, these are claimed to offer “vertical strength and lateral compliance”. They’re threaded into alloy nipples to save weight.

The rim’s asymmetrical design – where the nipple eyelets are off-centre – is said to increase wheel strength, by evening out driveside and non-driveside spoke tension.

Its hookless sidewall promises to make inflation of tubeless tyres easier, while improving the connection between tyre bead and rim, resulting in less burping.

Tubeless rim tape is pre-installed, speeding up setup.

My set of 29in Boost 110 front 148mm rear-axle spacing, Centre Lock disc, XD driver wheels weighed 1,620g (750g front, 870g rear).

Reynolds Blacklabel 329 Trail Pro wheelset performance

Setup and tubeless inflation

The wide rim makes installing tyres easy, even without tyre levers. The tyre’s bead doesn’t need to be pushed into the rim’s bed for extra slack; tyres slip on nicely.

They inflated quickly with a high-volume pump, but only seated once the pressure gauge reached 25psi with a loud pop. This is much higher pressure than other mountain bike wheels I’ve tested recently.

Not losing air during the test period, the factory-installed rim tape provided a good seal.

On-trail feel

Wider than most trail wheels on the market, the 329s square off the tyre considerably.

While the sharp edge is great for biting into softer ground, on hardpack trails it reduces cornering predictability; transitioning onto the tyre’s edges is quick.

Grip drops off rapidly and, at times, unpredictably. More rider skill is needed to maintain control, especially compared to setups with more rounded tyre profiles.

This is most evident after prolonged use. The tyres' side knobs begin to crack and break quicker compared to a more rounded profile as they’re folded and bent by lean angles.

On straighter tracks, however, there’s more tread in contact with the ground, which can improve grip and braking traction.

Another positive is boosted tyre carcass strength. The 329s hold onto tyre beads impeccably, and even high-load situations don’t result in burping or deformation.

Reducing the rim’s internal width to improve their profile could sacrifice some of that stability.

Their robust feel is unsurprising, then.

Hammering through rough sections of trail reveals little flex or give. Instead, they hold their line well, tracking true on aggressive cambers.

Steering accuracy is commendable too. There’s no disconnect between hub and bar, even when pushed hard in rough, banked turns.

Although they’re not harsh, they’re not forgiving either. Rattle into a section of matted square-edge rocks and the wheels don’t budge, remaining steadfast and solid.

While great for steering accuracy, this is to the detriment of comfort.

Their directness doesn’t reduce grip or cause excessive deflection, but does help with acceleration; they pick up speed effortlessly.

Harder or heavier trail riders will appreciate their tough feel. Enduro riders won’t be disappointed by noodly steering, their performance defying their weight figure.

The Industry Nine Hydra hub is exceptionally quick to engage and buzzes brilliantly when freewheeling.

Except for that whirr, they’re quiet wheels, despite the notoriously noisy bladed spokes.

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

Costing just £50 more, the Synthesis XCT 11 wheels are significantly more forgiving and comfortable than the 329s, despite being only 50g lighter.

In this respect, the Reynolds wheelset offers an impressive strength-to-weight ratio, handling a wider range of riding disciplines and rider weights.

Which one to buy will come down to your priorities. With comfort comes flexibility; hard chargers are likely to get frustrated with the Crankbrothers when the terrain amps up and should probably opt for the 329s.

Bridging the gap, the FFWD Outlaws are forgiving, while retaining good steering accuracy. They also cost quite a bit less (£1,349), while still weighing 40g less than the 329s and only 10g more than the Synthesis wheels.

Once again, though, hard chargers might be disappointed by the Outlaw’s tyre stability – if you’re a schralper, opt for the 329s.

Reynolds Blacklabel 329 Trail Pro wheelset bottom line

Best suited to harder or heavier riders, the 329s steer accurately and hold onto tyres impeccably, even when pushed to the limits.

The enduro-like performance defies their light weight, but this comes at a cost.

Some lighter riders may find them too stiff; while not harsh, they’re not as forgiving as plenty of other mountain bike wheels on the market.