- Weight: 870g + 1,000g = 1,870g
- Width: 28mm / 31mm
- Freehub lag: 10°
- Sizes: 27.5in, 29in
Stan’s NoTubes Flow rims have been a benchmark tubeless-ready trail rim for years and the latest MK3s brings it back into the ring with a contemporary width evolution of Stan’s proven features. Add updated hubs and the result is a buoyant, wider-tyre-compatible ride with none of the previous escaping axle-end irritation.
Stan’s started the whole tubeless conversion revolution with its NoTubes kits, before designing and manufacturing its own radical low side-wall Bead Socket Technology rims.
No surprise then that the Flow MK3s come pre-fitted with Stan’s signature custard-coloured sealing tape and with valves included in the box ready for an easy pop into place.
The carefully shaped rim includes a low, sharp-edged Bead Socket lip that the tyre pops over as it expands to make for a secure seal. The resulting fit is trustworthy down to super-low teen pressures and the low sidewall helps it shrug off the rim-ding impacts well.
It’s wide enough to shape up 2.4–2.5-inch tyres without making 2.3-inch tyres too square and slow rolling, putting it in the sweet spot in terms of supporting the most popular trail tyres.
The windowed hubs and 32 J-bend (rather than straight pull) Sapim Force spokes are traditional and reliable (especially in the face of many flashy-looking or low-spoke-count setups that just cause spares problems). Combined with the shallow ‘WideRight’ rim that gives a smooth, shock-absorbing ride, they’re still accurate in terms of tracking. I’ve ridden them full gas for months without obvious denting, wobbling or de-tensioning too.
Engagement of the four-pawl Neo hubs is slightly slow and the splines have scarred over time, but the previously loose adaptor caps are now secure and you can even get a lefty version.
