Zipp 1Zero Hitop SW MTB wheelset review

The 1Zero Hitop SW carbon wheels from Zipp are built for cross-country mountain biking but designed to be tough enough for light trail duties, too.

They’re not just tough, though. Zipp wanted to ensure they retained a lightweight (1,420g), reactive feel but also enough compliance and comfort to reduce rider fatigue and help keep air in your tyres.

While all of that sounds like a big ask, for the most part, it seems Zipp has achieved many of the objectives it set out to. However, this comes at the cost of a £2,000 asking price.

Although light, the wheels have proven themselves over months of hard use, riding rough trails usually reserved for longer-travel trail bikes without issue.

They’re also precise and responsive, but feel forgiving enough on longer, rougher rides.

Zipp 1Zero Hitop SW wheelset design and construction details

The 1Zero Hitop SW wheels use a carbon, asymmetrical box-section rim construction.

This differs from Zipp's single-wall 3Zero Moto rims, aimed at enduro riders, but the promises around comfort and puncture protection remain closely aligned.

To help prevent punctures, the 1Zero Hitop’s hookless rim bead features smooth, rounded thick (4mm) ‘wings’ around the rim edges.

The idea is to help spread any impact force should the tyre fully bottom out onto the rim. Rather than a thinner, sharper rim edge that’s likely to contribute to tyre failure (think pinch flats), the rounder, more bulbous design should help dissipate some of that energy and prevent complete failure.

It helps Zipp's claims that the rim is designed to deform more than many competitors (specifically, the outer diameter), boosting tyre protection further but also helping to increase compliance and comfort.

Zipp says this is down to the very specific carbon layup used to create the new 1Zero Hitop rims.

The internal rim width is 30mm – a measurement that now seems to be standard across the mountain bike industry, no matter the discipline.

Both front and rear wheels use 24 bladed Sapim CX Ray J-bend spokes, laced to Zipp ZM2 SL hubs.

At the back, the freehub uses a six-pawl system, delivering 66 points of engagement and a 5.45-degree pickup.

These pricier hubs found on the ‘SW’ wheelset use a Center Lock disc rotor fitment (the cheaper hubs use six-bolt) to help shed a few more grams.

Also featured on the ‘SW’ wheels is the updated TyreWiz 2.0 tyre pressure sensor. These pair with the SRAM AXS app and give you real-time tyre pressures.

According to SRAM, the latest version of the sensor is more accurate (＋/- 2 per cent), weighs just 10g, is IPX7 rated and the battery should last for up to 300 hours).

With the TyreWiz 2.0 sensors, valves and Center Lock rings fitted, my test wheelset weighed in at 1,420g.

Zipp 1Zero Hitop SW wheelset performance

Fitting the Maxxis tyres was straightforward enough and, when new, can be done without a tyre lever. As time wore on, though, I found it critical to ensure the tyres and rim beds were totally clear of any old, sticky sealant. As with some other rims, it can prevent the tyre from seating properly.

From the off, the 1Zero Hitop SW wheels feel sprightly when I got the power down.

The freehub pickup is rapid enough to ensure when getting on the gas as you weave your way through tight, technical singletrack, there’s no noticeable lag between putting pressure on through the pedals and the rear wheel driving forward.

This translates to a responsive, urgent feel when powering up short punchy climbs.

However, this isn’t massively surprising from a set of lightweight cross-country wheels.

It was during a race, early on in testing, that I could really feel the 1Zero Hitop SW wheels shine.

The course in question included a rough, twisty singletrack descent full of holes, drops and high-load turns.

Here, I was surprised by the damped feel and control I had as I slithered my way down the hill.

Despite this forgiving feel, the 1Zero Hitop SW wheels remain precise when picking lines and never once felt vague or sloppy sliding through a turn.

That well-balanced flex means they can confidently hold off-camber lines without flinching and should you stray off-line, the chances are it’s not because of the wheels.

Not only did I feel I could push hard on the climbs, I could also really let go on the descents.

The muted feel the 1Zero Hitop SW wheels create is particularly noticeable on long, chattery trail-centre tracks. Here, it’s as though you’re running a softer-compound, heavier-tyre at lower pressures, muting the impacts and reducing the buzz from the constant imperfections beneath the tyres.

But, unlike a softer, heavier tyre, there’s no impact on rolling speed or reactivity.

After months of testing, I’ve had no issues with spoke tension in either wheel and both continue to run true.

There’s an occasional twang from the 24 spokes if you really push things hard when trail riding, but that’s no surprise for a wheel of this weight.

Throughout my rigorous testing, I’m yet to have had a puncture.

Overall, considering their weight, how sprightly they feel and the comfort on offer, Zipp has done a great job with the 1Zero Hitop SWs.

How does the Zipp 1Zero Hitop SW wheelset compare?

With the Zipps promising so much in terms of comfort, I spent a lot of time riding the cheaper DT Swiss XR 1501 Spline 29 wheels.

These use an alloy rim (alloy rims are generally found to be more forgiving than carbon), though its internal width is just 25mm, compared to the broader 30mm found on the Zipp wheels.

In rough terrain, the Zipps manage to feel just as comfprtable (if not slightly more so) than the DTs, with a forgiving feel that doesn’t leave your hands numb or arms beaten up after battering down rocky, rooty trails.

However, the Zipp wheels certainly have the edge in terms of responsiveness and feel sprightlier when you start putting the effort in.

This is not only noticeable on short uphill efforts, but also when accelerating out of slow, tight turns as quickly as possible.

Here, the Zipps feel… zippier.

Zipp 1Zero Hitop SW wheelset bottom line

The Zipp 1Zero Hitop SW wheels are light and responsive, yet offer an impressively forgiving ride through rough terrain.

They may not be the lightest or cheapest, but the balance of stiffness and vibration damping equate to a ride feel that enables you push the boundaries of trail riding without flinching.