Reynolds TR 309/289 XC Boost Wheelset

The Reynolds TR 309/289 XC Boost Wheelset is part of Reynolds's newest family of cross-country wheels, built around a version of XC racing that looks less like a slammed-stem sprint and more like its own off-road discipline. Courses now regularly mix rock gardens and drops into terrain that used to be smooth singletrack, tire pressures keep dropping, and riders are searching for wheels that can survive an aggressive line choice without adding the weight or drag of a trail bike setup. The 309/289 XC platform spans four build levels, from a limited-edition model with a turquoise Ringle hubset down to this TR version, which carries the same rim geometry and construction as the wheels above it in a more accessible package.

Front and Rear-Specific Rim Design

Where a lot of XC wheelsets use a single rim shape front and rear, the 309/289 XC splits the job. The front rim runs wider, which settles the front tire into a rounder profile for more confident cornering and a steadier ride over chatter, while the rear stays lower profile to keep the wheelset light and quick under power. Both rims are built with Reynolds's TSS/PR3 construction, the same rim technology used across the brand's current TR and TRs wheel lines, aimed at giving the wheelset impact resistance and durability without piling on carbon just to survive a hit. The overall shape favors quick cornering and lightweight climbing over outright aerodynamics, which fits a modern XC course better than a deep-section, road-style rim profile would.

Hub Engagement and Drivetrain Compatibility

The wheelset rolls on Reynolds TR MTN hubs, engineered for 10 degrees of engagement so power reaches the ground almost as soon as a pedal stroke starts. In XC or trail racing, that gap between input and response is often the difference between clearing a technical move cleanly and losing momentum mid-climb, and it matters just as much on a punchy out-of-the-saddle effort as it does picking a line through a rock garden. The hubs use Boost spacing and are available with Microspline, Shimano/SRAM, or XD driver bodies, so the wheelset slots into most current drivetrains without an adapter hunt. Tubeless compatibility comes standard, which means lower tire pressures for grip, fewer pinch flats, and one less variable to manage on race day.

Built In-House, Backed for Life

Reynolds designs its wheels with more than a single metric in mind. Rather than chasing weight or aerodynamics in isolation, the brand builds around a broader set of factors, including stability, handling, and how well a rim's shape actually matches the tire mounted to it, and the 309/289 XC's split front-and-rear rim design is a direct expression of that approach. Reynolds also builds every rim in-house, from raw material to finished product, which is part of why the company backs its carbon rims with a lifetime guarantee to the original owner. That same manufacturing process runs across Reynolds's full mountain range, a lineup that has built its reputation through results across EWS and UCI Downhill seasons, and the 309/289 XC carries those same priorities down into a lighter, XC-focused package.

Who It's For

The TR 309/289 XC is a natural fit for riders on a short-travel XC or downcountry bike who spend as much time picking through technical singletrack as they do climbing fire roads, not just riders lining up on a start grid. A hardtail racer benefits from the wider front rim's added stability on rough descents, while a downcountry rider gets a wheelset light enough to keep the bike feeling quick without needing to baby it through the rowdier sections of a ride. Priced within the 309/289 XC family's range, the TR 309/289 XC gives riders access to the platform's core ideas, front/rear-specific rim design, PR3 construction, and Boost-spaced hubs, without stepping up to the flagship Blacklabel build. It's built for cross country and trail riders who've outgrown a fragile, ultralight wheelset but don't want the weight penalty of a trail-specific setup.