Stan's NoTubes Flow MK3 Rear Wheel: Rider Review

Our "Rider Review" article series features the honest reviews from verified purchasers of Worldwide Cyclery. They contain the photos, thoughts, feedback & overall review you are looking for.

A fresh set of wheels for your mountain bike can make a big impact on the trail. Better engagement, fasting rolling, and better durability all can be expected when upgrading. In this review, our customer needed a do it all wheel for his Stumpjumper and went with the Stan's NoTubes Flow MK3 wheel. Check it out!

Overview

I purchased the Stan's No Tubes Flow MK3 Rear Wheel - 29" with the XD driver in June when the axle bearings disintegrated on the stock rear wheel on my 2019 Specialized Stumpjumper. I need a do-it-all wheel that prioritizes durability over weight. I'm about 180 lbs and ride the trail and the Trestle Bike Park in Winter Park, CO.

Installation

Super easy. The 6 bolt rotor goes on as expected…nothing more to note about that. My SRAM GX cassette popped on quickly and then it was time to set my tire up tubeless. Since this is my first Stans wheel I was hoping it would be easy, but you never know. Prior to this, I had setup Maxxis tires tubeless on Alex, E13, DT Swiss, and Roval wheels with various levels of frustration. The Stans wheel came pre-taped. Thank you! I popped a new Maxxis Aggressor EXO 2.5 on the rim, poured a couple of ounces of Stan's sealant in, sprayed down the sidewalls with some soapy water, hooked a floor pump up to the Presta valve Stan's supplies, and started pumping. With just a few pumps I started hearing the satisfying pops of the tire seating up to the rim. That was the easiest tubeless setup ever. There must be something about Maxxis and Stan's together. It just works.

Riding

The free-hub has a nice buzz and the pawl engagement is much better than most stock bike wheels. I've done 20+ mile trail rides and I really didn't notice the wheel. That is a compliment.

Durability

I ride hard and fast through rock gardens rather than picking my way through them. One negative with this wheel is that the spokes do de-tension rather easily. If you read enough reviews online, it seems other people have had the same issues. Check your spokes every few rides and you will be good to go. The rim itself is still true despite some smashing at the bike park and spoke de-tensioning. Impacts that imploded the sidewalls on my Alex and E13 wheels made barely perceptible dents on the Flow MK3 and the tubeless seal has held beautifully. One rock garden thrashing even left my Maxxis Aggressor EXO with a sidewall puncture at the rim bead and a big hole in the tread. The wheel is doing fine and I'm very impressed, but I will be swapping that EXO out for a Double Down.

I can't comment too much on the free-hub durability yet. In a month and half of riding, I've climbed about 30k vertical feet with no issues.

Final Thoughts

As somebody that loves all forms of mountain biking, the Stan's NoTubes Flow MK3 Rear Wheel - 29" met all of my criteria for price, durability, and ease of installation. The only detractor for me thus far is the spoke de-tensioning.