The updated DT Swiss 350 road hub is lighter and easier to maintain than its predecessor, and sees a switch to the Ratchet 36 SL system.
The 350 is known for its simplicity and reliability, sitting below the brand’s more expensive 180 and 240 hubs. It’s a favorite choice with wheel builders, especially for bombproof all-season construction.
Hubs will be available in both quick-release and thru-axle axle standards, the latter only in 100x12mm or 142x12mm. The 350 will be available with rim brakes and center-lock disc rotors.
‘Classic’ hubs (ie, hubs designed for use with traditional J-bend spokes) are available in 20, 24, 28 and 32 hole options. The straight pull variant is only available in 20 or 24 hole options.
The front hub costs £54.99 / €84.90 / $112.90 / AU$139 and the rear costs £159.99 / €214.90 / $284.90 / AU$339. The price is same for straight pull or classic variants.
Availability to be confirmed. Currently, DT Swiss is not launching a complete wheelset that features this hub.
Show me those teeth
Like the 180 and 240, the 350 uses the brand’s Star Ratchet system.
Most freehubs use a combination of pawls and springs that engage with teeth inside the hub body when pedaling.
DT Swiss’ Star Ratchet system forgoes the pawls and instead uses two ratchets that are pushed together by a spring when pedaling together. As both sides engage, the power is distributed more evenly over a traditional pole system. The system is well understood by many and has been licensed by a number of brands.
The new 350 Road hub uses the brand’s Ratchet 36 SL, which uses 36 teeth to provide 10 degrees of engagement. The outgoing 350 road hub used 18 teeth.
DT Swiss reckons 36 teeth is the best choice for most riders, but if you want more you can upgrade to the brand’s Ratchet 54 SL, which offers 6.7 degrees of engagement.
Easy maintenance and free hub options
The new 350 road hub is also claimed to be easy to maintain, requiring no specialist tools.
The axle end cap has been redesigned and can now be removed by hand, according to the brand.
This means you can easily change freehubs if you’re switching between bikes with different drivetrains. The new 350 is available on full hubs with either Shimano or SRAM XD freehubs. The Shimano freehub is said to be compatible with upwards of 10-speed systems.
The Campagnolo N3W freehub on the full hub is not an option, although it can be purchased separately.
Weight savings
DT Swiss says the new 350 is lighter than its predecessor, claiming a 5 percent savings for classic hubs and a 10 percent reduction for straight pull hubs.
Front hub weights are claimed to start at 139g for the Classic hub, with the rear starting at 244g. The straight pull hubs are claimed to weigh 106g for the front and 219g for the rear.