Anti-pedal kickback devices were an especially hot topic for 2025, so much so that we had to make mention in our 2025 Gear of the Year post. We appreciated that the DT Swiss DEG DF device is one of the easier, more practical solutions to pedal kickback.
It is also the least expensive.
Now, Reserve Wheels becomes the first aftermarket wheel manufacturer to offer wheels built with DEG DF hubs.
Wait, What is DT Swiss DEG DF?
And why so many acronyms? “DEG DF” is a somewhat rough naming structure, but once you understand DT Swiss’s reasoning, it all makes sense.
DT Swiss introduced Ratchet DEG nearly two years ago. This was a step up to higher points of engagement (POE) for its popular 240 hub, and later the 350. Another way to measure hub engagement is that a hub with higher POE has a lower DEGree of engagement (for example, 90 POE is 4° because, well, 360 ➗90 = 4).
“DF” refers to Degrees of Freedom. It is essentially a ratchet system with specific teeth removed. Installed in a DEG hub, the DF systems let you choose from 0°, 10°, or 20° of play before the freehub engages.
DEG DF is Now on Reserve Wheels
Until today, DT Swiss’s Degrees of Freedom has been marketed as an upgrade for an existing wheelset with a DEG hub. Now it will come on Reserve’s Trail, Enduro, and DH wheel offerings, both carbon and aluminum. Reserve says it will eventually offer an XC option, as well.
This will make Reserve the first and only aftermarket wheel manufacturer to offer DT Swiss DEG DF hubs as standard on its wheelsets. Not an add-on or an additional component. Standard.
Let’s use the Reserve 30 SL Aluminum wheels as an example. Currently, the alloy trail wheels come with a DT Swiss 350 DEG 90T hub. Customers will now also have the option to purchase the same wheel with the DEG DF hub as standard.
And the choice of the new DEG DF hub will come at no additional cost.
Reserve will continue to sell the current wheels with DT Swiss 350 DEG 90T hubs alongside the DEG DF hub wheels. However, once the current batch of wheels with 350 DEG 90T hubs is gone, they will be replaced entirely with DEG DF wheels.
But what about customers uninterested in anti-pedal kickback hubs? Reserve Wheels states that running the Degrees of Freedom ratchet in the 0° setting is equivalent to their current 90T 350 DEG hubs.
See the new DEG DF offerings at reservewheels.com.
