The previous version of these minimalist Hope brakes already did a mighty fine job of proving that brakes don’t have to be big in order to be powerful, but this latest Evo version ups the power by another 15% whilst keeping all the things we love about the original. Basically we much prefer this simple slimline lever compared to Hope’s other chunkier offerings, and even without the extra power we never found it lacking, not even on a DH bike.

These brakes have also proved to be incredibly reliable, and even if things were ever to go wrong you’ll be backed up by Hope’s legendary after sales service. That last point on its own is almost reason enough to buy these brakes, but we’d still highly recommend them without it. They look great, have plenty of feel and power, are super light, and they’ve stood the test of time. What more do you want from a brake?

Price: £199.99
Hope 01282 851 200
www.hopetech.com