ABOUT ABSOLUTEBLACK AETHER
absoluteBLACK have designed the Aether Carbon Ultra-Light Tubeless Valves on two principles: simplicity and lightness. The valves don’t use a traditional Presta valve core, instead the two-part construction creates a direct air path with fewer fiddly bits to go wrong. Essentially the aim is to have less things to clog up, thus reducing maintenance over time. The Aether valves are functionally simple too, sealing from the bottom rather than the top. This is claimed to improve the airflow into the wheel, and helps to remove some of the restrictions that come with traditional Presta valves.
For such a small part, there’s only so much lighter you can make it. Impressively though, the use of carbon fibre composite in place of aluminium brings the weight down to just 2.6g per valve (including cap), or a scant 2g without it. absoluteBLACK decided that a non-serviceable design was beneficial, removing the potential clog points that the parts necessary for a serviceable valve can produce.
The absoluteBLACK Aether valves are compatible with all Presta drilled rims and Presta-compatible pumps, so you won’t need to buy anything else to make these valves work for you. Retailing for £22.95 / $29.95 and available in a choice of lengths to fit 18-30mm and 30-55mm rim depths, the Aether valves undercut the price tag of many premium tubeless valve offerings.
THE DIRT
When absoluteBLACK reached out regarding the Aether tubeless valves, my concern was that “reviewing” a valve is always going to be a difficult task, as at the end of the day, if they work and don’t let you down, then what else is there to say. However, I found that the Aether valves have given me much more to talk about than I expected.
This is partly down to the “against the grain” attitude of absoluteBLACK’s design team. One of the joys of reviewing in the mountain bike industry – and the sport in general – is the constant innovation in technologies. I like that mountain biking is still relatively young, and that brands are still experimenting with new ideas, even if some of them don’t go down too well. The valve however, had been fairly untouched since tubeless came about, with the recent high flow craze being the exception. Sure, there have been some little tweaks here and there to improve airflow and installation, but I had not yet used something that feels and functions as differently as the absoluteBLACK Aether. I really like this take on valves, with numerous benefits to be found.
Lacking a traditional valve core, therefore having fewer moving bits and gaps to get seized and bunged up with sealant, is absolutely a good thing. Not being able to remove the valve core does mean it’s hard – if not impossible – to service the valve. However, absoluteBLACK counters this by saying that not having a valve core removes the need to service them in the first place. Thanks to the improved airflow on these Aethers, there is no longer a need to remove the valve core to seat a tyre either, a faff that I can really do without.
Presta valves have always wound me up for one thing: fragility. absoluteBLACK seems to mostly talk about air flow and blockage in the marketing for the Aethers, and whilst this is all great, it’s not the thing that draws me to the Aethers the most. I’ve been wound up for years about fiddly little valve cores on the top of Presta valves, often finding that they’re so easy to bend or even snap. Yes, a valve core isn’t a major component, but how many people carry a spare core with them on a ride? The Aether valves’ simple coreless design removes this problem completely, and I am surprised it hasn’t become more common on valves. It is a genuinely good solution to a problem I always forget about until it happens.
The only issue I’ve have sustained with the absoluteBLACK Aethers is losing air and sealant through the valve hole in the rim. They require some extra care and attention to make sure they’re screwed down super tight, ensuring that the seal between the valve and rim is sufficient to prevent little knocks causing air and sealant leaks.
The Wolf’s Last Word
Overall, I’ve been really impressed with the absoluteBLACK Aether tubeless valves. I love absoluteBLACK’s slightly radical approach in their design, and the simplicity solves problems and streamlines airflow, while keeping the weight down. They’re not even ridiculously expensive, either, much to my surprise. Yes, they are designed for gravel riding primarily, but so far they have coped well with plentiful rowdy enduro riding. If I was in the market for a new set of tubeless valves, I would now go for the absoluteBLACK Aethers – high praise! 
Price: £22.95 / $29.95
Website: Absoluteblack.cc
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