HG, Micro Spline or XDR: which freehub body for your wheels

The 3 freehub standards

In 2026, three main freehub body standards exist. Each is tied to a specific cassette ecosystem.

HG (Shimano Hyperglide)

• The most widespread — standard since the 90s
• 9 asymmetric splines
• Compatible: Shimano 7-12sp (HG), SRAM NX/SX Eagle
• Weakness: smallest cog digs into aluminum body

Micro Spline (Shimano)

• Introduced 2018 with XTR M9100
• 23 micro-splines (finer, more numerous)
• Compatible: Shimano 12sp MTB + road 12sp (R7100+)
• Required for 10T smallest cog

XDR (SRAM)

• Introduced 2019 with Eagle AXS
• SRAM-specific splines
• Compatible: SRAM Eagle 12sp, SRAM road eTap AXS

Quick compatibility table

For cross-brand mixing rules, check our SRAM/Shimano compatibility guide.

Ask L'Atelier if your hub accepts a different freehub body — answer in 3 seconds.