Hygia may be an up-and-coming brand, or perhaps even a brand you haven't heard of yet, but that's going to change soon. That's because their brakes hit the PERFORMANCE+LIGHTWEIGHT+VALUE trifecta right on the bullseye. The best pound-for-pound, peso-for-peso brakes in the market today. 

Here are some highlights that make Hygia brakes unique:

- independent reach and pad contact adjustments
- uses DOT 4 brake fluid
- Shimano XT/XTR brake pad compatible
- stainless steel brakelines come standard!

These three letters are music to a weight-weenie or XC racer's ears. SLP stands for Super Light Project. Hygia pulled out all the stops in designing this brake. You can probably think of it as an Usagi put on a protein-rich diet. Monobody calipers reduce weight and improve performance, and lightweight rotors help trim some more fat. Pair that with the built-in adjustability of the Usagi's levers and you've got one serious set up.


To top it all off, we're offering the SLPs with a limited edition Philippine flag fluid reservoir. We call it Prenoy Pride. Ride on!


The SLPs will be initially available in white.
Approximate weights: Front set, 268g. Rear set, 305g.

The Usagi is billed as Hygia's XC brake, and that very much it is, offering a good combo of modulation and power in a svelte package. You can dial tool-free, with the red knobs and pad contact can also be tweaked with an allen key. The brakes use DOT and we've spec'd them with stainless steel braided lines, so no need for aftermarket hop-ups there. The levers are designed to be used by one or two fingers, and give very good tactile feedback without being overly firm. 

All Hygia brakes use Shimano XT/XTR brake pads, so you can replace, mix, and match pad compounds to your heart's content. We paired them with Ashima Airotors initially, but when we swapped over the stock Hygia rotors (around 102g each), lever feel and power improved dramatically.

The Usagis come in black and in white.
Approximate weights: Front set, 286g, Rear set, 316g