Best gravel wheelsets 2025: The best wheels for off-road and aggressive riding

The best gravel wheelsets can help transform the ride and performance of a gravel bike. There are multiple different gravel bike categories now, but whatever type of riding you are doing a wheelset upgrade is one of the biggest upgrades you can make.

During the gravel category ascendancy, before the equipment was as specific and well developed as it is now, even the best gravel bikes came with either road wheelsets that were too narrow for wider tyres or cyclocross wheelsets that are built for slightly different use cases and type of riding. Now we have gravel-specific everything, from the best gravel bike shoes to the best gravel race bikes.

Fast forward a few years and there is a broad spectrum of gravel bike-specific wheelsets to choose from in both 650b and 700c sizes. Current gravel wheelsets are lightweight but strong and wide enough to cope with off-road abuse. They provide a far better fit for the best gravel tyres (particularly tubeless ones) than in years gone by. 

If you are still unsure where to start when choosing a new wheelset, we have a useful guide at the bottom of the page to help you make the right decision for your type of riding.  

Quick list

The best gravel wheelsets you can buy today

Best gravel wheels

Zipp's 303 Firecrest wheelset has been around for almost half a decade yet its goldilocks design means it's still one of the best gravel wheelsets you can buy. When our product tester Guy Kesteven first reviewed these, he said they were the most quietly rapid, comfortable, versatile, responsive and enjoyable drop bar wheels he's ever ridden. Despite a fair bit of innovation in the gravel space over the last few years, we still think this rings true. 

The 40mm deep rim profile feels fast and efficient without becoming worrisome in windy weather, plus the 25mm internal rim width gives all but the fattest gravel tyres a great shape. Ride quality is superb, especially when you consider it's a deep-section rim, and they have proven to be robust and durable enough to handle rough tracks and poor weather. 

Even compared to the wider rims and lower pressures flooding the best gravel wheels market, the Zipp 303 Firecrests are, according to our review, a "mic-drop moment". Pair that with a user-friendly setup, the top quality warranty and a more affordable price and the Zipp 303 Firecrest is really one of the best gravel wheels around for the majority of gravel riders.

To see why we loved them so much read our Zipp 303 Firecrest review.

Best budget gravel wheels

Most affordable and even some mid-range gravel bikes will come equipped with alloy wheels. While there is nothing wrong with alloy wheels, the models you get stock on bikes are usually not the best, so upgrading to a carbon set brings several advantages. Parcours Alta is an excellent option for those looking for a boost in performance at an outstanding price.

Rim dimensions are all in the ballpark for modern gravel riding measuring 36mm deep, 24mm wide internally and 33mm wide externally. Although the 1500g weight can't compete with lighter and more expensive wheelsets, it should save a good chunk of weight over a basic alloy wheelset. 

Most importantly they ride well too, when Will Jones tested these wheels he found the Parcours Alta to be a step up in speed and aerodynamics compared to the stock wheels they replaced. The rims use a more flexible resin for the side walls which helps with vibration absorption without sacrificing stiffness. 

There are of course some concessions to be made for the low price point. There are no aero claims so although the U-shaped rim doesn't feel draggy in any way, if you want aero performance you may be better off stumping up a little more for Parcours 47mm deep FKT wheelset. The 26t ratchet ring means hub engagement is a bit slow but for general riding, it's not an issue.

Check out our Parcours Alta gravel wheelset review to find out what makes them a great upgrade.

Best for gravel racing

SRAM launched 303 XPLR SW wheelset claiming it to be the fastest gravel wheelset ever. Chasing increased gravel racing speeds, aerodynamic considerations, support for low-pressure cornering, and pinch flat protection, the resulting spec numbers are more radical than anything else on the market.

The 54mm deep rim profile isn't a surprise, we all know a deep rim will offer better aero performance at race speeds. The rims also get Zipp's dimpled tech which is also found on the 303 Firecrest. To support larger gravel tyres gravel rims have been getting wider but none come close to the huge 32mm inner diameter of the 303 XPLR SW. Despite being wider than most MTB rims, the 303 XPLR SW are designed specifically to give tyres between 40mm and 60mm a better aero profile.

Tom Wieckowski reviewed these wheels and out on the trail the wide profile helped generate a ton of grip from the Goodyear XPLR Inter 45mm tyres that were supplied with the wheels. They aren't a gravel wheelset for smashing through technical sections, but on the high-speed race-style segments they are designed and for set up with Zipp's recommended pressures they are very fast and surprisingly smooth.

The pursuit of speed does result in some limitations. Inserts don't work, because the rim bed is too wide, and SRAM is pretty specific about the tyres that are compatible with these wheels. They are designed in conjunction with Goodyear XPLR Slick and Inter tyres, but if you want to run a different brand, Zipp has an approved tyre list for these wheels on its website.

Check out our Zipp 303 XPLR SW review to find out more about what makes these so fast.

Best for low weight

The Cadex 35 AR Disc wheelset sits on its own in Cadex's gravel/all-road and hits the sweet spot between lightweight and strong reliability. The 1,270g wheelset weight is impressively light and enhances climbing without the feeling like they need to be handled with care when it comes to descending down the other side. A 60-tooth ratchet driver gives the wheels a responsive kick when putting the power down too.

The 35 AR Disc has excellent, fuss-free Cadex hubs that in our testing, have managed to shrug off the worst that winter riding could throw at them despite being subjected to around 1500 miles / 2400km in January and February. The hubs are also equipped with ceramic bearings giving the wheels a long-lasting smooth ride.  

The hookless design shapes the tyres into the best possible shape for optimum traction, producing a rounder tyre shape for better grip and sidewall support. The only real downside for fans of all-out performance is that the wheels make no specific claims around aerodynamic efficiency, which will be a markdown for anyone with designs on being at the pointy end of a race nowadays.

To see how they held up over a nasty winter of testing, read our Cadex AR35 Disc review.

Best all-road wheels

These striking wheels from Fulcrum aren't technically gravel wheels, instead, the Sharq's sit in the ambiguous all-road middle ground. Ignoring the labels, when Will Jones tested the Sharq's, their consistent performance on fast terrain was obvious.

Part of this performance can be attributed to Fulcrum's 2-Wave profile, which varies between 47mm and 42mm in depth. Not only does this help the wheels efficiently cut through the air but it gives the Sharqs a noticeably stable character when dealing with crosswinds. 

Will Jones remarked that they aren't as whippy and responsive as a shallower depth rim, but the low 1,440g weight means they never felt sluggish at slow speeds. The deep profile and smooth spinning ceramic bearings definitely come into their own on faster rides which is why they are so suited to riders looking to mix up gravel and road sections.

The rims feature a 25mm, with a 'mini hook' design to ensure tyre security and compatibility. The width supports tyres from 30mm and above, covering most large road tyres and fast-rolling gravel tyres. Fulcrum has simplified the tubeless setup by not drilling the rim bed, foregoing the need for rim tape. 

Want to know more? Then head to our Fulcrum Sharq review.

Best for durability

Compared to some of the other gravel wheels on this list, the DT Swiss GR1600 Spline 25s are pretty affordable, but that doesn't mean they compromise on quality. Of course, you get what you pay for, and this wheelset does feel chunky compared to lighter carbon models and the hub engagement is very slow, but you gain bombproof reliability that you'd expect from DT Swiss. The wide rims can take gravel tyres as fat as your frame can handle, and a great ride feel, all for a price that's easy to swallow.

Durability can be hard to quantify as it's hard to replicate and repeat impacts. That said, considering the GR1600 Spline 25 happily shrugged off the enthusiastic riding nature of Guy Kesteven's testing and my own experiences battering a set of these wheels down rugged gravel tracks and MTB trails, these are a properly tough set of gravel wheels. 

In terms of ride feel, they hit a sweet spot between harsh and soft, tough enough to cope with low-pressure bumping, and a pleasure to ride on even the most punishing terrain. If you're not keen on the slow-engaging ratchet drive, you can easily upgrade the ratchet drive. Bearing life is great too and if they do need serviced, it's also easy to pop off and service at home. 

Our DT Swiss GR1600 Spline 25 review will clear up any questions you may have.

Also consider

Out of all the gravel wheels we have reviewed on Cyclingnews the above options are the ones that we think are the best options, however, there are several other options that we think are well worth considering if you are in the market for new gravel wheels.

Hunt is known for producing some high-performance yet competitively priced wheels. While we haven't had hands-on experience with the latest Hunt 40 Limitless, we really rated the previous generation Hunt 42 Limitless gravel race and adventure wheels and would expect the newer generation wheelset to offer equally impressive performance. Both 42 Limitless wheels featured a deep aero rim profile that gives a noticeable aero advantage over a standard rim on fast rides. Handling characteristics are impressive and durability has been faultless over the 4000km I have personally ridden using these wheels. 

If you're interested in increasing the gear range of your gravel bike, Hunt has a Classified equipped wheelset. The Classified x Hunt 40 Carbon Gravel Race Wheelset pairs Classified's two-gear planetary hub system with its 40mm deep carbon gravel rim. The wheelset doesn't include the Classified internals, they need to be purchased separately which increases the overall cost plus the system adds a little more complexity when setting up.

Zipp's 303 S sits below our best-in-test gravel wheelset although despite sharing the same 303 namesake it's not just a budget Firecrest. The 303 S rim is a little deeper at 45mm and narrower with a 23mm internal, it will handle up to 50mm tyres but Zipp says they are optimised for 28mm tyres. The result is a fast, budget-friendly wheelset that is more road-leaning than the overachieving Firecrest.

If you are looking for a smooth spinning gravel wheelset with an exceptional aesthetic the Campagnolo Levante is a great option. The Levante's spin effortlessly and when freewheeling the sensation is more akin to gliding than rolling. Racers will want to look elsewhere as the 30mm deep rim doesn't make any aero claims however the rims C-LUX finish gives them an ultra-premium feel.

Forge+Bond is a bit of a left-field option but the F+B 25 GR wheelset has a unique selling point. The rims don't use carbon fibre, rather a material F+B calls FusionFibre. This is a proprietary thermoplastic composite material that uses nylon, rather than epoxy. Without going deep into the manufacturing process FusionFibre is said to reduce the number of chemicals and waste during production, plus it's possible to downcycle FusionFibre when it reaches the end of its life. Potential eco-claims aside the F+B 25 GR gives a snappy, responsive, ride feel although the 25mm height doesn't offer any aero advantages and is expensive compared to similarly performing wheelsets.  

How to choose

Look closely and you will be able to tell a difference between a gravel wheelset and a road-specific one, especially the best road bike wheels which will tip the scales at under 1400grams per pair. Gravel wheels will feature wider rims to accommodate wider, gravel-specific tyres as well as make them burlier to withstand the rigours of off-road abuse and riding. 

There are different categories of riding that fall under the gravel umbrella now and this will influence your buying choice. If you are planning on competing in events and races on your gravel bike you may want to consider a stiffer, more aerodynamic wheelset that will offer some performance advantages in competition. If you want a wheelset upgrade that will cope with everything then perhaps consider an aluminium wheelset with a higher spoke count and look into spare part availability and ease of hub servicing. Gravel riding often involves a lot more mud and water and easily serviceable components will help protect your investment long-term.