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Over the years, my vibration tests have demonstrated that tires are the easiest and cheapest way to improve overall bike comfort. I’ve also found that running the right air pressure for your body weight and riding style also improves ride comfort – you can read more on this topic in my Cycling Comfort Course.

For this test, I’ve picked six of the fastest and lightest gravel tires with widths ranging from 40 to 48mm wide. You’ll find them ranked from 1st through 6th at the end of this article, along with individual scores for each of the performance criteria.

So, which tires did I test?

The Best Gravel Tires Comfort Tested

1. Challenge Gravine Pro

Advertised Width: 40mm
Measured Width: 39.1 mm
Test Pressure: 30 PSI
Rolling Resistance: 20.7 Watts
Weight: 485g / 1.07lb
Price: €77.95

2. Teravail Rutland

Advertised Width: 42mm
Measured Width: 40.1 mm
Test Pressure: 29 PSI
Rolling Resistance: TBD
Weight: 440g / 0.97lb
Price: US $64.95

3. WTB Raddler

Advertised Width: 44mm
Measured Width: 42.4 mm
Test Pressure: 27.5 PSI
Rolling Resistance: TBD
Weight: 514g / 1.13lb
Price: US $66.95

4. Continental Terra Speed

Advertised Width: 45mm
Measured Width: 43.7 mm
Test Pressure: 27 PSI
Rolling Resistance: 16.4 Watts
Weight: 490g / 1.08lb
Price: US $66.95

5. Challenge Getaway Pro

Advertised Width: 45mm
Measured Width: 46.2 mm
Test Pressure: 25.5 PSI
Rolling Resistance: 17.8 Watts
Weight: 548g / 1.21lb
Price: €63.95

6. Tufo Thundero

Advertised Width: 48mm
Measured Width: 46.8 mm
Test Pressure: 25 PSI
Rolling Resistance: 18.5 Watts
Weight: 470g / 1.04lb
Price: €63.95

Matching The Tire Casing Tensions

For my comfort tests, the first thing I need to do is match the casing tension across tires of different widths.

According to Laplace’s law, casing tension is defined as internal pressure multiplied by the tire’s radius. A wider tire essentially achieves the same casing tension with less air pressure than a narrower tire.

Therefore, I set up the narrowest tire (39.1 mm measured) at 30 PSI and the widest tire (46.8mm measured) at 25 PSI. The tires in between used between 25.5 and 29 PSI.

My Test Bike and Vibration Measurement Procedure

I conducted the following vibration tests on my Mondraker Dusty gravel bike, which has a Deda Gera carbon handlebar and Redshift Suspension stem.

I have two test scenarios:
Big Hit Test – rolling over a 30 mm tall wooden plank at 20 km/h to simulate riding over a tree root or edgy rock.
High-frequency Chatter Test – rolling along a 3-meter-long obstacle at 25 km/h to simulate riding along a bumpy road.

The vibration data was recorded at the handlebar level near the brake hoods. You can read more about my vibration measurement procedure HERE.

Vibration Test Results

Big Hit Test

The difference between the highest vibration damping tire (Tufo Thundero) and the lowest (Challenge Gravine) was 10.3% in this test. These were also the widest and narrowest tires on test. This result should not be surprising as the largest vibration differences over bigger obstacles are almost always between wider and narrower tire models.

The casing construction does appear to make a difference though. The thin Teravail Rutland demonstrated comparable comfort to wider tire models – in fact, it achieved the same result as the Challenge Getaway which is over 6mm wider (measured width).

That said, the differences between similar-width tires are relatively small overall, meaning you’ll likely not notice a comfort difference in real-world riding.

High-Frequency Chatter Test

In my high-frequency chatter test, the best performer was the Teravail Rutland, followed by the WTB Raddler, and Continental Terra Speed in third. The casing materials and sidewall thicknesses used in these tires appear to be able to deform and go back to their original shape with very little energy loss over my obstacle, minimising vibrations at the handlebar.

The Challenge tire models were the worst performers here. That said, with such small margins between all tested tires (5.2%), any of these models will provide adequate comfort over fast gravel terrain.

The Best Gravel Tires Ranked

Challenge Gravine Pro (=5th Place)

The newest addition to Challenge’s gravel range features widely spaced knobs, making it great for muddier conditions but equally capable on gravel roads of all conditions.

I found it to shine in fast, loose corners, where you can tip in your bike and achieve extra grip. It rolls reasonably fast too, provided you’re ok with the audible hum over fast tarmac roads.

Comfort-wise, it performs ok, but at only 39 mm (measured width), you can’t go much lower with the air pressure before big hits will bottom out the tire on the rim. I suspect the 45 mm version would be a better performer overall.

The biggest downside is the tubeless installation and sealing. Challenge tires fold uniquely flat on the rim, which is said to improve plushness. Inflating and sealing them requires serious effort – a compressor is a must. Challenge tires also require frequent sealant refills as the sidewalls are quite porous (similar to René Herse tires).

Challenge Getaway Pro (=5th Place)

The Challenge Getaway Pro aims to balance speed and traction – and does it quite well.

It’s the second-fastest rolling tire in the test, just behind the Continental Terra Speed (it’s just a watt slower according to Bicycle Rolling Resistance). I found it offered a slightly better grip than the Continental but it’s still not the best for super-fast gravel cornering.

The tubeless setup was brutal with the Getaway, as it’s really hard to seal. Installing it to my rim was always a nightmare.

Durability was also a concern with the Getaway Pro. The standard casing lacks sidewall reinforcement, so rocky terrain might tear up sidewalls. The “XP” version is probably the better option if you ride anywhere other than smooth gravel terrain.

WTB Raddler (4th Place)

The WTB Raddler is an all-around gravel tire with small, tightly packed center knobs for smooth rolling, and larger side knobs for off-road grip.

It performed above average in my comfort tests, posting the second lowest vibrations over my high-speed chatter obstacle and a mid-pack result over my big hit obstacle. The tubeless setup was a breeze.

It didn’t particularly stand out in terms of speed or traction. It felt a bit sluggish on the tarmac, and the cornering traction was decent but not exceptional given the knob sizes. That said, I found the high-speed cornering grip to be perfectly adequate.

The price is regularly $10 to $20 cheaper per tire than the rest of the models tested, so if you’re after a decent tire for a good price, then this is it.

Purchase Links:
700C x 40mm (Tan): $49 on Amazon
700C x 40mm (Black): $45 on Amazon
700C x 44mm (Tan): $49 on Amazon
700C x 44mm (Black): $51 on Amazon

Tufo Thundero (=2nd Place)

As the widest tire in the test, the Tufo Thundero excelled in the big-hit comfort test (1st) and it was mid-pack in the high-speed chatter test (4th). The larger volume means big gains in ‘plushness’ while its construction allows it to be exceptionally fast rolling – it’s only two watts slower than the Continental Terra Speed according to Bicycle Rolling Resistance.

The Thundero’s traction was great over hard-pack terrain but it got a bit more squirrely around loose gravel corners or down muddy trails. It’s best suited to firmer and drier gravel conditions.

I found the tubeless setup to be flawless, and I experienced no cuts or punctures during my testing. This is a very well-rounded tire.

Purchase Links:
700C x 40mm: $58 on Amazon

Continental Terra Speed ProTection (=2nd Place)

The Continental Terra Speed truly impressed me. It’s easily the fastest rolling tire here, but I found it to also be quite grippy over loose gravel considering the short knob heights on offer. My testing suggests it’s a top performer in the high-speed chatter test; within a couple of % of the winner.

Of course, in fast gravel corners, the lack of large side knobs means slightly less grip. However, for most gravel conditions, this tire provided plenty of traction and confidence.

I found the Terra Speed to be quite smooth and silent on the tarmac. But in muddy conditions, it quickly reached its limit. You’ll prefer a tire with more aggressive side knobs for those conditions.

With zero punctures, an effortless tubeless setup, and outstanding speed, this is a no-brainer for gravel riders who want a fast yet versatile tire.

Purchase Links:
700C x 35mm (Black): $49 on Amazon
700C x 40mm (Black): $51 on Amazon
700C x 40mm (Tan): $56 on Amazon
700C x 45mm (Black): $66 on Amazon
700C x 45mm (Tan): $55 on Amazon
650B x 35mm (Black): $58 on Amazon
650B x 40mm (Black): $66 on Amazon
650B x 40mm (Tan): $58 on Amazon

Teravail Rutland (1st Place)

The Teravail Rutland was a huge surprise in my test and an instant favorite!

The tread pattern delivered excellent traction in almost any condition – wet or dry. Just point your bike where you want to go, and Rutland will take you there.

The Teravail Rutland is not the quietest or fastest tire but it never felt sluggish either. With ample comfort for its volume thanks to the thin tire sidewalls, and excellent traction as a result of the knobby tread pattern – this is a fantastic all-rounder model, and now my go-to front gravel tire.

I tested the “Light & Supple” version, which initially worried me about punctures. But after many long rides, I had zero flats. I also found the tubeless installation to be effortless, and the tubeless performance flawless.

I’ll be selecting the 47mm wide version next time to permit even lower air pressures, ensuring even more comfort and traction.

Purchase links:
700C x 35mm (Black): $65 on Amazon
700C x 42mm (Tan): $55 on Amazon
700C x 42mm (Black): $56 on Amazon
700C x 47mm (Tan): $65 on Amazon
650B x 47mm (Black): $68 on Amazon
650B x 47mm (Tan): $68 on Amazon

The Best Gravel Tires of this Test

The best gravel tire for comfort and traction is the Teravail Rutland.

The Rutland was very comfortable, had bucketloads of traction, and was easy to set up tubeless. While it wasn’t the fastest-rolling tire I tested, the high comfort and grip scores allowed it to rise to the top of my leaderboard.

If you’re prepared to sacrifice some cornering grip for extra speed, the best gravel tires are the Continental Terra Speed or the Tufo Thundero. The Continental was the fastest-rolling tire I tested, but the Tufo had the edge when it came to overall comfort.

For a $10-20 saving per tire, you can’t go wrong with the WTB Raddler. This model was tested to be very comfortable (2nd over the high-frequency bumps), and despite its slower rolling speed, I found it to be a great tire overall.

• Comfort Lab

I Found The Best Gravel Tires For Maximum Comfort, Speed and Grip

byKrzysztof Wierzbicki

February 19, 2025

• Comfort Lab

Cushcore Tire Insert Review: A Shocking Result On Gravel Roads

byKrzysztof Wierzbicki

June 24, 2023

• Comfort Lab

Vibration Testing Six Supple Gravel Tires – Which Is Most Comfortable?

byKrzysztof Wierzbicki

June 20, 2023

• Comfort Lab

Vibration Testing Supple Gravel Tires From Rene Herse, Schwalbe & Soma

byKrzysztof Wierzbicki

June 11, 2023

The post I Found The Best Gravel Tires For Maximum Comfort, Speed and Grip appeared first on CYCLINGABOUT.com.

Would you like to enjoy long bike rides in comfort?

The Cycling Comfort Course by Krzysztof Wierzbicki is your guide to a comfortable ride. Inside you’ll find clear recommendations about different bike components and learn about the best possible upgrades for enhancing ride comfort.

Save Time Researching About Comfort Upgrades

Krzysztof has been testing, comparing, and reviewing bikes and bike parts for the last five years. He measures the comfort of different bikes and components using a special vibration sensor and testing protocol to ensure his reviews are as objective as possible.

Along the way, Krzysztof has found the best comfort-oriented bikes and components that make his rides much more enjoyable.

Now, he wants to share all of that knowledge with you.

Let Us Fast-Track Our Comfort Lab Experience To You

✓ Understand the most important comfort upgrades on a bicycle
✓ Learn how to set up your bike for optimal comfort
✓ Make the 50+ reviews found in the CYCLINGABOUT Comfort Lab even more useful

What’s Inside The Cycling Comfort Course?

The primary subject areas covered in this digital book include:
✓ Tires
✓ Suspension Seatposts
✓ Suspension Stems
✓ Handlebars & Bar Tape
✓ Saddles
✓ Suspension Forks

Krzysztof also shares some bike fitting tips and details about his gravel bike including all the parts he has selected and why they are the best for him. Although the course primarily focuses on road and gravel bikes, much of the available advice applies to other types of bikes too.

Soon you too will be riding further and waking up the next day with much less fatigue!

How To Order The Cycling Comfort Course

Length: 61 Pages
Format: Interactive PDF
Size: 62MB
Price: US $10
Purchase Link: HERE

When you purchase the Cycling Comfort Course, the proceeds directly support further comfort research and testing at CYCLINGABOUT. We appreciate your order!

The Cycling Comfort Course Will Help You:

✓ Choose the best tire and optimal air pressure for comfort
✓ Stay seated on bumpy terrain with a well-chosen suspension seatpost
✓ Reduce hand and upper body fatigue using a suspension stem
✓ Select the best handlebars and bar tape for comfort
✓ Find a saddle that suits your needs
✓ Decide if a suspension fork is necessary for your use

What Format Does The Cycling Comfort Course Come In?

The Cycling Comfort Course is a digital download.

Save the interactive PDF to your computer or smartphone and enjoy. You will pay securely with a credit card (we have secure SSL certificates), and then get an email link to download the course.

Your journey to much more comfortable rides begins today!

How To Buy The Cycling Comfort Course

Length: 61 Pages
Format: Interactive PDF
Size: 62MB
Price: US $10
Purchase Link: HERE

When you purchase the Cycling Comfort Course, the proceeds directly support further comfort research and testing at CYCLINGABOUT. We appreciate your order!

The post The Cycling Comfort Course Will Help You Choose The Best Comfort Upgrades! appeared first on CYCLINGABOUT.com.

But what happens if you ride a gravel bike, and prefer the ergonomics, lever feel, reliability and brake performance of Shimano GRX Di2? Can you wire a Pinion Smart Shift gearbox to Shimano GRX Di2 levers?

One CYCLINGABOUT reader was dissatisfied with his TRP Hywire levers. Patrick found that the brake master cylinder leaked droplets of hydraulic fluid that accumulated over time and ended up on his hands and handlebar.

Patrick decided to go on a journey to see if Shimano GRX Di2 shift levers would work instead. This was never going to be a straightforward task as Shimano uses proprietary plugs for their Di2 system. In other words, you can’t just connect the Shimano wires to the interface of a Pinion Smart Shift gearbox.

But Patrick still found a way to combine Shimano GRX Di2 levers with a Pinion Smart Shift gearbox! You can read his step-by-step tutorial HERE.

How To Wire Shimano GRX Di2 Levers To A Pinion Smart Shift Gearbox

Inside Shimano GRX RX815 levers are two shift buttons that connect to a small, round “function box”. This function box contains the interface electronics for the Di2 plug. For Patrick to make this hack work, the Pinion Smart Shift wires would need to be soldered directly to the wires inside this function box.

Patrick first removed the rubber cover of his right-hand GRX Di2 lever and untightened a small screw to gain access to the function box.

Next, he had to get inside the function box. A cap had been glued over the body of the box, so Patrick carefully cut through the glue until he could insert a spudger and pry off the cap. And there it was – the circuit board with the interface electronics.

Patrick pried up the circuit board to reveal three wires connected to the shift buttons. The wires were de-soldered and the Di2 cable was pulled from its hole. He then used a multimeter to confirm the shift buttons were wired up to function as expected. Yellow was “shift up”, purple was “shift down” and grey was a common wire that completes the electrical circuit.

To conveniently connect and disconnect the lever, Patrick purchased two 3-pin Higo Mini-X connectors/sockets. He soldered one of the cables to the function box and the other to the wire that originally came with the TRP levers.

The hardest bit was soldering the new wires to the existing wires inside the function box. The box is incredibly small and the cable lengths inside the box were very short. Patrick also had to remember to put heat shrink on the wires before soldering.

Once everything was soldered together, Patrick decided to fill the whole box with hot glue to seal it from humidity and protect the wiring from vibration. There was no need to re-fit the original cap as the box was now fully potted with glue.

And just like that, Patrick likely had the world’s first Pinion-compatible Di2 shifter!

Connecting The Levers and Gearbox

The last thing to solder was the other Higo connector to the Pinion Smart Shift cabling connecting to the gearbox. Patrick then added some heat shrink over the wires and hid them all in his downtube.

Currently, the shift buttons on the Shimano GRX RX815 right side lever are working fine and reliably. If Patrick wanted, he could connect the left lever in a similar way to be able to shift with both hands.

You can see more pictures and information about the Shimano GRX Di2 hack HERE.

• Bikes
• Gravel Bikes

The 7 Best Pinion Gearbox Gravel Bikes & Commuter Bikes In North America (USA)

byAlee Denham

May 2, 2024

• Bikes
• Gravel Bikes

The Priority Gemini Pinion Gravel Bike Has A Gearbox & Belt Drive For $3499

byAlee Denham

April 29, 2024

The post How To Wire Shimano GRX Di2 Levers To A Pinion Smart Shift Gearbox appeared first on CYCLINGABOUT.com.

I’ve spent the last month researching the latest touring and bikepacking bikes, calculating various measurements, observing the latest trends, contacting bike manufacturers (for additional information), and updating all the terminology and general advice in my guides.

I’ll share my favourite bikes in the coming months – stay tuned for that.

Latest Changes To The Bikepacking Bike Buyer’s Guide

A big change for 2025 has been the re-classification of what it is to be a “gravel” bike.

Gravel bike tyre clearances are currently getting wider; it’s not uncommon to find bikes designed to fit 2.20” or 55mm wide tyres. To reflect the evolving design of gravel bikes, I’ve pulled a bunch of models from the “off-road” category and put them in the “gravel” category.

Another change I’ve made is the introduction of around 20 new lightweight cross country hardtail mountain bikes. These bikes fill the gap between gravel bikes with a suspension fork, and the more capable mountain bikes in my guide.

Cross country MTBs are often just as light as gravel bikes, however, they offer more off-road capability thanks to their suspension fork, longer front centre, and ability to swallow wider tyres. Downsides include smaller front chainring sizes (for top-end speed), smaller frame triangles (limiting frame pack volume), and a longer reach to the handlebar (less upright riding position).

The last big change is that I’ve created more off-road bikepacking bike categories.

With the influx of lightweight XC mountain bikes with 2.3 to 2.5″ tyre clearance, creating a category of bikes with 2.6 to 3.0″ wide tyres made sense. Most of these bikes use rigid forks and are broadly known as “plus” bikes (eg. 27.5+ or 29+ tyres).

The Touring Bicycle Buyer’s Guide has seen another wave of new bikes with a gearbox (or internal gear hub) and belt drive. There are now more than 100 models!

These gear systems are less susceptible to damage and experience significantly less component wear than derailleur drivetrains. They have a very wide gear range, instant gear changes and don’t require any tuning or adjustment. The only maintenance is an oil change every 5,000 to 10,000 km.

Almost all gearbox bikes are equipped with belt drives, which are maintenance-free, very clean, and can last significantly longer than a chain.

Compare Bike Sizing On Bike Insights

A large proportion of my time has been spent inputting the latest frame geometry numbers of every bike in my books into the website Bike Insights.

If you haven’t seen this nifty web tool before, it allows you to visualise the size differences between any two bikes found in my guides. It is particularly useful when determining the best bike size for you, as manufacturers do not have a standardised way of sizing them.

For example, use this link to see the 63cm Bianchi Impulso gravel bike overlayed on the 56cm Kona Sutra. Given the sizing name, you’d think they’d be 3 to 4 sizes apart, but they measure up almost identically in terms of frame length and handlebar height.

While the sizing discrepancies aren’t always this stark, Bike Insights is a useful way of checking you’re getting the right-sized bike.

Another useful way to use Bike Insights is to borrow, hire, test, or get professionally fitted to a bike that (1) feels good in terms of size, and (2) is listed in the Bike Insights database. You can then use this bike as a size benchmark for comparing any of the bikes in my guides.

Accessing The Update

Those who have already purchased my buyer’s guide(s) will have received an email with the book updates on the 5th of February 2025.

If you have already purchased these guides, you can also search your email system for your original “Gumroad” receipt. That will take you to your portal with the latest book(s), along with the buyer’s guides from previous years.

Failing that, please get in contact with me using a private message on Facebook or Instagram (note: I’m currently cycling through Africa and don’t always have an internet connection).

If you’re a new customer, awesome! My guides will teach you everything about bikepacking or touring bikes, before allowing you to compare over 320 bikes at the back of the books. These guides are updated yearly – for free – so you can always keep on top of the latest bikes and information.

You can get the Bikepacking Bike Buyer’s Guide HERE.
You can get the Touring Bicycle Buyer’s Guide HERE.

The post The 2025 Touring & Bikepacking Bike Buyer’s Guides Are Now Available appeared first on CYCLINGABOUT.com.

If you aren’t familiar with alt bars, they’re a unique type of mountain bike handlebar that’s designed for long-distance riding. These comfortable handlebars offer a broad variety of hand positions, riding postures, and accessory mounting points. Most of these bars will provide some extra steering leverage for better control over your loaded bike too.

To make sure you properly understand upright riding positions, backsweep angles, backward reach, grip design, handlebar material and much more – make sure to first read my complete guide to finding the most comfortable alt bars HERE.

Right, let’s dive straight into the best alt bars currently available.

The Best Alt Bars For Bikepacking and Touring

The alt bars listed below are in order from largest to smallest backsweep.

• Best For Varied Hand Positions: Velo Orange Crazy Bars
• Best For Comfort and Speed: KOGA Denham Bars
• Best For Frames With A Short Reach: Surly Moloko
• Best For Maximum Control: Tumbleweed Persuader
• Best For High Rise: Ritchey Comp Buzzard
• Best For Value For Money: Ritchey Kyote
• Best For Most Mountain Bikers: Salsa Bend Deluxe
• Best For Shock Absorption: Passchier Gump 760
• Best For New Alt Bar Users: Soma Dream Lowdown
• Best For Lightweight Design: SQlab 311 FL-X Carbon
• Best For Aero Loop: Satori Falcon Aero
• Best For High Rise & Small Backsweep: Cannondale Cruise Control
• Best For Drop Bar Conversions: Curve Remlaw

Note: I may earn a commission when you purchase a handlebar through my links. This directly supports CYCLINGABOUT and allows me to continue to provide high-quality cycling information to you.

Velo Orange Crazy Bars V2

Best For Varied Hand Positions

Backsweep: 35-degrees
Width: 780 mm
Rise: 40mm (1.6″)
Stem Clamp: 31.8mm
Material: Aluminium
Weight: 532g (18.8 oz)

$109 at Amazon

The Velo Orange Crazy Bars use a 35-degree backsweep angle and a long backward reach. This means it will best suit the most upright of riding positions.

Velo Orange touts their second version of the Crazy Bars as “intended for touring on paved and unpaved roads, single and double track, gravel and crushed limestone, and everything in between”. As this handlebar is almost identical to the handlebar I designed myself (KOGA Denham Bars), I have to say – I agree with this assessment!

The 780mm width provides excellent control and leverage on rough surfaces, while the bullhorn section offers an aerodynamic position for smoother roads and headwinds.

If you don’t feel the need for the bullhorns, the Velo Orange Seine Bar is the same design, minus the bullhorns.

KOGA Denham Bars

Best For Control and Speed

Backsweep: 34-degrees
Width: 711 mm
Rise: None
Stem Clamp: 31.8mm
Material: Aluminium
Weight: 400g (14.1oz)

€120 at Vakantiefietser

I designed the KOGA Denham Bars for world bicycle travellers. The shape was inspired by the Crazy Bars V1, and I suspect the KOGA Denham Bars then informed the later-released Crazy Bars V2.

The KOGA Denham Bars offer lots of control over a loaded bike, there are many hand positions for comfort, and the bullhorns allow you to be more aerodynamic in headwinds. The bullhorns essentially mimic the hoods of a drop bar, making them a nice spot to hold on faster rides.

A great thing about these bars is that they fit bikepacking bags, large handlebar bags, and randonneur bags and baskets.

While this handlebar is certainly similar to the Crazy Bars, it features less rise, less width, shorter grip sections, and a slightly smaller backsweep angle. This makes it a bit better in urban areas. I typically recommend fitting these bars to bikes with the handlebars level with the stem (at a minimum).

While I use and love these handlebars, they are unfortunately the most difficult to purchase on this list due to the small-scale manufacturing and international shipping costs. Don’t worry, I won’t be offended if you choose the Velo Orange Crazy Bars instead!

You can read my in-depth article about the KOGA Denham Bars and their design HERE.

Surly Moloko

Best For Upright Frames With A Short Reach

Backsweep: 34-degrees
Width: 735 mm
Rise: None
Stem Clamp: 31.8mm
Material: Steel
Weight: 709g (25oz)

$110 at Jenson USA

The Surly Moloko might look similar to the above handlebars, but in terms of backward reach, it couldn’t be more different. This handlebar swoops a long way forward before starting its backsweep, resulting in almost no backward reach.

This design quirk makes the Moloko especially suitable for drop bar conversions, and for those who are seeking a large backsweep without making their ride position more upright. It also means you can ride mountain bike trails without risking your bars slipping.

The Moloko features a loop that gives you some more hand positions and additional space for mounting accessories. You can even get handlebar bags that nest perfectly inside the loop; I have a bunch listed in this resource. That said, when you install a bag you lose some hand positions and possibly even some accessory mounting points.

Tumbleweed Persuader 30

Best For Maximum Control

Backsweep: 31-degrees
Width: 800/840mm
Rise: 50mm (2″)
Stem Clamp: 31.8mm
Material: Aluminium
Weight: 411g (14.5oz)

$115 at Campfire Cycling

The Tumbleweed Persuader is the widest alt bar featured in this resource, and this provides maximum control over your loaded bike. They have a lot of backward reach and slightly less backsweep than the previous bars we’ve seen. The 50mm rise should make the Persuador especially well-suited to low front-end bikes.

You can get these bars in aluminium or steel. I think the aluminium ones are the pick as they’re quite lightweight for a tough adventure bar, plus the 160mm wide, 31.8mm clamp area is a great space for bikepacking gadgets.

You can also get the Persuader with a 20-degree backsweep. This will be ideal if your bars are not super upright, or you’re not ready to commit to a large backsweep angle just yet.

Ritchey Comp Buzzard

Best For High Rise Design

Backsweep: 27.5-degrees
Width: 820mm
Rise: 70mm (2.8″)
Stem Clamp: 31.8mm
Material: Aluminium
Weight: 367g (13.0oz)

$58 at Amazon

If you want a more upright ride position without the long backward reach of the Tumbleweed Persuader, you cannot beat the Ritchey Comp Buzzard. This bar is wide like the Persuader but thanks to its short backward reach, it won’t make your bike feel any smaller.

This bar can turn old mountain bikes (with a low front end) into mile-munching touring or bikepacking machines.

The Ritchey Comp Buzzard has a nice wide centre section to accommodate various bags and accessories. It’s built lightweight thanks to the double-butted aluminium and it even comes in at a great price.

Ritchey Kyote

Best For Value For Money

Backsweep: 27.5-degrees
Width: 800mm
Rise: 35mm (1.4″)
Stem Clamp: 31.8mm
Material: Aluminium
Weight: 355g (12.5oz)

$44 at Amazon

Ritchey also has other great comfort MTB handlebars such as this one – the Ritchey Kyote. This alt bar is essentially a low-rise version of the Comp Buzzard, so it offers a short backward reach too.

The Kyote is perfect for those who are looking to maintain a lower ride position and will be great for drop bar bike conversions too. The best bit is that it’s only US $44.

Whisky Scully

Best For Moderate Backsweep Angle

Backsweep: 23-degrees
Width: 820mm
Rise: 20mm (0.8″)
Stem Clamp: 31.8mm
Material: Carbon
Weight: 237g (8.4oz)

$180 at Amazon

If you’re a bit of a gram counter, but still want some backsweep – you’ll love the Whisky Scully. This handlebar is one-third of the weight of the Surly Moloko, thanks to its carbon construction.

It’s still ISO tested for bumpy terrain and would be a great upgrade for paved commutes and whatever off-road riding you’re into — gravel, XC, singletrack, and beyond.

The 23-degree backsweep is now getting closer to the common shape of a city bike handlebar. It has a moderate backward reach, and moderate rise too.

Passchier Gump 760

Best For Shock Absorption

Backsweep: 22-degrees
Width: 650/760mm
Rise: None
Stem Clamp: 31.8mm
Material: Bamboo
Weight: 330g (11.6 oz)

$225 at Passchier

Bamboo offers greater natural flex than traditional handlebar materials. These are the most flexible handlebars I’ve ever ridden. They flex so much up and down that you can actually see them moving underneath you (check out this video).

This flex isolates your upper body from shock and vibration coming up from the road or trail and helps your eyeballs to rattle a bit less in your skull. The great thing is that despite all this flex, they still pass ISO fatigue and strength testing.

The Passchiers are made from laminated bamboo with a carbon fibre sleeve in the middle for the stem clamp. You can get them in two different widths, and they offer a modest 22-degree backsweep angle.

Soma Dream Lowdown

Best For New Alt Bar Users

Backsweep: 20-degrees
Width: 780mm
Rise: 25mm (1″)
Stem Clamp: 31.8mm
Material: Aluminium
Weight: 425g (15oz)

$99 at Amazon

The Soma Dream Lowdown is an alt bar with less backsweep and backward reach than most. As this bar has moderate dimensions all around, I think it’s a really good starting point for those who are alt bar curious!

The bar is still quite wide, giving you a whole lot of control over your loaded bike. And the 25mm rise makes it suitable for those chasing a slightly higher bar height than what they currently have.

These aluminium alt bars are lightweight for a tough adventure bar, plus the wide section at the front of the bar provides ample space for lights, smartphones, and GPS devices.

Salsa Bend Deluxe

Best For Most Mountain Bikers

Backsweep: 17/23-degrees
Width: 710/740mm
Rise: None
Stem Clamp: 31.8mm
Material: Aluminium
Weight: 309g (10.9 oz)

$78 at Jenson USA

The Salsa Bend Deluxe is an MTB-specific flat bar that’s available with a moderate 17 or 23-degree backsweep angle. They’re tough, strong and durable, and great for long days of bikepacking, touring, or shredding singletrack.

The Bend Deluxe offers a very short backward reach to preserve your stem length, meaning that when you fit these comfortable MTB handlebars to your bike, the reach to the bars will likely end up in the right ballpark.

Go for the 17-degree model if your bars are lower than your saddle, or you want to give alt bars a try without committing to a large backsweep. Try the 23-degree model if your bars sit a bit taller.

SQlab 311 FL-X Carbon

Best For Ultralight Design

Backsweep: 12/16-degrees
Width: 740 mm
Rise: 15, 30mm
Stem Clamp: 31.8mm
Material: Carbon
Weight: 198g (6.9 oz)

$339 at Amazon

SQlab has built its name on comfort. Their research suggests that a cyclist’s wrists are overstretched on any flat bar with less than a 9-degree backsweep angle…

That’s why the SQlab 311 FL-X handlebars offer a generous 12 or 16-degree backsweep angle, and with a longer backward reach than most bars in the MTB category, they provide a more upright riding position too.

The 311 FL-X bars have been designed to flex more than most handlebars, and this will result in a super comfortable ride on both rough roads and trails.

And at under 200 grams, the SQlab 311 FL-X handlebars are also the lightest on this list.

Satori Falcon Aero

Best For Aero Loop

Backsweep: 15-degrees
Width: 740mm
Rise: None
Stem Clamp: 31.8mm
Material: Aluminium
Weight: 504g (1.1lb)

$44 on Amazon

The Satori Faclon Aero combines the loop design of other alt bars with one of the more conservative backsweep angles on this list. As a result, it shouldn’t feel too different from a standard mountain bike bar. While it doesn’t have any rise, there are ample hand positions for comfort.

The loop adds space for luggage storage, and accessories (phone, GPS, lights etc), as well as an aero hand position. The loop is a similar size to other alt handlebars, allowing it to fit bags made for Jones and Surly bars.

Cannondale Cruise Control

Best For High Rise & Low Backsweep Angle

Backsweep: 15-degrees
Width: 740mm
Rise: 100mm (4″)
Stem Clamp: 31.8mm
Material: Aluminium
Weight: 433g (1.7lb)

$67 at Amazon

If you’re after a whole bunch of rise with a more familiar backsweep angle, you’ll be best off with handlebars that feature a reinforcing crossbar. The Cannondale Cruise Control is a retro-inspired cruiser bar, trail bar, comfort bar, and BMX bar all rolled into one!

The best bit about the Cannondale Cruise Control is that it’s lightweight aluminium (rather than steel) and uses a regular 31.8mm stem clamp, unlike many handlebars of this moto design.

Curve Remlaw

Best For Drop Bar Conversions

Backsweep: 12-degrees
Width: 800mm
Rise: None
Stem Clamp: 31.8mm
Material: Aluminium
Weight: 400g (14.1 oz)

$99 at Curve Cycling

The Remlaw Bar is the only handlebar here with a forward reach design!

Curve essentially wanted to create a flat bar that could be used in place of a drop bar, yet still have comparable reach without compromising handling.

When converting from a drop bar to the Remlaw Bar, the same length stem can be used as it puts your hands in a very similar position in space.

Best Alt Bars Summary

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The post The 13 Best Alt Bars For Bikepacking and Touring (Comfortable MTB Handlebars) appeared first on CYCLINGABOUT.com.

Alt bars are a type of handlebars that are designed specifically for long-distance cycling. They typically offer a broad variety of hand positions, riding postures, and accessory mounts. In addition, you’ll gain extra steering leverage for better control over your loaded bike.

Alt bars are suitable for those who are touring on paved and dirt roads, along 4×4 tracks, down singletrack trails, through unkept fields, and across everything in between.

With the varied hand positions of these handlebars, you’ll not only get to change the pressure points in your hands throughout the day, but you’ll activate different muscles in your arms and back too. Alt bars ultimately help you to look after your body on long rides.

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A comfortable alt bar setup might even give you the power to cycle more miles, recover quicker, and enjoy more of the scenery while riding.

Many of the alt bars I recommend in this article HERE will help you achieve a more upright riding position. This is usually accomplished by reducing the distance between your saddle and the grips via large backsweep angles, a long backward reach, and a tall handlebar rise – you’ll learn about these terms in a moment!

Alright, let’s find out how to choose the most comfortable alt bars for bikepacking and touring.

Upright Riding Positions

The first thing you need to consider is how upright your riding posture is, and whether it would be beneficial to set your grips even higher.

Your core muscles fatigue on long rides, so most people end up putting more weight onto their hands as the hours go on. By increasing your handlebar height, you can keep the load on your hands at an acceptable level.

In addition, a more upright riding posture usually reduces strain on the neck, shoulders and back, and you tend to look around more at your surroundings.

The primary downside of an upright posture is a less aerodynamic riding position, but you can still rocket along if you fit some aero bars onto your alt bars (highly recommended).

A great starting point for a comfortable alt bar setup is setting your handlebar level with your saddle. You can do this by selecting a bar with a tall rise. If a tall bar setup is new to you, make sure to give it some time for your body to adapt as it might feel a bit strange at the start.

It’s worth noting taller riders will often tolerate a lower handlebar compared to shorter riders as they have longer limbs relative to their torso length. Riders with a strong core tend to also tolerate a lower bar. That said, individual variations exist, and not everyone fits these general patterns.

And a downstream effect of fitting taller bars is that you might also need to swap to a more padded saddle (as you now have more weight on your butt!).

Ok, you should now have a good idea about handlebar height, so let’s discuss the ideal backsweep angle.

Alt Bar Backsweep Angle

Alt bars use larger backsweep angles than typical MTB handlebars. This helps to preserve the natural wrist position of a more upright riding position, reducing finger numbness (which often arises from overstretching your wrist).

I consider:
Small backsweep angles to be 5 to 12 degrees <- almost all MTB bars
Moderate backsweep angles to be 12 to 25 degrees
Large backsweep angles to be 25 to 35 degrees

It’s instantly noticeable going from a flat MTB bar with a 5-12 degree backsweep angle to the 20+ degree backsweep angles of most alt bars.

The perfect backsweep is determined primarily by your ride posture, but also core strength, grip choice, and glove choice. There’s a healthy dose of personal preference in there too.

The more upright and relaxed your body posture, the more backsweep angle you will likely find comfortable. This is because your elbows will naturally pull in closer to your body, changing both your wrist angle and the interaction between your hands and grips.

Conversely, smaller backsweep angles generally suit lower, performance-oriented body postures as your elbows naturally sit wider (see animation above).

If you were to use a large backsweep angle with a low riding posture you’ll likely find your hands naturally want to rest diagonally over your grips, creating pressure points on your palms.

Here are my backsweep angle starting points:

• 5 to 15° will feel most comfortable if your handlebar is lower than your saddle
• 15 to 25° will feel most comfortable if your handlebar is around the same height as your saddle
• 25 to 35° will feel most comfortable if your handlebar is significantly higher than your saddle

If you’re not sure where to land, I’d recommend starting with a bit less backsweep angle, rather than more. The 15 to 25° range is a great start.

Alt Bar Rise

To achieve a comfortable setup for long-distance riding, you should also consider using alt bars with extra rise, which will allow you to sit a bit more upright.

Handlebar rise is measured from the centre of the handlebar to the bar end. Some bars in this resource have zero millimetres of rise and others have over 100mm of rise (4″).

Additional bar height can also be achieved via your stem or by using a steerer extender.

Keep in mind that the ideal backsweep angle will likely need to increase along with the bar height.

Alt Bar Width

Wider handlebars provide additional steering leverage. This results in better control over heavy-loaded bikes on rough trails.

But wide bars also make splitting traffic, getting through doorways, and riding in tight singletrack more difficult. I’ve found that 700 to 730mm is my sweet spot between bike control and travel practicality. But if I spent less time in urban areas, I would likely prefer something closer to 800mm.

Please note that you can cut down all handlebars to size; manufacturers will usually have a minimum recommended width. Just make sure there is enough space on the grip sections to install your shifter(s) and brakes where you like them first – 200mm is about as short as you can practically go.

Also, keep in mind that wider alt bars increase the effective distance to the bars from the saddle. This means you might need to compensate by using a shorter stem or fitting a bar with a long backward reach…

Backward Reach

A handlebar with a large backsweep angle usually brings your handlebars closer to your body, putting you in a more upright ride position. But it isn’t always the case!

You also need to look at the handlebar’s overall design to determine whether it has a long or short backward reach. Does it swoop forward before starting its backsweep like the Surly Moloko, or swoop backward right from the stem clamp like the KOGA Denham Bars?

Handlebars with a long backward reach (eg. KOGA Denham) will put you in a more upright position by reducing the distance from your saddle to your grips. Conversely, handlebars with a short backward reach (eg. Surly Moloko) will allow you to maintain a body position similar to a flat bar.

One important thing to note about long backward reach handlebars: they are not suitable for all mountain bike trails. This is because they can slip and rotate in the stem clamp after a big impact (eg. rock drop). That said, I regularly ride on singletrack; I just make sure to avoid jumps or drops that could cause my bars to slip.

Alt Bar Stem Length

The length of the backward reach also needs to be considered along with your stem length.

To a large degree, you can use stem length to place your grips in the perfect location. But this might require changing your stem length by 30 to 60mm, depending on what riding position you’re looking to achieve.

In some circumstances, you might need to use an especially long stem to get your grips in the ideal position. For example, if you want to fit a handlebar with a long backward reach to a drop bar frame, a 130 or 140mm stem might be required.

Alt Bars and Frame Design

Another thing to consider is the handlebar design that will best pair with your frame.

A flat bar frame (like a mountain bike) is usually the best option for a handlebar with a long backward reach. This is because flat bar frames are usually longer than drop bar frames (by ~50mm), so they will likely accommodate a handlebar with a large backsweep angle and long backward reach.

A drop bar frame (like a road bike) is usually the best candidate for a handlebar with additional forward reach. This is because drop bar frames are usually shorter than flat bar frames, so you’ll want some forward reach to make sure the grips aren’t too close to your body.

Alt Bars For Drop Bar Frames

The most suitable alt bars for a drop bar frame either have a small backward reach or none at at.

There are also alt bars that have been designed specifically for drop bar conversions. These unique handlebars have a large forward reach, allowing you to place your hands slightly in front of the stem clamp.

The Curve Remlaw preserves the hand position of a drop bar without requiring a different length stem. They might even save you a bit of money as you might not need to buy a longer stem.

WhatBars Comparison Tool

A really cool tool for comparing alt bars is WhatBars.

You’ll find many handlebar options in there. Simply select a few bars and the tool will allow you to visualise and compare their geometry and grip locations.

Fitting Inner Bar Ends To Alt Bars

If you like the idea of the ‘bullhorn’ hand position found on the Crazy Bars or Denham Bars, you can find component manufacturers that create clip-on versions.

This hand position is not only more aerodynamic, but it puts different pressure through your hands, and changes the load through your wrists, arms, back and neck.

An internal study by SQlab showed that these inner bar ends can save 14 watts of power output at a speed of 36 km/h (280 watts). This is simply because these inner hand holds put your body in a more aerodynamic riding position.

The Soma Bar Ins Extensions are a great choice as you can choose your clamp location, extension length, and even the inward and upward tilt angles. There is a short (95mm) and long (150mm) bullhorn available.

The Bar Ins clamps angle the extensions inward about 25°, so the extensions would stick straight out on a 25° backsweep alt bar. If you wanted to match the 7° inward bullhorn angle of the Denham Bars, you would need to find an alt bar with an 18° backsweep angle.

Spirgrips are a more performance-oriented product that’s designed to sit next to your grips. They are much shorter and lighter than Soma Bar Ins and are shaped to cup your hands well. They are angled inward to ensure your wrists engage with your bars at a suitable angle.

The SQlab Innerbarends 410 2.0 are another great option, and these best fit right next to your grips. A cool feature is that you can integrate them directly with the lock-on SQlab grips, removing one of the grip clamps. The only downside is that compared to the Bar Ins, you’ll have less ability to tune the angles.

You can, of course, use any regular bar ends too. The only downside is that they’re not usually designed for sweptback handlebars so you might find they angle outwards rather than inwards.

Alt Bar Materials

Alt bar manufacturers offer a broad range of materials including aluminium, steel, titanium, carbon and even bamboo.

The best alt bars for most riders are made from aluminium, which balances cost, weight, comfort, and durability in equal measure. However, other materials are becoming increasingly common in alt bars for various reasons.

To generalise:
– Steel alt bars are known for their durability but they’re heavy
– Carbon handlebars are strong and lightweight but they’re less forgiving to crashes and rough transit
– Titanium handlebars are durable and lightweight but also quite expensive

I’ve listed a bamboo model in my best alt bars article as I found it to have a shocking amount of compliance built in. You can see it deflect a couple of centimetres just by pushing down on it – there is a video of this flex in my article.

Alt Bar Grips

Your grip choice is arguably just as important as the alt bar itself.

One of my top recommendations for alt bar grips is thick silicone grips. These super soft grips will not only damp vibration coming up from the road or trail but conform nicely to your hands.

My two favourite silicone grips are the Wolf Tooth Fat Paw lock-on and ESI Extra Chunky.

My other recommendation is grips with a shaped design. These grips have been optimised for large backsweep angles, which allows your hands and wrists to sit at a very natural angle. These grip designs also often have a ridge in the middle that cups inside your palm, and a rearward wing that distributes hand pressure across a larger surface area.

Look out for the Ergon GC1, XLC GR-S22 or SQlab 710 for an extra comfortable design on a handlebar with lots of backsweep angle.

Handlebars and Bags

And lastly, make sure to think about how your luggage will integrate with the bars you choose.

A wide straight section next to the stem is ideal for mounting bikepacking handlebar packs (eg. Revelate) and touring handlebar bags (eg. Ortlieb). Alt bars with shapes that sweep forward before starting their backsweep can especially create clearance issues with wider bags.

You’ll notice that some of these handlebars feature a loop. This provides more hand positions and space for accessories, and can also serve as a small front rack.

Summary

Now that you have a good idea about everything alt bars, it’s time to head over to my article that features the 13 Best Alt Bars For Bikepacking and Touring.

I’ve narrowed down the best alt bar picks with varying backsweep angles, rises, and more. With multiple options at the US $50 price point, you should find something in your budget and for your needs.

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The post How To Choose The Most Comfortable Alt Bars For Bikepacking & Touring appeared first on CYCLINGABOUT.com.

I’ve been on a quest to find the best gravel handlebars for a long time, and have gleaned many insights from testing different models for their shape, material, and vibration-damping qualities.

In my most recent handlebar test, I directly compared carbon and aluminium handlebars to see if there was a difference in terms of vibration absorption.

This time, I’m comparing two highly unique gravel handlebars:
– The Deda Gera Carbon with its unusual bar shape, and
– The Lauf Smoothie with added glass fibre for greater vibration absorption

So, will the glass fibre of the Smoothie yield more comfort, or will the bar shape of the Gera win out? Let’s find out.

Deda Gera Carbon Gravel Handlebars

The Deda Gera is a handlebar designed specifically for gravel, and it has a very distinctive look. Most notable are the bar tops that sweep forward and up (7mm rise) from the stem, and then gently flow back down to level at a 12-degree angle.

To inform this design, Deda took inspiration from the natural posture of the hands and wrists and how they naturally extend onto the bar tops. This shape is said to provide a more ergonomic wrist angle for all-day comfort. The bar tops also help bring your elbows in closer to your sides, which might improve your aerodynamics.

I’m actually quite familiar with this shape as it closely resembles the Coefficient Wave handlebar I’ve previously tested (and found to be very comfortable).

In addition to the unique bar tops, these bars have a very short reach (40 mm) and a compact drop (100 mm). With such short distances between hand positions, it makes moving your hands about the bars very quick.

The Deda Gera Carbon also features 16-degrees of flare (outsweep) down to the drops. This increases the width of the bars at the drops by 80 mm, providing additional steering leverage to take on rougher terrain. Your handling confidence can be enhanced further thanks to the notably wide widths available (440 to 480 mm).

You can get the Deda Gera in carbon fibre or a comparatively affordable aluminium version (US $126). If you so desire, aero bars can be installed next to the stem or on the 7mm high raised bar tops. The latter achieves a taller ride position for your elbow pads, however, it will also render the bar tops unusable.

Lauf Smoothie Gravel Handlebars

The Lauf Smoothie features a much more classic shape than the Gera making it great for a mix of road and gravel riding.

The key selling point of the Lauf Smoothie is the addition of glass fibre to the carbon layout. According to Lauf, this helps damp vibrations and gives the handlebar “almost double the compliance” of a normal carbon handlebar.

More vibration attenuation should make the Smoothie ideal for road and gravel riding, so does the glass fibre actually improve comfort?

I’ll be answering that shortly, but let’s first discuss the handlebar shape.

The Smoothie features flattened bar tops with a moderate three-degree back sweep. These flattened bar tops create a bit more surface area for your palms, which can both increase comfort and provide additional grip.

The Smoothie is available in 400, 420 and 440 mm wide variants. Like the Gera, there is a 16-degree flare down to the drops, and this adds 70 mm of additional width in the drops for extra control over your bike.

The reach (80mm) is twice as long as the Gera and the bar drop is bigger too (125 mm vs 100mm). The Smoothie’s design much closer resembles the geometry we see on road bike handlebars.

Installing These Comfortable Gravel Handlebars

The Lauf Smoothie is the most straightforward handlebar to install as you cannot route your cables inside the handlebar, perhaps as a result of the added glass fibre. Instead, the cables flow underneath the bar tops.

When it comes to cable routing, the Deda Gera is much trickier as a result of its shape. You can route the cables internally, but it’s a tough challenge to get around the bend and requires a lot of patience.

I found that adjusting the bar tilt is somewhat limiting on the Smoothie as the flattened bar tops only feel comfortable within a very short tilt range.

In comparison, the Deda Gera allows for quite a broad range of tilt and brake hood placement. This allowed me to tinker with bar ergonomics and get the height of the brake hoods in a location that worked perfectly for me.

Gravel Handlebars With Short or Long Reach?

Bar reach is the distance that the brake levers attach forward of the stem. A road or gravel bike handlebar will usually have a reach of between 70 and 80 mm.

The Lauf Smoothie falls within this reach range (80mm), however, the Deda Gera is significantly shorter (40 mm). This is a big difference should you be swapping between these two specific bars like I did – it’s the equivalent of changing your stem length by 40mm.

The difference in reach translated to my hands being closer to my body while using the Gera.

It’s possible to increase your stem length to accommodate this difference in bar reach. However, if you currently use a stem longer than 100 mm, the Gera might not suit your needs. This is because stems that exceed 140 mm in length are exceedingly rare.

I ended up fitting a 20mm longer stem with the Gera. I also removed 25mm of headset spacers (as the bar drop is shallow), and I mounted the brake hoods a touch lower than usual. These interventions changed the effective bar reach enough for me to get super comfortable.

Another option is that you can move your saddle backward on the rails to achieve a longer distance to the handlebar. However, I’d only recommend this if you’ve been wanting to adjust your saddle position anyway.

But keep in mind that when you fit wider handlebars, you need a shorter bar reach (or shorter stem) to maintain your position. This is because the brake hoods get further away from your torso as the bars get wider. I suspect that Deda opted for so little bar reach because they expect their customers will be upgrading to wider gravel handlebars (which is a growing trend).

What Are These Gravel Handlebars Like To Ride?

The Lauf Smoothie is a rock-solid, confidence-inspiring handlebar. In terms of handling, I liked it the most. With its longer reach and bigger drop, it allowed me to put more of my body weight on the front wheel. This helped gain additional front tyre traction in fast corners.

In comparison, the Deda Gera, with its short reach and moderate drop, made my front tyre feel a bit more vague when cornering. I found it demanded a bit more attention on looser gravel road surfaces. To get my bike handling well, it became clear that I needed to increase my stem length to accommodate for the shorter reach of the Gera.

Where the Deda Gera Carbon handlebar shines is the shape of the bar tops. The additional rise and back sweep translate into a very comfortable hand position, and the pressure across my palms feels perfectly distributed. I’ve now completed multiple 200 km (120 mi) rides on the Deda Gera handlebar and have experienced no hand pain or numbness whatsoever.

The bar tops on the Lauf Smoothie are simply not as comfortable. I noticed they introduced a bit of pressure on my palms, causing minor pain and discomfort. This was most apparent after an hour or two of cycling.

In terms of ride comfort, the Gera is the clear winner for me.

What About Vertical Compliance?

Both the Deda Gera and Lauf Smoothie offer little perceptible flex in the hoods or drops.

There will be enough flex to mitigate some of the energy coming from a big hit. But when it comes to a simple weighted test, these handlebars are not in the same league as other handlebars I’ve tested. In fact, both the Ritchey WCS Carbon Venturemax and Coefficient Wave handlebars offered noticeable flex in the drops.

If the Gera and Smoothie are not super compliant after bigger hits, perhaps we will see an improvement over road and gravel chatter…

My Test Bike and Vibration Measurement Procedure

I conducted my vibration tests on a Mondraker Dusty gravel bike with a 70 mm rigid stem and Challenge Gravine 40 mm tyres. The air pressure was set to 45 PSI (3.1 Bar). The HiRide Sterra suspension fork was hydraulically locked and didn’t play any major role in this test.

My vibration measurement procedure was modified for this test. I mounted my accelerometer closer to the brake hoods, right at the curve between the bar tops and the hoods. This location gives us the most accurate vibration reading from the bar itself. I also took these measurements without any bar tape wrapped underneath.

I had two test scenarios: a smooth asphalt road test, and a high-frequency chatter test that simulates riding on a bumpy gravel road. Both tests were conducted at 25 kph (15 mph).

Vibration Test Results

Smooth Asphalt Road Test

In the fast asphalt road test, the results showed the Lauf Smoothie was consistently 5.3% more effective at damping vibrations than the Deda Gera Carbon. This is a surprisingly large difference and one that suggests that the glass fibre is effective at mitigating vibrations.

High-Frequency Chatter Test

In the high-frequency chatter test, the Lauf Smoothie again showed a reduction in vibrations. However, for this test with larger bumps, the vibration difference had more than halved (2.3%).

Vibration Test Discussion

The interesting thing about these tests is that I did not perceive any reduction in vibrations, and was even surprised that my accelerometer showed some disparity.

I suspect you too won’t notice an appreciatable comfort difference between handlebars with such a small vibration difference. This will especially be the case should you use the appropriate tyre pressure for your body weight, and any of the comfortable bar tapes I recommend.

The Best Gravel Handlebars For Comfort

Both the Lauf Smoothie and Deda Gera are examples of comfortable gravel handlebars, yet they go about executing comfort using different approaches.

The Lauf Smoothie, with its added glass fibre, has been verified by my testing to damp more vibrations than the Deda Gera Carbon. However, I don’t think the vibration reduction will be enough for you to notice.

That means this test really comes down to your preferred bar shape.

If you like a more classic gravel handlebar shape, the Lauf Smoothie is an excellent product. It’s light, stiff, and responsive, and has an edge over other carbon handlebars in terms of vibration damping. The reach is also similar to most road handlebars so it’s unlikely you will need to change your stem length.

That said, if you’ve previously experienced pain, numbness or tingling in your hands, I think you should try the Deda Gera.

The Gera bar tops are the perfect ergonomics for me and might be for you too. This handlebar is compact and easy to move around, and most importantly – still wonderfully comfortable after six or seven hours of riding.

The Deda Gera Aluminium is under half the price of the Gera Carbon and would be a great option if the carbon model was out of your price range. It could also be a better way to test if the bar top shape works for you.

Where Can You Buy The Deda Gera?

• Deda Gera Aluminium 44 cm – US $126 on Amazon
• Deda Gera Aluminium 46 cm – US $133 on Amazon
• Deda Gera Aluminium 48 cm – US $126 on Amazon
• Deda Gera Carbon 44 cm – US $321 on Amazon
• Deda Gera Carbon 46 cm – US $301 on Amazon
• Deda Gera Carbon 48 cm – $322 on Amazon

Note: We may earn a commission when you purchase Deda Gera handlebars through our links. This directly supports CYCLINGABOUT.com and allows us to continue to provide high-quality cycling information to you.

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Importantly, these are not custom one-off bicycles that use obscure components. They are all stock gravel bike models you might find in a bicycle shop near you!

How Did These Become The Lightest Gravel Bikes?

Bike manufacturers use different methods to hit their weight targets.

Some start with an ultralight carbon frameset, while others fit obnoxiously light carbon wheels and components. That said, it’s likely a combination of weight savings that will get your bike model on the lightest gravel bikes list.

The frameset weight is one way we can understand how a bike manufacturer went about hitting their weight targets. That’s the combined frame and fork weight usually without small parts like bearings and bolts. When you start with a light frameset, you get a big head start on the components.

The lightest gravel frameset amongst bikes on this list is 1,125 grams and the heaviest is 1,625 grams. When we average out all frameset weights on this list we arrive at 1,396 grams, which typically breaks down to under 1000 grams for the frame and a bit over 400 grams for the fork.

The wheelset weight is another important data point as they are often a bike’s heaviest component. That means they usually have the most weight to lose!

All wheelsets on this list are made from carbon fibre, and the rim depths vary. In some cases, bike manufacturers have traded off some weight for better aerodynamics to create the fastest bikes possible.

Even amongst lightweight gravel bikes on this list, there is over 400 grams of variation between wheelsets. The lightest wheels are just 1230 grams and the heaviest are 1643 grams. When we tally everything up, we find that the average wheels tip the scales at 1425 grams.

Why Bike Weight Is Not About Speed

If you’ve been reading CYCLINGABOUT for a while, you’ll know that bike weight is not that important in terms of speed. This is because a one or two-kilogram weight saving is actually a tiny reduction from your overall total body+bike+gear+water weight.

Spending big money to save one kilogram will not make you as fast as you think. When I run a computer simulation, shaving one kilogram off a bike only saves around one minute on a hilly 4+ hour ride, although it can be as much as two minutes if you’re a lighter and less powerful rider.

The biggest advantage of a lightweight gravel bike is the way it feels underneath you. The bikes listed below offer the sensation of quick acceleration and will feel highly responsive to your pedal inputs. They will undoubtedly encourage you to put the hammer down at any moment.

Weight Corrections

I’ve made a weight correction to the following bikes to level out the playing field.

I’ve deducted weight from bikes with heavier tyres and added weight to bikes using lighter tyres. This is to ensure that bikes that come with wider and/or more durable tyres do not incur a significant weight penalty.

The average tyre weight across all bikes on this list is 480 grams, which is a reasonable weight for a 45mm gravel race tyre. Any tyre above this weight I’ve subtracted from the bike weight, and any tyre below this weight has been added to the bike.

For example: If a bike comes with 580-gram tyres, I’ve made a weight reduction of 200 grams (as there are two tyres) to standardise the bike weights. And if the bike comes with 380 grams tyres, I’ve simply added 200 grams to a bike’s weight. You’ll find the stock tyre weights listed below.

Right, it’s time to inspect the lightest gravel bikes in the world!

Scott Addict Gravel RC (7.92kg or 17.5lbs)

• Frameset weight: 930+395 grams – 96 grams lighter than average
• Wheelset weight: 1490 grams – 65 grams heavier than average
• Tyre weight: 485 grams
• Tyre clearance: 45 mm
• Price: US $9,999

The heaviest-lightest gravel bike is the Scott Addict Gravel RC!

This top-of-the-line model features one of the lighter framesets and builds up into a very capable gravel race bike. Tour Magazin has tested the lateral frame stiffness to be higher than many bikes here, which will make it feel extra responsive underneath you.

In addition, the fork legs will flex back and forth over bumps more than typical, providing additional ride comfort for your hands and upper body.

There has been no expense has been spared on the components here. A SRAM Red AXS drivetrain and Syncros carbon components help to keep the bike under the 8kg (18lbs) mark.

The Addict RC is only one of two gravel bikes on this list with a 2X drivetrain. This allows for closer steps between each gear, making the bike extra suitable for road bike use if you were to fit some narrow slick tyres.

Factor Ostro Gravel (7.90kg or 17.4lbs)

• Frameset weight: 899+425 grams – 97 grams lighter than average
• Wheelset weight: 1632 grams – 207 grams heavier than average
• Tyre weight: 480 grams
• Tyre clearance: 45 mm
• Price: €9799

The Factor Ostro Gravel has more aerodynamic features than your typical gravel bike.

The deeper and more truncated head tube profile, tight integration between the fork crown and frame, dropped seat stays, aero seatpost, and rear wheel cutout will undoubtedly make for a quick gravel race bike in the wind.

But despite all these aero features, the Ostro Gravel is the 6th lightest frameset of this list.

That said, the Factor also has the lowest frame stiffness of any bike here (according to Tour Magazin lab testing). It’s over 20% less stiff at the head tube and bottom bracket than competing products. This will not be a big deal for lighter and less powerful riders, but for heavier riders who can put more power through the frame – it might be a dealbreaker.

The Ostro Gravel has a solid race build. It’s equipped with a SRAM Force AXS wireless drivetrain, SRAM brakes and some fast-rolling Good Year tyres. While the wheels on this bike are surprisingly heavy for their depth, hopefully, this translates to high overall strength and durability.

Vitus Venon EVO-GR (7.88kg or 17.4lbs)

• Frameset weight: 1000+450 grams – 54 grams heavier than average
• Wheelset weight: 1545 grams – 120 grams heavier than average
• Tyre weight: 490 grams
• Tyre clearance: 45 mm
• Price: £4,299

The Vitus Venon EVO-GR is a lightweight gravel bike that offers a raft of aero features. This will make it one of the faster bikes on a gravel race course.

While it doesn’t have the lightest frameset or wheelset, it’s a great overall package that undercuts plenty of rivals on price when you consider the high-grade specification (SRAM Force AXS plus plenty of carbon components!).

One thing to note is that it has a lower torsional frame stiffness than most gravel bikes here, in fact, it has similar stiffness values to the Factor Ostro Gravel. Again, this will be fine for lighter and less powerful riders but might not be appropriate for heavier and more powerful riders.

Allied Echo Red AXS (7.85kg or 17.3lbs)

• Frameset weight: 950+380 grams – 66 grams lighter than average
• Wheelset weight: 1355 grams – 70 grams lighter than average
• Tyre weight: 453 grams
• Tyre clearance: 40 mm
• Price: US $11,355

The Allied Echo is billed as a two-in-one road and gravel bike.

The magic of it is the integrated flip chips at the fork and rear dropouts, which not only change the wheelbase length but also the bottom bracket drop – important when you’re changing the overall wheel+tyre diameter.

When the flip chips are in the “road mode” position, the wheelbase length and BB drop is reduced, making for a more compact layout that gives the bike a more responsive and agile feel. When the flip chips are in the “gravel mode” position, the wheelbase length is extended, making the bike more stable and forgiving on gravel.

Some of the pros of the bike include its quick and easy geometry conversion, excellent stiffness, and notable ride quality. Some of the cons of the bike include its compromised gravel mode geometry, narrow maximum tyre width, quirky stem design, and slack seat tube angle in the smaller frame sizes. It also uses gear ratios better suited to the road rather than the gravel.

Overall, the Allied Echo is a very capable bike that is suitable for a wide range of riders. It is a great option for those who are looking for a single bike that will ride well on both gravel and tarmac surfaces.

Mondraker Arid Carbon RR SL (7.81kg or 17.2lbs)

• Frameset weight: 1250+435 grams – 289 grams heavier than average
• Wheelset weight: 1642 grams – 217 grams heavier than average
• Tyre weight: 525 grams
• Tyre clearance: 50 mm
• Price: €9499

Lauf Seigla Ultimate (7.69kg or 17lbs)

• Frameset weight: 1030+435 grams – 69 grams heavier than average
• Wheelset weight: 1400 grams – 25 grams lighter than average
• Tyre weight: 632 grams
• Tyre clearance: 57 mm or 2.25″
• Price: US $6,290

The Lauf Seigla is the lightest gravel bike with the ability to fit 2.25″ wide mountain bike tyres, which will allow it to handle the roughest gravel roads. The frame has also been designed in a way that allows it to flex vertically, smoothing out bumpy terrain.

This is the first bike we’ve seen without fully integrated cables, and this makes bike maintenance easier and allows you to change the handlebar and stem dimensions with ease.

The Seigla Ultimate is equipped with some lightweight carbon wheels that will make the bike feel fast and agile, and a tough SRAM Red XPLR wireless groupset. Given the Red XPLR groupset retails for around US $4000, this makes the Seigla one of the best-value lightweight gravel bikes!

I’ve made a correction of over 300 grams to this bike as the Lauf comes standard with some wider-than-average tyres with good puncture production. Expect it to weigh under 7.7kg with some gravel race tyres.

Rose Backroad FF Red XPLR (7.67kg or 16.9lbs)

• Frameset weight: 1020+420 grams – 44 grams heavier than average
• Wheelset weight: 1550 grams – 125 grams heavier than average
• Tyre weight: 445 grams
• Tyre clearance: 45mm
• Price: €6999

Specialized Crux Pro (7.67kg or 16.9lbs)

• Frameset weight: 825+400 grams – 171 grams lighter than average
• Wheelset weight: 1408 grams – 17 grams lighter than average
• Tyre weight: 480 grams
• Tyre clearance: 47 mm
• Price: US $7500

The Specialized Crux Pro starts with a sizeable headstart over other gravel bikes, as the frameset is just 1225 grams. This makes it the second-lightest gravel frameset here.

The Crux Pro is a rather traditional gravel bike that will best suit those who ride in a non-competitive sense. There are no fully integrated cables, aero frame sections, or one-piece bar/stems to be found. This not only saves weight, but makes bike maintenance easier, and allows you to dial in your bike fit.

The Crux is equipped with lighter-than-average wheels that will spin up quickly, and one of my favourite components is the Roval Terra Carbon seatpost that flexes vertically with ease and will smooth out the bumpiest gravel roads.

The Specialized Crux Pro is finished with a SRAM Force wireless groupset and fast-rolling Specialized Pathfinder tyres.

Ridley ASTR RS (7.62kg or 16.8lbs)

• Frameset weight: 891+420 grams – 85 grams lighter than average
• Wheelset weight: 1643 grams – 218 grams heavier than average
• Tyre weight: 575 grams
• Tyre clearance: 52 mm or 2.1″
• Price: €11,699

Ridley makes one thing clear: the ASTR RS is a thoroughbred gravel race bike aiming for the podium. The frameset, integrated bar-stem, and wheels are all aero-optimised to create the fastest gravel bike possible.

In fact, the ASTR RS has the deepest and heaviest wheels of any bike on this list. While the DT Swiss wheels are over 200 grams heavier than average, the time savings at 35km/h (22mph) will undoubtedly make up for the minor weight penalty.

This bike has notably wide tyre clearance for a gravel bike (52 mm or 2.1″), allowing you to fit the appropriate tyres required to handle rougher courses.

The new Forza NIMBUS Pro one-piece handlebar and stem measures 360 mm wide at the hoods (to keep your frontal area smaller) but becomes significantly wider in the drops thanks to a generous flare. This should give you ample control over technical descents.

Trek Checkmate SLR 9 (7.61kg or 16.8lbs)

• Frameset weight: 1223+415 grams – 242 grams heavier than average
• Wheelset weight: 1355 grams – 70 grams lighter than average
• Tyre weight: 450 grams
• Tyre clearance: 45 mm
• Price: US $12,000

The Checkmate SLR 9 is a newer, lighter and faster gravel race bike from Trek.

It’s clearly aero-optimised with its large tube profiles, reasonably deep carbon wheels, and one-piece Aero RSL bar/stem (identical to that found on their road race bike, the Madone). The bars are 30mm narrower at the hoods than the drops, which will put your body in a more aerodynamically efficient ride position.

The Checkmate uses what Trek calls its new ‘Gravel Race’ geometry, offering a lower and shorter-reach position than the outgoing Checkpoint SLR. That said, it’s not as low as many bikes on this list.

A top-tier SRAM Red XLPR gravel groupset and moderately deep Bontrager carbon wheels assist in keeping this bike as light and fast as possible.

The Checkmate also employs Trek’s IsoSpeed technology, a decoupler at the intersection between the top tube and the seat tube that assists the saddle/post in smoothing imperfections on the road or trail.

Canyon Grail CFR XPLR (7.55kg or 16.6lbs)

Frameset weight: 1030+372 grams – 7 grams heavier than average

Wheelset weight: 1452 grams – 27 grams heavier than average

Tyre weight: 455 grams

Tyre clearance: 45 mm

Price: €8,499

Schmolke Gravel Infinity (7.55kg or 16.6lbs)

• Frameset weight: 1100+460 grams – 164 grams heavier than average
• Wheelset weight: 1375 grams – 50 grams lighter than average
• Tyre weight: 457 grams
• Tyre clearance: 40 mm
• Price: €8250

Schmolke are carbon manufacturing specialists from Germany who are best known for their ultra-lightweight bike components. But Schmolke doesn’t just make carbon handlebars and seatposts in their Lake Constance factory – they make framesets too!

When compared to the competition, the Schmolke framesets are not anywhere near as lightweight. But their ultralight components more than make up the difference, helping this bike to sit amongst the top 10 lightest gravel bikes available.

This gravel bike is a bit more traditional than most, with its external cable routing, two-piece bar and stem setup and mechanical drivetrain. The Gravel Infinity uses Campagnolos Ekar 13-speed drivetrain, which yields a gear range of 470% – wider than most on this list here.

The cost is kept quite reasonable for a made-in-Europe bike thanks to their direct-to-consumer business model.

Cube Nuroad C:62 SLT (7.49kg or 16.5lbs)

• Frameset weight: 1150+415 grams – 169 grams heavier than average
• Wheelset weight: 1230 grams – 195 grams lighter than average
• Tyre weight: 485 grams
• Tyre clearance: 50 mm
• Price: €5999

The Cube Nuroad C:62 SLT is a great bike for gravel racing, and with 50mm tyre clearance, it’s also a good option for anyone who wants an efficient bike that can handle a variety of terrain.

The frame is made using Cube’s C:62 carbon fibre layup, which is reinforced with nanoparticles to make it stronger, lighter, and more durable. Tour Magazin lab testing suggests it’s one of the stiffest and most responsive framesets on this list, and the fork tests as one of the more comfortable models available.

The Nuroad is also among the cheapest here, in fact, the SRAM Red XPLR drivetrain, brakes and shifters retail for €4,465 by itself. When you factor in the frameset and wheels (which are the lightest here btw), I’m not sure how Cube make any money on this bike!

Overall, the Cube Nuroad C:62 SLT is a very well-equipped bike that offers the highest value for money on this list. It’s light, efficient, and versatile, and should be perfect for gravel racing or simply exploring the countryside.

Superior XR 9.9 GR LTD (7.47kg or 16.5lbs)

• Frameset weight: 827+420 grams – 149 grams lighter than average
• Wheelset weight: 1567 grams – 142 grams heavier than average
• Tyre weight: 445 grams
• Tyre clearance: 45 mm
• Price: €7500

Superior is a Czech brand that offers very high-performance bikes for a reasonable price… well, relative to others here. Superior starts with the third lightest frameset, and goes on to build the fifth lightest gravel bike.

The impressive part is that it has been equipped with one of the most aerodynamic wheelsets featured on this list. If it were to use the same wheelset as the Cube Nuroad, the bike would slot into second place!

You can find aero features throughout the frameset and cockpit, and there is no expense spared on the components – notably the DT Swiss wheels and SRAM Red XPLR drivetrain.

BMC Kaius 01 One (7.40kg or 16.3lbs)

• Frameset weight: 910+400 grams – 86 grams lighter than average
• Wheelset weight: 1355 grams – 70 grams lighter than average
• Tyre weight: 480 grams
• Tyre clearance: 44 mm
• Price: US $12,000

The BMC Kaius is the lightest gravel bike I could find with fully integrated cables.

The Kaius 01 features the fourth lightest frameset (despite having one of the stiffest frames according to Tour Magazin testing) and has been equipped with the fourth lightest wheels too.

This frame has clearly been given the aero treatment with larger truncated frame tubes, dropped seat stays, and a cutout on the lower seat tube to shield the rear wheel. The handlebar also has a small frontal area and aerodynamic shape to save further watts.

A top-tier SRAM Red XPLR 1X drivetrain completes this speedy gravel bike.

Parapera Anemos Masterpiece (7.2kg or 15.9lbs)

• Frameset weight: 1175+450 grams – 229 grams heavier than average
• Wheelset weight: 1485 grams – 60 grams heavier than average
• Tyre weight: 480 grams
• Tyre clearance: 45 mm
• Price: €5999

The Parapera Anemos is the third lightest gravel bike on this list, despite having a heavier-than-average frameset… and wheelset! This means it’s the components where Parapera has really focussed on their weight savings.

At 150 grams, the Schmolke Carbon handlebar is one of the lightest of its kind. As is the 95-gram Selle Italia saddle, and 95-gram Schmolke Carbon seatpost. It’s all these small things that really keep the weight of this bike in check.

The cables are routed externally for quick accessibility during maintenance and a small reduction in frame weight. The classic handlebar/stem setup also offers maximum customizability in terms of length and width.

The Anemos Masterpiece uses Campagnolo’s Ekar drivetrain. This 1X system consists of a chainring with 40 teeth and a cassette with 13 sprockets from 9 to 42 teeth. With a gear range of just under 470%, all speed ranges are largely covered, and even steeper climbs are easy to tackle thanks to the reduction in first gear.

The carbon wheels from Campagnolo are a solid choice. While they are not the lightest, with an inner rim width of 25mm, they are perfectly suited to the 40mm Schwalbe G-One R tyres.

Gunsha SLX Gravel 3.1 (7.15kg or 15.8lbs)

• Frameset weight: 1050+460 grams – 114 grams heavier than average
• Wheelset weight: 1272 grams – 153 grams lighter than average
• Tyre weight: 370 grams
• Tyre clearance: 44 mm
• Price: €5455

You probably haven’t heard of Gunsha before, but this German bike shop and online store stocks a bunch of ultralight wheels and components, as well as complete bikes.

The frameset is heavier than average, so Gunsha has equipped this bike with the third lightest gravel wheels here and has made significant weight savings on components like the brake rotors, handlebar, stem, seatpost and saddle.

Gunsha has also fitted some super light 370 gram tyres to this bike. This would have made it the equal lightest bike if I hadn’t added a weight correction to even the playing field.

While their Shimano GRX drivetrain isn’t as fancy as most, this helps to keep the cost down. In fact, you’re looking at the second-lightest gravel bike with one of the lowest costs here. That’s quite impressive.

S-Works Crux SRAM RED XPLR (6.93kg or 15.3lbs)

• Frameset weight: 725+400 grams – 271 grams lighter than average
• Wheelset weight: 1250 grams – 175 grams lighter than average
• Tyre weight: 480 grams
• Tyre clearance: 47 mm
• Price: US $12,000

The S-Works Crux holds the title for the lightest gravel frameset, and it’s been paired with one of the lightest wheelsets too. It’s no wonder it’s the lightest gravel bike here.

The Crux frameset is around 20% lighter than average, which is a seriously impressive margin to hold over the competition. It’s even more impressive considering that Tour Magazin has measured the frame stiffness and found it to be 30% stiffer than the Factor and Vitus at the head tube.

You can expect the Crux to climb like a dream, float over bumpy terrain, and accelerate faster than any gravel bike before it.

What I like about this bike is that it puts function before everything else. There are no fully integrated cables, aero frame sections, or one-piece handlebar and stem. This undoubtedly makes it a slower bike than the gravel racing competition (eg. Ridley ASTR RS) but it’s also lighter, easier to work on, and easier to perfect the handlebar width and stem length for a rider’s needs.

With top-of-the-line components and even a special carbon layup – this bike is expensive. If you’d like a more wallet-friendly version with similar DNA, check out the Specialized Crux Pro. It’s still in the top-10 lightest gravel bikes but some US $5000 cheaper.

It’s worth noting the S-Works Crux framesets also custom build into even lighter gravel bikes. Take some inspiration from this 5.64 kg (12 lbs) Twisted Wheels build HERE.

Summary

The post The 15 Lightest Gravel Bikes In The World For 2025 (Sub-7kg) appeared first on CYCLINGABOUT.com.

This is all the gear I need to live and work in any country, and it’s optimised for both liveability and durability. I’ve made sure to highlight all my favourite items throughout!

I hope you can use my gear list to get an idea of (a) what to bring on a long-distance bike trip, and (b) what equipment is proven to be the most durable over multiple years of use.

You can find the specific product names of my equipment, the actual weights, and links to the items right HERE.

Timestamps

0:00 – Intro
2:47 – Electronics
4:23 – Camping Gear
7:37 – Clothing
8:56 – Shoes & Accessories
10:44 – Cooking Gear
12:30 – Cooking Accessories
13:47 – Bike Luggage
14:55 – Travel Essentials
16:09 – Toiletries
17:25 – Tools & Spares
19:13 – Summary

The post What I Pack For Bike Touring After 170,000km Around The World (Video) appeared first on CYCLINGABOUT.com.