For riders seeking a gravel bike that can do a bit of everything, the Sonder Camino Al GRX2 offers a great balance of comfort, capability and customisation. Its aluminium frame, carbon fork and extensive mounting options make it as suitable for endurance rides as it is for weekend off-road exploration. There are plenty of options, including a more standard handlebar or a different model with a single chainset, if, like me, you think the days of the double chainset for off-road riding are over.
Sonder Camino Al GRX2 – Technical Details
The Camino is available in both aluminium and titanium frameset options, each paired with a carbon fork. The aluminium frameset we have comes with a range of builds, all of which are budget-focused, starting with the SRAM Cues build at £1199 and topping out with the Shimano 105 Di2 build at £2199. Every build allows some degree of customisation of the kit and certain component choices.
Our test bike is the Camino Al GRX2, with the ‘2’ referring to the double chainset on the GRX drivetrain. Double chainsets are becoming increasingly rare, though they still have their fans. There are plenty of choices available when specifying the bike, many at no extra charge, including various Sonder handlebars, stem lengths, and the option of 650b wheels. There are also chargeable upgrades, such as adding a suspension fork, upgrading the wheels, or choosing a titanium seatpost.
A few elements that might not stand out immediately, but are worth noting, include the £45 charge if you want the bike set up tubeless. The bike also comes with a 46/30 chainset and 172.5mm cranks across all five sizes from extra-small to extra-large. I would only consider this length suitable for taller riders on a gravel bike, so fitting it to the smaller sizes feels short-sighted. Other Camino models allow crank length changes, so this may simply be down to the current stock levels.
Alongside the five sizes, which Sonder suggests will suit riders from 147cm (4ft 10in) to 187cm and above (6ft 2in and higher), the frame is offered in three colours. Our test bike is in jet black, with mint blue and ruby red also available.
The Camino Al frameset has internal cable routing, with ports on either side of the downtube. It isn’t the cleanest design, as there is still a substantial sweep of cables coming off the handlebar before entering the stem. All cables then exit through a single port on the underside of the downtube, which could make future re-cabling interesting. The cables are external once past the downtube, apart from the front derailleur cable which exits with the others above the bottom bracket before leaving its outer beneath the BB, which might make replacements a more regular occurrence.
Our test bike, a medium, weighs 10.62kg without pedals—very close to Sonder’s quoted weight, which adds confidence in the figures for the other sizes.
Sonder Camino Al GRX2 – Components
Our bike came with the standard GRX2 specification, built around a 12-speed GRX groupset with components drawn from different tiers of the range. The shifters and chainset are GRX 610, the front and rear derailleurs are GRX 820, and the brakes use GRX 410 callipers with 160mm rotors front and rear.
The double chainset runs 46/30 rings paired with a Shimano CS-HG710 11 to 36 cassette.
Sonder, being part of Alpkit, produces a lot of its own finishing kit, all of which appears on the Camino Al. The Bomber handlebar is 56cm across the drops with a very wide 45-degree flare. The inline seatpost and saddle are more conventional pieces.
The wheelset is Sonder’s own Nova i25. It comes with tubes as standard, but can be supplied tubeless for an extra £45.
Sonder Camino Al GRX2 – Performance
Sonder has kept the Camino’s appeal deliberately broad, and that’s immediately obvious when you look at the frame. Mudguard mounts, triple-boss fork mounts, top tube mounts, mounts under the downtube, triple bosses inside the downtube, plus standard seat tube and pannier rack mounts mean it’s ready for almost any style of adventure, should you wish.
The front of the bike is tall. Our medium frame has a 170mm head tube, and even the extra-small gets 130mm. Combined with a moderate 69-degree head angle, this gives the bike a somewhat vague feel on steeper climbs as the front can wander.
A 74-degree seat angle and the inline seatpost at least help keep weight forward, which is welcome.
Any expectation of a harsh ride from the aluminium frame disappears quickly. Even with tubes and the slightly higher pressures they require, the rear of the bike is impressively comfortable. The carbon fork isn’t harsh either, but it can’t quite match the rear’s comfort. There is, however, ample clearance for larger tyres, and going tubeless with lower pressures would make the biggest difference. It’s a pity Sonder doesn’t supply tubeless valves and tape as standard.
The Nova i25 wheels perform excellently for what is presumably a budget wheelset. The 25mm internal width is generous, the 120-point ratchet freehub engages quickly, and while they’re not especially light, they ride well and have proven strong. Tyres are Schwalbe G-One Bite 45mm, and based on what Sonder lists, the upgrade charge appears to switch them from K-Guard Comp rigid versions to Performance TLE tyres, which is money well spent. They’re smooth, fast and grippy on forest roads and firm surfaces, though they clog quickly in mud.
On descents, the tall front end again affects the handling by keeping your weight higher and further back. For most riders, this will feel quite reassuring. Unless you’re racing or chasing aero gains, a higher front can improve comfort, and the Camino still leaves room to increase stack height further if needed, and clearance for even larger tyres if you wish.
If comfort matters, the bar tape is worth changing. The stock tape is basic with minimal cushioning. Sonder offers Brooks Cambium bar tape for £40, which is a big improvement, though there are softer and cheaper options if you’re fitting it yourself. If you’re not, £40 feels reasonable.
Riding the GRX2 model has reminded me how much I prefer a single chainset for off-road or mixed terrain. If you feel the same, the GRX1 model in the range is similar in specification and price aside from its 1x setup. The extra small shifting adjustments required to keep the front derailleur quiet, along with the reduced gear simplicity, feel unnecessary. A single chainset also means one less cable to replace and fewer cables around the bars.
The handlebar was another area I didn’t enjoy, though they can be swapped at no charge when specifying the bike. At 56cm wide with such a dramatic flare, the Bomber bar felt awkward for general riding and climbing. It does add some confidence on descents, but I don’t think a gravel bike is usually travelling fast enough to justify such width, and I found the reach to the brake levers from the drops uncomfortable.
Sonder Camino Al GRX2 – Verdict
With its large number of mounts and the sheer range of available options, the Camino offers an enormous degree of flexibility. It feels as though Sonder has aimed for broad appeal, and in many ways it succeeds. It’s unlikely to be the choice of a high-level racer, but if you want something for long-distance events of 200 or 300km, it’s comfortable and capable, and has all the fittings you’re likely to need.
At the harder-edge adventure end of the spectrum, something like the Genesis Vagabond remains more rugged and more capable for rougher trips.
The Sonder Camino Al GRX2 didn’t put quite the same smile on my face as the Whyte Verro, either climbing or descending. While it’s a competent all-rounder and good value, the handling feels a little vague and lacks the sharp control that some of the best competitors have developed in recent years.
In terms of value and the ability to tailor the specification to your needs, few options match the Sonder Camino Al. If a double chainset doesn’t appeal, or you want a different groupset, there are plenty of builds to choose from, allowing you to create a bike that suits you without breaking the bank.
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