Best gravel bikes 2026 — off-road and adventure-ready steeds to take you from tarmac to trail

The 3T Extrema Italia gravel bike is a super-comfortable, albeit pricey all-terrain-taming gravel bike, which 3T believes is the most capable gravel bike yet. A big focus for the 3T team when designing the Extrema Italia was the notion of generous tyre clearance and you’ll notice enough clearance to accommodate 57mm or 2.0- to 2.2in tyres, supplying it with the same level of grip as a cross-country mountain bike. 

High-speed stability is an area that 3T also focussed on, outfitting the Extrema with 436mm chainstays that have resulted in a wheelbase of 1,036mm (medium). The other key geometry numbers such as the head angle come in at 70.5-degrees. The 368mm reach and 570mm stack figures represent the middle ground in the category and deliver better comfort and control. 

Reviewer Aaron says, “While the 3T Extrema Italia might not be as fast or light as the racier options on the market, it is one of the most complete, comfortable and competent gravel bikes I’ve ever ridden. For those looking for the one-bike solution, it makes a convincing case”. 

The Cairn E-Adventure Rambler is an all-around beast that will tackle anything you ride it on. The Rambler is the most recent version of Cairn’s popular e-gravel bike, the E-Adventure 1.0, with versatility that this previous version didn’t offer. It also comes with upgraded frame geometry and a much sleeker look. 

It uses a Fazua drive system which helps contribute to the bike feeling stable yet agile, and the Rambler uses one of the newer options, the Fazua Ride 50 Street Drive Pack. The 50 provides up to 58Nm of torque, which reviewer Rebecca felt was enough.

Canyon’s Grail gravel bike has been around for a while now, particularly known for its distinctive double-decker handlebars featured on the carbon models. However, the German brand has left those double bars behind in pursuit of enhanced aerodynamics.

The new Canyon Grail continues to offer what its predecessor did: speed without compromising on comfort. It has improved in terms of versatility and would be a great all-rounder for someone who is serious about racing gravel but occasionally fancies a road ride, too.

We’ve also reviewed the Canyon Grail AL 7 eTap which, as the name suggests, is an aluminium version of the brand’s flagship gravel bike and it’s an excellent choice if you’re looking to spend less.

Fairlight’s Strael has impressed us over all of its three versions; in fact it’s one of only three road bikes to ever score top marks in the 15 years that we have been reviewing them. The Secan 2.5 is no different, offering everything you could want or need from a gravel bike – as long as your main concern isn’t the light weight that can be achieved by going carbon fibre.

Fairlight’s Secan 2.5 is a stunning looking steel gravel bike, finished to an exceptionally high level and the Reynolds steel tubing provides all of the stiffness you need, while also having a smooth, rough-road-defying ride quality.

The Secan 2.5 can comfortably accept a 60mm tyres in a 650B size, or 50mm if you are using 700C and a 1x chainset. If you are running 2x with 700C, that drops slightly to 47mm.

The Lauf Seigla is a modern-day gravel racer that achieves huge tyre clearances without sacrificing its geometry or performance. The geometry remains almost identical to Lauf’s True Grit gravel bike which scored 4.5 stars overall when we reviewed it back in 2018. 

The fork is sure to divide opinion but whether you like the aesthetics or not, it really does function well. Reviewer Jamie had his doubts about the suspension fork before trying it but he says, “I’m a convert. It delivers nearly all of the advantages of suspension without the accompanying drawbacks, for example, it adds just 430g to the total bike weight which is very competitive”. However, if you’re not a fan of the suspension fork, Lauf also offers a fully rigid Seigla.

As with any gravel bike, the biggest difference in comfort comes down to the tyres. The Seigla has room for 57mm rubber on 700c wheels which equates to 2.25 inches; that’s some of the largest clearances we’ve seen on a gravel bike and removes the need for a separate 650b wheelset.

The Liv Devote is one of the few women-specific gravel bikes available and the newest iteration has been made racier and more performance-oriented. Liv has introduced internal storage to the Devote, nestled in the downtube and the flip-chip dropouts allow for tailoring the wheelbase and tyre clearance to suit more riding preferences. 

There are seven models in the Liv Devote range: three aluminium-framed Devotes and another three carbon-framed Devote Advanced models. Our test bike sits in the middle of this range complete with a Shimano GRX 2x groupset, pairing a 48-31T chainset with an 11-36T cassette. The bottom bracket is of the press-fit variety. 

The Devote Advanced Pro and Devote Advanced models also boast the new Contact AeroLight Stem, which routes cables from the handlebars below the stem and down through the frame for a more streamlined and aerodynamic cockpit.

The Gestalt XR takes the formula that Marin concocted for the standard Gestalt and gives it a serious shake up. Donning a super aggressive geometry and equipped with a very solid built kit for the cash, it proves that gravel can learn a thing or two from mountain bike design. To put that into numbers, this medium frame on test gets a 440mm reach, a 67.5-degree head tube angle, and a 74-degree seat tube. With its 425mm chainstay, all of that results in a 1092.8mm wheelbase. 

The Gestalt XR is built around Marin’s Series 3 Beyond Road 6061 aluminium frame that’s paired with the brand’s full carbon fork with triple cage mounts at either side and it’s also internally cable routed. The seat tube has been formed to allow clearance for up to 54x650b or 50x700c wheel and tyre combinations while retaining that short chainstay.

Tester Liam writes: “This bike’s mountain bike-esque geometry really opens up what gravel can be as it’s certainly not shy of steeper gradients, or the odd bit of singletrack. The Gestalt XR’s heft of stability turns into calm, considered, and very well-mannered cornering”. 

The Orro Terra X is an aluminium-framed gravel bike and one of the latest additions to the company’s gravel line-up. It’s a good entry point to gravel riding and is fun and easy to ride, thanks to the balanced geometry. 

The Terra X brings the great handling and ride quality of the carbon fibre models to a lower price point, and for the money, it’s well specced. Tyre clearance isn’t massive compared with some gravel bikes, but it easily accepts the 40mm fitted as standard, even if you were to go for a wider wheel rim, and Orro reckons a maximum of 42mm will fit. 

 The Orro Terra X works well on the road too, and has the ability to take mudguards and a rack, lending itself well to commuting and road touring. 

If you’re after a steel frame, Ribble’s Gravel 725 brings a classy, comfortable and fun-to-ride steel frame to the mix, paired to a full-carbon fork. Reviewer Stu says, “It has a forgiving ride that flatters any style of riding, and thanks to a multitude of mounting points it can be loaded up for adventure as well as used for a blast on the rough stuff.”

This Gravel model has the geometry to really exploit the aggregate-based trails, giving a confidence-inspiring ride quality and behaviour, regardless of how technical or loose the terrain is. The geometry creates a long and low stance, with this medium getting a wheelbase of 1,052.5mm, a lengthy top tube of 570mm, and a shortish head tube height of 150mm.

Tyre clearance is probably one of the most crucial things on a gravel bike, and while the Ribble isn’t groundbreaking it’s capable of accepting 45mm rubber on 700C wheels or 47mm when wearing 650B wheels.

The Scarab Apuna is a custom steel bike. There’s no exact spec sheet and no need to relay manufacturer details to you. Despite that, there are pieces of the puzzle that don’t change from bike to bike. While some custom steel builders start with a blank slate, Scarab isn’t one of them and there are models to choose from that dictate a direction.

One of the defining features of the Apuna is the tubing. That’s always the case for a steel bike but the Apuna uses ovalised Columbus steel. There are no lugs and, if you’ve mistaken the finished product for aluminium, you aren’t alone. Instead of steel at the front of the bike, you will find a carbon Columbus Futura Gravel Fork. 

The official specifications for the Apuna list tyre compatibility as “700×28-700×38 or 650Bx35-650B-42” which comes from the fork, not the rear triangle. According to Columbus though, there’s room for a 700x40mm tyre and that’s with the standard ISO space on the sides.

If you are more of a gravel racer than a gravel adventurer, the Scott Addict Gravel 10 is a bike that will interest you. Reviewer Stu says, “It’s light, nimble and an absolute blast to ride”. The frame and fork are constructed from high-modulus carbon fibre and feature fully integrated cable and hose routing for a clean look.

A tapered steerer on the fork and a head tube to match means a stiff front end under heavy steering and braking loads while a press-fit (PF86) bottom bracket and the resulting oversized tube junctions make for plenty of stiffness on the lower half of the frame, too. From a geometry point of view, the Addict Gravel is available in five sizes ranging from XS/49 to XL/58. The M/54 we have here sits in the middle of the lineup and comes with a 554.5mm top tube. The head tube is 140mm and sits at an angle of 71 degrees while the seat tube is a steeper 73.5 degrees. 

The bike we reviewed is the 2023 model with the 2024 model now on sale with a few different component choices. Both come with a SRAM Force AXS groupset and everything is completely wireless so there are no wires to snag on anything. 

The Specialized S-Works Crux is an exceptional gravel bike for fast riding that can still excel in cyclocross races. The lightweight package is combined with brilliant low-speed stability that makes the S-Works Crux insanely good at climbing, be it fast or technical, and it’s a blast to ride on the lanes too. This machine is one that will best suit racers and roadies who want a fast bike for mixed surfaces. Oh yes, and as you’ve probably noticed it’s outstandingly expensive although there are less pricey models available in the Crux lineup.

Tester Liam writes: “The Crux was long Specialized’s pure cyclocross bike, but when I first saw the redesigned model I wondered what the Aethos was doing wearing a set of gravel tyres. It’s a bit more nuanced than that, but in essence, that is what you’re getting here. Its low weight makes the Crux an excellent climber and it is a joy to ride on faster gravel as well as on the road. Okay, it might not be the best for loading up with luggage, but for going fast it is fantastic”. 

The Wilier Rave SLR is a high-performance gravel bike that’s light, speedy and a real blast over firm and firm-ish tracks and trails. It’s not purely a race bike but if you’re after something that sits towards that end of the gravel spectrum then have a good look.

Reviewer Mat says, “Think of a lightweight road bike that allows you to corner hard, accelerate fast, climb quickly, and get into an efficient riding position for the flat setons… The Rave SLR is the gravel bike equivalent.”

The one factor – and it could be an important one – that might hold you back over some surfaces is the maximum tyre width of 42mm on 700C wheels.

Windover Bikes is a relatively new company to emerge and their Bostal is described as an on- and off-road gravel bike. The Bostal is a Reynolds 853 Steel gravel bike designed in-house, tested in Sussex, and then made in the EU by a hand-picked frame fabricator. All 853 tubes are traditionally round with no fancy shaping passing the review panel and are of Windover’s own requested diameter.

The frame features internal cable routing from the top of the downtube to the rear of the bike. There’s a 1x set-up on this bike but 2x, Di2 and wireless options are possible. 

There are four sizes available S, M, L and XL and Windover offers the Bostal frame in three versions; frame only, Frame and Type 2 Fork, and Frameset (Fork, seat clamp, BB and Headset). The company also offers three ‘standard’ complete builds with some options. 

This bike seriously impressed our friends at off-road.cc and is well worthy of our title of best gravel bike for mountain bikers or anyone looking to transition to drop bars from flat bars. 

It’s fast, dynamic and properly capable on technical trails and whilst the geometry is less racy than some of the other best gravel bikes, the stability and predictability of this set-up make it incredibly enjoyable to manoeuvre on the trails. The bike was designed around the idea of a 40mm fork to ensure the front end played nicely with the front suspension and the numbers of the YT Szpeter take on very much a hardtail mountain bike-like facade. 

The Szepter comes out of the box with 42mm rubber but can accommodate a maximum tyre width of 45mm, and despite not being designed for touring or bikepacking, it features multiple bottle cage mounting positions and built-in rear and front mudguards.