32-inch wheels are the talk of 2026, and I reckon that the wheelsize is a match made in heaven for gravel, but at the moment, availability of compatible parts is pretty slim. And with 32-inch wheels finding themselves on gravel race machines but in prototype form, like what we saw on Scott’s Unbound contender, it’s been a matter of time before we saw large aerodynamic rims built for gravel. But that time is now, as 9th Wave has unveiled its 32-inch Wave SandStone SL32 wheelset. 

9th Wave reckons that 32-inch wheels are the way forward owing to their ability to smooth out terrain and maintain momentum. In gravel, those notes are exceptionally important as the discipline calls for sustained speed over all of those variables.

2026 9th wave sandstone wheels white
2026 9th wave sandstone wheels white (Image Credit: 9th Wave)

The brand’s SandStone SL32 uses the same rim geometry as the standard-sized SandStone 700c wheels. That means there’s a 52mm rim depth built for aerodynamic gains. There’s then a mighty wide 37mm internal width to support tyres from 50mm and wider to provide plenty of support, to lower sidewall deformation under cornering loads and at lower pressures. That geometry, 9th Wave says, is what makes the SandStone SL32 stand out from the currently slim crowd on gravel-specific 32-inch hoops.

As there are longer spokes at play, lateral stiffness is something of a concern with 32-inch wheels. Apparently, this wheelset addresses those concerns at ‘four levels’. Choosing a deep rim depth allows for similar spoke lengths to what’s found on 29-inch wheels with a shallow rim. The wheelset also uses 28 spokes rather than the 24 that’s common for gravel wheels. There’s then Boost spacing, chosen for an improved bracing angle. The wheels also use 9th Wave’s ART asymmetric rim design in a bid to distribute spoke tension evenly across the wheel.

2026 9th wave sandstone wheels on bike
2026 9th wave sandstone wheels on bike (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)

9th Wave claims that the SandStone SL32 wheelset, built with DT Swiss’s 240 EXP Boost hubs, weighs 1,579g and it’ll set you back €1,999.

If that’s not light enough for you, the brand is offering the wheelset in a higher-end build, dubbed SandStone SL32 LTD, which features DT Swiss’s 180 Boost hubs sorted with ceramic bearings. It also gets Alpina aero spokes and a fancy silver colourway. The result is a 73-gram saving against the standard wheelset and a loftier price of €2,299.

9th Wave is open to pre-orders now, with delivery expected in September 2026.