The Hunt 40 Carbon Gravel Dynamo Wheelset is a great option if you’re looking for some nice wheels for long distances – be that on tarmac or heading off into the wilds. The dynamo unit is about as good as you’ll find, and the build quality is excellent. Whether you need a set of semi-deep carbon wheels for your ultra or bikepacking bike… well, that’s your call.
A reasonable while back I reviewed the predecessor to this wheelset, the 30 carbon dynamo disc, and it was very good: good quality carbon wheels with a high-spec dynamo that’ll end your lighting battery anxiety, which also allows you to charge your devices in the day if you fork out for a charger – for example the Igaro S1 Pro.
There were however a couple of provisos: the 30mm carbon rim was neither here nor there in terms of any aero advantage over a shallow alloy rim, and the alloy nipples didn’t really strike me as expedition spec. Also, they were pretty expensive.
Six years down the line the 40 Carbon Gravel Dynamo is fully updated, and most of the bits are new or upgraded. In place of the SON Delux dynamo there’s a SON 28 unit, and the rim is deeper. The nipples have been replaced with more corrosion-resistant brass ones. The hub is updated too, with a 40-tooth ratchet freehub offering better reliability and a quick 9˚ engagement. The freehub still uses Hunt’s H_Ceramik coating which protects against the sprocket biting into the splines. I’ve always found it to be very effective and I’ve never had any issues with removing cassettes. That’s been the case with these wheels after about 2,500km through a pretty attritional winter.
Let’s talk about the rim first. Hunt claims the 40mm deep and 25mm internal rim offers, “aerodynamic efficiency, low rolling resistance, and improved traction,” and according to the ETRTO charts I’ve checked out, you’re okay with tyres from 29mm width upwards.
I’ve run these wheels with 30mm and 36mm tyres, and both were fairly easy to seat and inflate. The maximum pressure I’ve run 30mm tyres was about 55psi, which is below Hunt’s suggested 65psi limit for that tyre size on the rims, but not so far below that you couldn’t accidentally exceed it – especially if you were doing a roadside fix without a gauge.
Given that these are hookless rims, it’s important that you don’t exceed the maximum as it’s easier for the tyres to blow off the rim without the hook. For a wheelset like this, where you’re not going to be running high pressure, I don’t really think hookless is that much of an issue – although I do wonder if it’s the new press-fit bottom bracket: mostly an advantage for the manufacturer rather than the punter.
Hunt uses a profile called H_LOCK which is basically a concave section either side of the well which the bead sits in. The company says this holds the tyre more securely and stops it moving into the centre of the rim under cornering or braking.
So, “aerodynamic efficiency”? Well, Hunt spends a lot of time in the wind tunnel benchmarking its higher-end road wheels, but while you’d expect that work to inform the design of the rest of its range, it isn’t making any specific aero claims for this wheelset. When I reviewed the 30s, I said that if you’re going for a carbon rim instead of an alloy one, you might as well go for a semi-deep profile, and I’ll stick to that.
I wouldn’t say I’ve been wowed by all the extra speed I’ve been carrying on the 200km audaxes I’ve mostly been using these wheels for, but it’s not going to hurt, and there isn’t really a downside: they’re pretty well-behaved in the wind. I’m not sure how much benefit you’re going to see once the tyres get bigger and the speeds get lower, so unless you’re at the pointy end of a bikepacking race, I think the benefits of a carbon wheelset in terms of performance are hard to define. Carbon rims are very strong though, which is good for rock-bashing. Hunt puts a 145kg system (bike+rider) limit on these wheels.
The rims are made using Hunt’s H_Cyclo technology, which allows the rim to be recycled into its constituent parts using a chemical/heat process so that both the resin and the carbon can be reused, albeit in lower-grade applications than wheels as the carbon fibres get chopped up. Hunt commits to recycling the wheels itself, and it’ll collect them from you, free of charge, at the end of their life, whether they’re still functional or not. You’ll not save the planet on your own, but it’s good to see that the carbon fibre/epoxy mix that’s so prevalent in cycling can be made recyclable, and I’m sure more producers will follow suit.
Up front, the SON 28 dynamo hub is a high-quality bit of kit. It delivers 3W of power at 6V, and that’s enough for me to fire up my SON Edelux II front and rear lights and ride all night with plenty of light to see where I’m going. It’s not the kind of lighting power you’ll get from even a mid-range torch-style light these days, but it’s plenty for the riding I do, and obviously the big draw is you don’t ever have to worry about how long it’s going to last. So long as you’re turning the pedals, the lights will be on.
SON claims a 65 per cent efficiency for the 28, which means that you’re losing about 5W of your pedalling output for the 3W you’re getting. At the type of intensity I’d normally be riding on a longer ride (150-200W), that’s around 2-3 per cent of the power I’m putting in, which I’d say is just on the cusp of being noticeable. If you turn off the lights so there’s no power draw then the dynamo barely drags at all; it’s hardly any different to a standard hub. I found that if I didn’t need the lights then I would turn them off, although I’m not sure whether that’s more a psychological thing.
The dynamo hub uses a pressure compensation system to guard against condensation forming on the inside, and all of the bearings are sealed SKF units. Everything including the bearings is covered by a 5-year warranty. In theory the SON 28 unit is a bit better at low speeds than the SON Delux, so more suited to bikepacking where you’re likely to be moving more slowly than on the road. I can’t really say I noticed the difference. On the slow crawls up the steep stuff, you start to get a bit of dynamo flicker, but above about 10km/h it’s not really noticeable. If you were pushing your bikepacking rig up some unrideable trail in the dark you’d need to pair your dynamo light with some other light source.
At the back, the big change is from a pawl-based freehub to a ratchet. Ratchet freehubs are generally simpler and have fewer small moving parts, so it’s a good choice for a wheelset like this where the stated use case is riding a long way, self-supported. All of the ratchets engage at once, too, so you get maximum surface area for power transfer. It’s mid-table in terms of its volume – not loud, not quiet – and reasonably neutral in tone, so it hasn’t ever got annoying, but it’s loud enough to use on the shared-use path as a bit of a signal of your presence.
You can specify the axle standards for your front and rear hubs and Hunt will send the wheels already set up; you don’t get any of the other bits in the box. You get a spare spoke (and nipple) for each spoke length in the set though, plus tubeless valves, a cassette spacer and some spade connectors and shrink wrap for the dynamo connections.
The wheels come fitted with tubeless tape too, so everything you need except for tyres and sealant is provided. Both front and rear hubs take 28 standard J-bend spokes and Hunt has moved to brass nipples, which is definitely a positive move. The alloy nipples in the previous wheels felt like an odd choice and six years down the line one has snapped, and some of the others are cracked. At some point when I have a half day spare I’ll probably swap them all out for brass ones. That’s been the only issue with those wheels thus far, though, and although I haven’t put huge distances into the 40 Carbon Gravel Dynamo wheels (about 2,500km so far) I don’t really have any worries about their long-term longevity. They’re a very sensible build and that’s reflected in the fact that they’re not especially light.
Do you need to spend £1,549 on your gravel/bikepacking/audax wheels? Well, if you’re heading for, “gravel ultra events like the Traka, Badlands, and Unbound XL,” which Hunt says the wheels are primarily designed for, then the combination of a solid build, a super-reliable dynamo and a probably-worthwile-over-a-long-distance aero advantage from a deeper rim will probably tip the balance to the positive. For the rest of us choppers and mortals, they’re very much a nice-to-have rather than a necessity – but so are a lot of things in cycling.
There isn’t a huge range of off-the-shelf dynamo wheelsets, even less so with semi-deep carbon rims, and although brands like Pacenti and Scribe have offered them in the past, a search right now doesn’t pull up any current models. Strada will make you some to a pretty similar spec, but they’re about £150 more. So for what you’re getting I don’t think they’re overpriced, and I’ve no issues with the performance. It’s up to you to justify them for your rig.
Test Report
What does the manufacturer say about this product?:
The 40 Carbon Gravel Dynamo wheelset is designed for long-distance ultra races and multi-day bikepacking adventures, featuring a SON 28 Dynamo generator hub to power your lights and electronics, allowing you to ride till you’re finished, not when your lights and GPS run out. Based on our race-winning 40 Carbon Gravel Race wheelset, we built this wheelset for HUNT athletes tackling gravel ultra events like the Traka, Badlands, and Unbound XL, as well as for adventure riders seeking a lightweight carbon upgrade wheel.
The 40mm deep rims with 25mm internal width suit modern gravel and wide road tyres (29mm and wider), offering aerodynamic efficiency, low rolling resistance, and improved traction. Made from fully recyclable carbon fibre and resin using H_Cyclo technology, blending purpose-built performance with improved sustainability. The 28-spoke J-bend build with brass spoke nipples and our H_Ratchet 40T DBL rear hub offers quick engagement, strength and reliability without sacrificing responsiveness or ride quality.
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of this product:
Tubeless Design
40mm-deep and 30mm-wide external rim profile, featuring an ETRTO-compliant tubeless straight-sidewall rim with 25mm internal width, designed for modern gravel tubeless tyre compatibility.
H_Cyclo
Fully recyclable thermoset epoxy resin technology that allows for the separation and re-use of both the carbon fibre material and resin components at end-of-life without creating waste solvents or pollutants. Race-ready rims that will never see the landfill: performance meets purpose.
H_Ratchet 40T DBL Hub
Dual-sided 40-tooth ratchet system offers 9-degree engagement and durability for loaded adventures, with all 40 teeth engaging simultaneously to handle high torque loads.
Son Dynamo Front Hub
SON 28. 3 watt / 6 volt output at 16kmh tested to German standard K687 for output requirement.
Technology
Fully recyclable thermoset carbon technology with no performance compromise.
H_Cyclo technology enables the recycling of both the carbon fibre materials and the epoxy resin used in the thermoset carbon fibre molding process, which is the most mature carbon fibre manufacturing process available for bicycle rims and components, generally yielding a higher strength-to-weight ratio when compared to other carbon production methods such as thermo-plastic resin systems. This may well change over time as technologies mature, but for now thermoset is the leader in strength-to-weight ratio for bicycle rims and frames.
Using a chemical solution called CleaVER, the carbon fibres and epoxy resin are separated using heat and agitation, so that both components can be re-used to create new (smaller format) carbon components without the by-products of waste solvents or pollutants. Secondary products can be constructed without the addition of virgin carbon fibres, significantly reducing the production emissions required. Originally created to enable the recycling of large format glass fibre wind turbine blades, the recyclable resin has no impact on the structural integrity or strength-to-weight ratio of the carbon layup, making the technology ideal for precision, high-performance rims. HUNT will cover the collection of product at end-of-life, making the process seamless and no-cost for riders, should their wheels become unusable in an accident or crash.
Full Specs
Rims: Disc-specific hookless/straight-sidewall design. H_Cyclo Recyclable resin technology. 40mm deep with 30mm external and 25mm internal dimensions. H_LOCK bead-seat up-kicks, for easy and secure tubeless installation. UD carbon fibre finish with matt white contrasting graphics.
Spokes: 28 Spokes Front & Rear in a 2 Cross interlacing pattern. J-bend interface for easy sourcing or repairs in remote areas. Aero Butted 2.0-2.2/0.95-2.0 then PSR section is 2.2. Cold drawn from high-grade T302 (18/10) stainless steel wire by Sandvik Sweden. Patented Pillar Spoke Re-enforcement, butted again just before the spoke head providing more durability in high stress area. Black stainless treatment.
Nipples: 16mm length for a strong connection to the spoke added durability. Square body for external adjustment and square head for easy internal adjustment/tensioning. 14 gauge brass nipples for increased durability, corrosion resistance and self-lubricating properties.
Front Hub: SON 28 Dynamo Hub Shell: aluminium 6082 T6. Sealing: alloy dust shields, rubber lip seals and pressure compensation system. Supplied with: 2x Spade Connector with Shrink wrap cable protectors. Warranty: 5 years. Center-lock disc mount. If you require a 6-bolt adaptor you can purchase separately.
Rear Hub: HUNT H_Ratchet 40T DBL JB Hub. 40-Tooth ratchet rings on floating carrier, offering quick 9˚ engagement. Machined spoke flanges for better bracing angles. H_Ceramik freehub body reinforcement coating provides excellent durability and protects against cassette sprocket damage to the freehub often seen on standard alloy freehub bodies. All freehub standards available. 6066 T6 heat-treated aluminium alloy hub shell. Polished anodized black finish with laser graphics. Center-lock disc mount. If you require a 6-bolt adaptor you can purchase separately here.
Axle Sizes: These wheels are compatible with the following axle specifications. We fit the axle adapters you need, just complete the simple form shown after checkout: Front: 12x100mm Thru-Axle, Quick Release 9x100mm Rear: 12x142mm Thru-Axle, 12x135mm Thru-Axle, 10x135mm Thru-Axle, Quick Release 9x135mm If you are unsure, please do not worry as our form includes the option to tell us your bike model. We will then do our best to support you and fit the correct axle adapters. We may contact you via email if we need further information. Plus, if you don’t get it quite right, we’re happy to send you the correct adapters. Please note; this form is shown after you have completed your order.
Tyres Info: HUNT recommends a 35-50mm tyre for best performance, tyre widths between 29mm and 60mm are also safe to use. Only use tyres suitable for hookless (TSS) rims. If unsure, please contact the tyre manufacturer. Leading brands, including Schwalbe, Continental and Vittoria, have many tyres suitable for hookless TSS rims. Note: best performance is usually gained by using tyre pressures lower than the maximum, you can see our blog post about this.
Bearings: Super smooth precision bearings with proprietary waterproof grease, specially developed for even the worst weather. Sealed cartridge replaceable units. Dual full-contact seals.
High Specification Components.
H_Cyclo Rims
Fully recyclable and reusable epoxy resin technology, H_Cyclo, allows HUNT to recycle and reuse the carbon fibre from this wheelset. Utilizing this technology, end-of-life carbon composites undergo a process where the resin is separated from the fibres, allowing them to be utilized into new applications.
SON 28 Dynamo
Designed for smooth reliability and longevity, SON hub dynamos have been an undisputed benchmark for many years. The generator is precisely adapted to the intended use and efficiently powers headlights, rear lights or charges devices and power banks while riding, even at low speed.
PRECISION BEARINGS
Double sealed stainless steel cartridge bearings offer smooth, reliable service with low friction.
FREEHUB BODY
Featuring HUNT’s H_Ratchet double-sided system (with two floating ratchet rings), with a 40-tooth ratchet ring resulting in quick 9-degree engagement. The freehub benefits from H_Ceramik anti-bite coating to ensure maximum durability. Durability is a theme for HUNT, and so all our freehub bodies have Steel Spline Insert re-enforcements to provide excellent durability against cassette sprocket damage often seen on standard alloy freehub bodies.
What’s in the box.
Hunt Black Shield tubeless tape fitted to wheels.
The axle adapters needed for your bike, just fill in the simple form shown after order completion, the form is also included in your order confirmation page.
Cassette spacer for 8/9/10 speed and XDR-XD compatibility.
2x Spade Connector with Shrink wrap cable protectors
55mm Tubeless Valves.
Spare of each spoke plus nipples.
Quality control card signed by your wheel builder.
Warranty.
A full 3 years from purchase date warranty is offered to the original purchaser only on all Hunt bike wheels against material or workmanship defects.
5 YEAR SON WARRANTY (INCL. BEARINGS) – The unique SON Pressure Compensation System allows us to offer you a huge 5-year warranty on the SON Dynamo hubs including bearing wear.
Stated wheel weights: Our stated wheel weights reflect the wheelset only; without rim tape, tubeless valves or disc brake lock rings, as is industry standard. A 3% variance (lower or higher) in total system weight is normal for wheelset manufacturing.
All HUNT wheels models have to pass our harsh cobbled-rolling-road tests for rider weight limits, please see here for more details. Max system weight 145kg (system weight – total weight of fully kitted up rider, bike and luggage). If the system is over 120kg then an experienced bike mechanic should check the wheel regularly.
How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested?:
The only other directly comparable ready-built wheels I could find were £150 more
How easy did you find it to fit tyres? If you used them tubeless, how easy were they to seal?:
Easy to set up tubeless
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes
Would you consider buying the product?
Yes, although I’d struggle to justify it
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes
Use this box to explain your overall score
Hunt has taken the things that I though were issues with the previous wheelset and fixed them: really they’re excellent for the stated purpose. They’re more expensive, but everything is these days…
About the tester
Age: 53Height: 189cmWeight: 104kg
I usually ride: whatever I’m testing…My best bike is: Dward Design Custom Audax, Lauf Úthald, Cannondale Topstone
I’ve been riding for: Over 20 yearsI ride: Every dayI would class myself as: Expert
I regularly do the following types of riding: Road racing, Gravel riding, Indoor riding, Indoor racing, Bikepacking, Commuting, Touring, Club riding, Audax, Fitness riding, Leisure riding
5 thoughts on “Hunt 40 Carbon Gravel Dynamo Wheelset”
Describing hookless rims as today’s press-fit bottom bracket is absolutely spot on, thank you Dave!
Did you notice any difference in crosswind stability when using 30mm Vs 36mm tyres?
I’m not a fan of hookless rims and I do thank the reviewer for pointing out that they’re mainly an advantage to the seller.
That said, I think Hunt seem to have seriously upped their game over the past couple of years. I purchased one of their wheelsets back in 2021 and it was simply BAD. Like chinese Temu product bad. A thief relieved me of them (unfortunately he also took the rest of the bike) and I swore never to purchase that brand again, ever. They flexed, I had to change out the rear hub twice… But…lately I’m hearing positive feedback, also from truly independent sources whom I know for certain have nothing to gain from shilling for them.
I’ve been riding Hunt Carbon Gravel 35’s (hookless) for around 3 years with various gravel tyres incl. 40mm slicks, 38mm sawtooth, 42 pathfinders, with no issues at all. They are excellent wheels. I would grab these wheels without hesitation if I wanted a dynamo setup.
Ps: the analogy with press-fit BB’s can be easily resolved with the correct thread-fit BB and the correct tyre pressures. Both are a non-issue for gravel / touring IMO. (…however for high speed road descents with higher pressures I’d use hooked rims)