Review: Hunt 40 Carbon Gravel Race Wheelset - A Blend of Comfort, Responsiveness, and Durability Concerns

The Hunt 40 Carbon Gravel Race wheelset promises a blend of lightweight construction, aerodynamic efficiency, and responsive handling, catering to gravel enthusiasts and high-speed road riders. While its robust carbon rims, comfortable ride, and superior hub engagement have garnered commendation, initial testing revealed some issues with durability, particularly concerning spoke tension and bearing performance. Fortunately, Hunt's responsive after-sales service effectively resolved these challenges, solidifying the wheelset's position as a strong contender in its category, offering competitive value and performance despite minor initial setbacks.

This wheelset, priced at £1199.00, boasts a claimed weight of 1431g, a figure that is impressively low for a 40mm deep gravel wheelset featuring wide rims and steel spokes. Its H_Cyclo technology utilizes a recyclable thermoset epoxy resin, contributing to environmental sustainability by allowing for the reuse of carbon fibers and resin in future components. The rims are specifically designed with a 40mm depth to strike a balance between aerodynamic benefits and manageability in varying wind conditions, measuring 30mm externally and 25mm internally to accommodate modern gravel tires ranging from 35mm to 50mm, with safe usage possible from 29mm to 60mm. The H_LOCK profile further enhances tire security, preventing movement during cornering or braking.

The hubs incorporate Hunt’s H_Ratchet 40T DBL system in the rear, providing nine degrees of engagement through two simultaneous 40-tooth ratchet rings. This design ensures quick power transfer and distributes load efficiently, crucial for challenging gravel climbs and rapid accelerations. The H_Ceramik reinforcement coating on the freehub body protects against cassette gouging, a common issue with traditional aluminum freehub bodies. Both hub shells are crafted from heat-treated 6066-T6 aluminum, housing sealed cartridge bearings with dual full-contact seals to resist contamination. The wheels are hand-built with 24 straight-pull Pillar PSR XTRA 1420 aero-butted spokes, arranged in a two-cross pattern for optimal strength.

During performance evaluations, the wheelset proved easy to install, with pre-taped rims facilitating a quick tubeless setup. The actual weight closely matched the claimed specifications, confirming its lightweight advantage for off-road applications. Riders noted the excellent hub engagement and a distinct, high-quality freehub buzz. The power transfer was described as efficient, albeit with a noticeable degree of compliance that prioritizes comfort over the stiffness typically associated with pure race wheels. While the aerodynamic benefits of deep-section wheels for gravel riding remain a subject of debate, the 40mm depth visually enhanced the bike's aesthetics, though it did lead to some instability in strong crosswinds.

Despite the positive attributes, approximately 1,000km into testing, the rear wheel exhibited issues with non-drive side spoke tension loss and bearing play. Hunt's customer service promptly addressed these concerns by replacing the nipples with new ones, applying thread-lock, and upgrading the bearings to “higher toleranced” articles. These fixes effectively resolved the problems for the subsequent 400km of riding. The wheelset is protected by a three-year warranty against manufacturing defects and a 60-day Ride and Return policy. Available in 700c, it supports various freehub body options and axle standards, arriving with tubeless tape, valves, adaptors, and spare spokes and nipples.

Despite the minor setbacks experienced with spoke tension and bearing longevity, the Hunt 40 Carbon Gravel Race wheelset emerges as a highly capable option. Its robust construction, comfortable ride characteristics, and excellent hub responsiveness, combined with Hunt's commendable customer support, make it a valuable purchase within its price segment, performing admirably across diverse terrains including rough roads, smooth gravel, and more challenging paths.