Speed Tests: Zwift’s Fastest* Wheels for Climbing

Your choice of wheelset influences your Zwift speed significantly since it impacts both weight and aerodynamics. And Zwift’s release of the Drop Shop has given us access to lots of wheelsets: 39 now, with more on the way!

Wheel choice for flat/mixed courses has already been discussed. What about climbing? When aerodynamics matter less and weight matters more, which wheelset should you choose?

We’ve been hard at work in our lab testing wheels. Here’s a post summarizing some of our findings.

Want a look at the complete data?
Check out our Zwift Speed Test Charts for Wheels >

*First, a Disclaimer

The “which bike frame or wheelset is fastest” question isn’t as easy to answer as you might think. Each piece of equipment has unique weight and aerodynamic (CdA) values, making them perform in ways that mirror outdoor physics. Lighter items perform better on climbs, while more aerodynamic items perform better on the flats. Differences between options will also be magnified or minimized by your own power levels, drafting abilities, and more.

Your best Zwift setup, more than ever, depends on your specific situation.

About the Results

Below you will find the ten fastest wheelsets for longer, steeper climbs. This would include big Zwift mountains like Alpe du Zwift, the Epic KOM, or Innsbruck’s KOM. This isn’t an exact science, but we’re pretty confident in our findings thus far.

This list is based on our recent speed tests of 100+ rides up Alpe du Zwift, a 12.2km, 8.5% monster of a climb. We tested all wheelsets using the same power levels, rider weight, and bike frame. This made it easy to spot which wheelsets performed best. We then ranked those wheelsets based on their climbing performance, using their flat/mixed course performance as a secondary factor when needed.

Your Winners

#1 & #2: Lightweight Meilenstein and Roval Alpinist CLX

Lightweight Meilenstein: Cannot be purchased, must be won via the Alpe prize wheel
Roval Alpinist CLX: 634,300 Drops to purchase, must be Level 38+

The Lightweight Meilenstein wheels are super-premium IRL, and their price reflects that. Luckily for us, we can get them free by just riding up the Alpe! Problem is, it may take one try… or 25. Nobody really knows how often the spinner lands on the Meilensteins, but they’re definitely a prize worth winning.

The new climbers from Roval were released in mid-2021, matching the Meilensteins climb time. Read more about the Alpinist CLX wheels >

Both wheelsets turn in essentially the same flat test times as well (we clocked the Lightweights at 0.5s faster over ~50 minutes), so your choice really comes down to preference and what’s in your garage.

#3: DT Swiss ARC 62

400,000 Drops to purchase, must be Level 40+

These hoops deliver strong climbing performance and solid aero performance, making them strong all-arounders. In fact, they rank at the top of our combined percentile rankings (see bottom chart here).

#4 & #5: ENVE SES 3.4 and FFWD RYOT55

ENVE 3.4: 200,000 Drops to purchase, must be Level 27+
FFWD RYOT55: 136,100 Drops to purchase, must be Level 18+

Just 6 seconds behind the Meilensteins, these wheels come at a low price and level unlock.

#6: CADEX 65

223,900 Drops to purchase, must be Level 33+

#7: GIANT SLR 0

165,100 Drops to purchase, must be Level 21+

Slightly lacking in aerodynamics compared to the top competition, they definitely have the light weight necessary to turn in a fast Alpe climb time. The SLR 0 wheels tested just a half second faster than the CADEX 65’s up the Alpe, but the CADEX 65’s are much faster on flat ground, so we gave them the edge.

#8 ZIPP 454

204,300 Drops to purchase, must be Level 30+

These climb at the same speed as the 353 NSW below, but are faster on the flats so they get the edge in our rankings. Because you have to get to the Alpe before you can climb it! A solid all-around wheel, the Zipp 454s rank second overall in our combined percentile rankings (see bottom chart here).

#9: Zipp 353 NSW

168,800 Drops to purchase, must be Level 24+

Zipp released the IRL 353 NSWs in late April 2021, billing them as the lightest tubeless wheelset they’ve ever made. They climb at the same speed as the 454’s, but are a bit slower on the flats.

#10: CADEX 36

216,900 Drops to purchase, must be Level 29+

These climb just a half-second slower than the highly ranked DT Swiss ARC 62 wheels, but the problem is they are much slower on flat/mixed terrain, so we placed them here. While they’re the third fastest wheelset on this list for pure climbs, their aero performance is so bad that it’s hard to recommend them over the other wheelsets above which are (at worst) just 1s slower up the Alpe!

What’s the Time Gap?

Only 7 seconds separate the Meilensteins from the Bora Ultra 50’s up the Alpe at 300 watts with a 75kg rider on a Zwift Aero frame.

Again, your best Zwift race setup depends on our specific situation, so do your research and choose wisely. Feel free to sift through our detailed charts!

Share Your Thoughts

Hopefully the mountain goats found this post useful. Got questions or comments? Post below!

Changelog

• December 11, 2023: updated the list based on current performance data.
• December 6, 2023: updated prices, level unlocks, and text to account for Zwift’s Drop Shop reorg.
• September 19, 2021: changed the Meilensteins and Alpinist wheels to be tied for top slots based on fresh tests. Added CADEX 36 in #10 slot.
• July 26, 2021: inserted the Roval Alpinist CLX wheels into the #1 slot.
• Apr 22, 2021: inserted the new Zipp 353 NSWs into the 2nd slot.
• Aug 11, 2020: inserted the new DT Swiss ARC 62s in the 3rd slot.
• Nov 8, 2019: Moved Bora 50s down two slots to #6. Removed 7, 8, and 9 because their flat performance is so bad, and you can get better climbing wheelsets at lower levels and prices.