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: 28 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 9 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: Lightweight Meilenstein

Cannot be purchased, must be won via the Alpe prize wheel

These 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.

#2: ENVE SES 3.4

191,700 Drops to purchase, must be Level 4+

Just 5 seconds behind the Meilensteins, these wheels come at a low price and level unlock. The 3.4’s turn in nearly the same Alpe times as the Giant SLR 0, but they outperform the SLR0 on flat/mixed courses so we gave them the edge.

#3: Giant SLR0

191,800 Drops to purchase, must be Level 22+

Slightly lacking in aerodynamics compared to the top competition, they definitely have the light weight necessary to turn in a fast Alpe climb time.

#4: Zipp 454

284,000 Drops to purchase, must be Level 24+

These climb at the same speed as the Bora Ultra 50’s 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 454’s rank at the top of our combined percentile rankings (see bottom chart here).

#5: Zipp 404

149,200 Drops to purchase, must be Level 15+

The 404’s perform very much like the 454’s up the Alpe (just 1 second slower), but the 454’s outperform them by a few seconds on flat/mixed courses. Then again, the 404’s are much easier to obtain!

#6: Campagnolo Bora Ultra 50

262,700 Drops to purchase, must be Level 27+

These climb 1 second slightly slower than the Bora Ultra 35’s, but they vastly outperform the 35’s on flat/mixed terrain so they made the cut. Plus, with a more aero wheel, you get to feel the wind in your hair on the way down!

What’s the Time Gap?

Only 8 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. The next wheels which climb decently well perform so poorly in flat races that they aren’t worth listing.

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

  • 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.