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Zwift Shopping Guide: What To Buy from the Drop Shop at Each Level

Eric Schlange
By Eric Schlange
LAST UPDATED
20

As you progress through Zwift’s levels, you’ll unlock access to items in the Drop Shop which can be purchased with your hard-earned Drops. This inevitably leads to questions: do I buy the frame that just became available? What if there’s a faster frame unlocked at the next level? Or maybe some zippy wheels?

Related links:
Learn how Zwift’s levels, XP, and unlocks work >
Learn how Drops are calculated >

Here’s a complete list of frames and wheels unlocked at each level, with the most useful unlocks marked in bold and the key purchases marked with a MUST BUY. We’ve even added notes so you know what makes those unlocks special! (Note: when items are removed from the Drop Shop, we remove them from this list.)

Of course, you may want to purchase a particular frame or wheelset just because it looks cool or matches what you ride outdoors. Nothing wrong with that! Our recommendations, though, are based entirely on in-game performance.

Level 1

  • Zwift Steel frame (0 Drops)

    • Level 2

  • Zwift Gravel Gravel frame (50,000 Drops)
  • Zwift Mountain MTB frame (50,000 Drops)

    • Level 3

  • Zwift Carbon frame (55,000 Drops)
  • Zwift 32mm Carbon wheelset (100,000 Drops)

    • Level 4

    Level 5

  • Lauf True Grit Gravel frame (125,000 Drops)

    • Level 6

    Level 7

    Level 8

  • Moots Vamoots RCS frame (275,000 Drops)

    • Level 9

  • Zwift Aero frame (250,000 Drops)
  • Zwift 50mm Carbon wheelset (125,000 Drops)

    • Level 10

  • MUST BUY Canyon Aeroad 2024 frame (1,100,000 Drops) It’s actually a bit crazy that you can get this bike at level 10! Listed in Fastest Aero Bike Frames and Wheels at Each Zwift Level. Listed in Fastest Climbing Bike Frames and Wheels at Each Zwift Level.
  • Brompton P Line frame (600,000 Drops)

    • Level 11

  • Canyon Lux MTB frame (275,000 Drops)
  • Mosaic RT-1d frame (250,000 Drops)
  • Bontrager Aeolus5 wheelset (150,000 Drops)

    • Level 12

    Level 13

  • Quintana Roo V-PR TT frame (297,400 Drops)

    • Level 14

  • CADEX AR 35 Gravel wheelset (154,500 Drops)

    • Level 15

  • Ridley Helium frame (272,500 Drops)
  • Roval Rapide CLX wheelset (500,000 Drops)

    • Level 16

  • MUST BUY Felt IA 2.0 TT frame (750,000 Drops) For TT racers, this or the Scott Plasma RC at level 19 are must buys, since they give you a big speed boost that you can't beat handily until level 40. Listed in Fastest Aero TT Bike Frames and Wheels at Each Zwift Level. Listed in Top TT Bikes and Wheelsets.
  • Felt FR frame (562,700 Drops)
  • Roval CLX64 wheelset (525,000 Drops)

    • Level 17

  • CADEX 42 wheelset (425,000 Drops)
  • HED Vanquish RC6 Pro wheelset (175,000 Drops)

    • Level 18

    Level 19

  • Factor One frame (600,000 Drops)
  • Scott Plasma TT frame (528,600 Drops)
  • Zipp 404 wheelset (425,000 Drops)

    • Level 20

  • Zipp 202 wheelset (350,000 Drops)

    • Level 21

  • Ribble Endurance frame (505,500 Drops)

    • Level 22

  • ENVE SES 6.7 wheelset (525,000 Drops)

    • Level 23

  • ENVE G23 Gravel wheelset (241,800 Drops)

    • Level 24

  • Cube Litening C:68x frame (604,200 Drops)
  • Cube Litening frame (536,500 Drops)

    • Level 25

  • Trek Emonda SL frame (560,300 Drops)
  • Ventum One TT frame (440,800 Drops)
  • Zipp 808 wheelset (425,000 Drops)

    • Level 26

  • Scott Foil 2023 frame (864,600 Drops)
  • ENVE SES 2.2 wheelset (400,000 Drops)

    • Level 27

  • Pinarello Dogma X frame (850,000 Drops)
  • ENVE SES 3.4 wheelset (525,000 Drops)

    • Level 28

  • MUST BUY Swiss Side HADRON Ultimate 650 wheelset (550,000 Drops) The fastest non-disc wheels in Zwift, and they climb decently, too. Listed in Fastest Aero Bike Frames and Wheels at Each Zwift Level. Listed in Fastest Aero TT Bike Frames and Wheels at Each Zwift Level. Listed in Top TT Bikes and Wheelsets. Listed in Top 10 Road Wheelsets.
  • Cannondale SuperX LAB71 Gravel frame (1,000,000 Drops) The best climbing gravel bike in Zwift. Listed in Top Gravel Bikes and Wheelsets.
  • Cervelo R5 frame (633,600 Drops)
  • Pinarello Bolide TT frame (618,400 Drops)
  • Pinarello Bolide TT TT frame (627,000 Drops)
  • ENVE SES 8.9 wheelset (550,000 Drops)

    • Level 29

  • CADEX 36 wheelset (375,000 Drops)
  • Reserve 34/37 wheelset (550,000 Drops)

    • Level 30

  • MUST BUY Specialized Aethos S-Works frame (966,300 Drops) The best climbing bike on Zwift, when upgraded fully. Listed in Fastest Climbing Bike Frames and Wheels at Each Zwift Level. Listed in Top 10 Road Bikes.
  • Zipp 454 wheelset (600,000 Drops) Listed in Top 10 Road Wheelsets.
  • Ventum NS1 frame (750,000 Drops)

    • Level 31

  • Uranium Nuclear frame (700,000 Drops)
  • Zipp 858 wheelset (600,000 Drops)

    • Level 32

  • MUST BUY Princeton CarbonWorks Wake 6560 wheelset (685,000 Drops) Simply a superwheel. The second-best climbing wheels in game, with strong aero performance! Listed in Fastest Climbing Bike Frames and Wheels at Each Zwift Level. Listed in Top TT Bikes and Wheelsets. Listed in Top 10 Road Wheelsets.
  • Pinarello Dogma F 2021 frame (1,350,000 Drops)

    • Level 33

  • Ridley Noah Fast frame (950,000 Drops)
  • CADEX 65 wheelset (450,000 Drops)

    • Level 34

  • Cervelo P5 TT frame (920,700 Drops)
  • Cervelo PX-Series TT frame (1,000,000 Drops)
  • Trek Madone frame (1,050,000 Drops)

    • Level 35

  • Cervelo Aspero 5 Gravel frame (1,250,000 Drops) The most aero gravel bike in Zwift. Listed in Top Gravel Bikes and Wheelsets.
  • Specialized Crux Gravel frame (950,000 Drops) Listed in Top Gravel Bikes and Wheelsets.
  • Specialized Tarmac SL8 frame (700,000 Drops)
  • Van Rysel RCR-F frame (1,500,000 Drops)

    • Level 36

  • Specialized Tarmac SL7 frame (1,200,000 Drops)
  • ENVE SES 7.8 wheelset (550,000 Drops)

    • Level 37

    Level 38

  • MUST BUY Roval Terra Aero CLX Gravel wheelset (650,000 Drops) The fastest gravel wheels on Zwift. Buy 'em and head to the Jungle! Listed in Top Gravel Bikes and Wheelsets.
  • Colnago V3RS frame (800,000 Drops)
  • Trek Super Caliber MTB frame (750,000 Drops)
  • Roval Alpinist CLX wheelset (550,000 Drops)

    • Level 39

  • MUST BUY Swiss Side HADRON Ultimate 850/Disc wheelset (900,000 Drops) Exact same performance as the DT Swiss ARC 1100 DICUT 85/Disc, so you just need to decide which wheelset you want! Listed in Top TT Bikes and Wheelsets. Listed in Top 10 Road Wheelsets.
  • BMC SLR01 frame (759,500 Drops)
  • BMC TeamMachine frame (969,200 Drops)

    • Level 40

  • MUST BUY Canyon Speedmax CFR TT frame (1,250,000 Drops) The fastest TT frame in Zwift, both on flats and climbs. Buy and upgrade! Listed in Fastest Aero TT Bike Frames and Wheels at Each Zwift Level. Listed in Top TT Bikes and Wheelsets.
  • MUST BUY Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL9 frame (1,900,000 Drops) Simply the best all around road bike on Zwift today. Listed in Fastest Climbing Bike Frames and Wheels at Each Zwift Level. Listed in Top 10 Road Bikes.
  • CADEX Tri TT frame (1,500,000 Drops) For years the fastest TT frame on Zwift, lots of riders are on fully-upgraded versions of this bike because they don't want to put the time into upgrading the slightly faster Canyon Speedmax CFR. Listed in Top TT Bikes and Wheelsets.
  • Cannondale SuperSix Evo LAB71 frame (1,750,000 Drops) Listed in Top 10 Road Bikes.
  • Cannondale SuperSix EVO LAB71 Team frame (1,750,000 Drops) Listed in Top 10 Road Bikes.
  • Cervelo S5 frame (1,800,000 Drops) Listed in Fastest Aero Bike Frames and Wheels at Each Zwift Level. Listed in Top 10 Road Bikes.
  • Pinarello Dogma F 2024 frame (1,750,000 Drops) Listed in Top 10 Road Bikes.
  • Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8 frame (1,750,000 Drops) The former top road bike in Zwift, this SL8 has been superseded by the SL9. Listed in Top 10 Road Bikes.

    • Level 41

    Level 42

    Level 43

    Level 44

  • Zwift Safety frame (3,550,000 Drops)

    • Eric Schlange
    Eric Schlangehttps://zwiftinsider.com
    Eric runs Zwift Insider in the spare time he finds between riding his bike and managing various business interests. He lives in Northern California with his beautiful wife Monica. Follow on Strava

    20 COMMENTS

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    20 Comments
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    Griff
    Griff
    1 year ago

    Given all the updates, the only “must buys” I don’t have is the new Tarmac SL8 at level 60. And it is only really marginally better at it’s OE spec. So…I can worry less about not having the tarmac and focus on the upgrades for the aeroad and aethos.

    1
    Reply
    Eric Schlange
    Author
    Top Member
    Eric Schlange(@eschlange)
    1 year ago
    Reply to  Griff

    There’s a Tarmac at level 60? 😉

    1
    Reply
    Griff
    Griff
    1 year ago
    Reply to  Eric Schlange

    Grammar strikes again!

    1
    Reply
    G Highlander
    G Highlander
    1 year ago

    Hi guys. I have a new Zwift Ride, with Wahoo Core. The virtual gears are missing from my preferences. I’m on Bluetooth, and have rebooted etc, but nothing. Just missing compleky. Any advice?

    0
    Reply
    Gregory Whitehead
    Gregory Whitehead
    1 year ago
    Reply to  G Highlander

    Very, very stupid question but have you paired them? Just press them quickly and they will turn from free to flash blue in pairing mode and then vibrate once and go solid blue when paired…

    0
    Reply
    G Highlander
    G Highlander
    1 year ago
    Reply to  Gregory Whitehead

    Yes, for sure. They worked yesterday when I had a quick play to familiarise myself. Today though… nothing. I did about 9 Ks in a heavy single gear, then just gave up

    I can still do the workouts I guess, in ERG, but I obviously want access to the routes too.

    It’s a bit frustrating

    0
    Reply
    G Highlander
    G Highlander
    1 year ago
    Reply to  G Highlander

    The option just isn’t even there in the preferences

    0
    Reply
    Eric Schlange
    Author
    Top Member
    Eric Schlange(@eschlange)
    1 year ago
    Reply to  G Highlander

    A few things to check:

    • Make sure your KICKR Core has current firmware
    • Pair controllers on the Ride on the pairing screen, and make sure KICKR Core is paired as “Resistance” on that screen too
    • Make sure they’re all paired via Bluetooth, not ANT

    If you do that, I bet it works.

    0
    Reply
    G Highlander
    G Highlander
    1 year ago
    Reply to  Eric Schlange

    I’ll have another try tomorrow 🙂

    Thanks for the response

    0
    Reply
    G Highlander
    G Highlander
    1 year ago
    Reply to  Eric Schlange

    Hey man. Update…I’ve updated the Firmware for both the Kicker Core and the Zwift Ride Controller unit, and yes!!…my gears are now back in my data box, and I can use them.

    They are still missing from mt Settings -Preferences, which is a bit weird, but at least they are accessible now.

    Thanks a heap for your help 🙏🙂

    0
    Reply
    Casual Rider
    Casual Rider
    1 year ago

    A lot of these don’t seem realist goals since by the time you have collected so many drops you can buy something better. It would be nice to have a guide of mostly affordable things to get at each level keeping in mind that if you buy something that means your drops go back to near zero then you have to start saving again for the next thing.

    Last edited 1 year ago by Casual Rider
    -6
    Reply
    Eric Schlange
    Author
    Top Member
    Eric Schlange(@eschlange)
    1 year ago
    Reply to  Casual Rider

    When you figure out how to put together such a guide, and make it useful for everyone, you let me know. 😋

    23
    Reply
    Andi
    Andi
    1 year ago
    Reply to  Casual Rider

    Aeroad 24 at level 10…..zipp 404….. With this setup you are “pretty good” prepared for everything. Safe any penny until lvl40. Now you should have some millions to spend whatever you want 😀

    5
    Reply
    Jimbo
    Jimbo
    1 year ago
    Reply to  Casual Rider

    Unless you’re racing it’s really all pretty minimal anyway. If you’re on a ride/workout a few seconds here and there isnt going to be noticed.
    A guide like this is very useful though so you can plan ahead and build drops to spend wisely. You just have to do a little planning, but the work has all been done for you. You can’t expect Eric to spoon-feed us all what to buy 😉
    Personally I just got a good climbing bike early on and worked towards the Tron as my all-rounder. Then just saved drops for any specifics (TT bike for example).

    6
    Reply
    Jonathan
    Jonathan
    1 year ago

    How does a fully upgraded Canyon Aeroad 2024 compare to a Specialized SL8?

    0
    Reply
    Markus
    Markus
    1 year ago
    Reply to  Jonathan

    https://zwiftinsider.com/charts-frames-2025/

    0
    Reply
    Jonathan
    Jonathan
    1 year ago
    Reply to  Markus

    Perfect! Exactly what I was asking about. Thanks.

    0
    Reply
    Ronald
    Ronald
    1 year ago

    The Zipp 454 wheels not a must buy?

    0
    Reply
    Ben
    Ben
    3 months ago

    How can I put the gravel wheels on the steel frame? Trying to dabble with gravel without using a bunch of drops. I am level 9, but I only see Classic wheels available.

    Last edited 3 months ago by Ben
    0
    Reply
    Eric Schlange
    Author
    Top Member
    Eric Schlange(@eschlange)
    3 months ago
    Reply to  Ben

    You can’t. Gravel wheels can only go on gravel frames in Zwift.

    0
    Reply

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