Hunt’s latest 40 Limitless Gravel Aero tries to thread the needle through aero, wide, and practical. If you haven’t guessed it, new Hunt gravel wheels are wider than their outgoing model, but without going overboard. After months of real-world abuse racing, traveling, and nearly all gravel categories, these guys are more than a trend wheel. The Hunt 40 Limitless Gravel wheels became one of my favorite wheelsets of the year, and they are much more than a one-trick pony.
What Are They? Hunt 40 Limitless Gravel Aero
Hunt’s previous 42 Limitless version rode well for its time. It was aero, modernly wide (with a 25 mm internal width), and had enough zing to hit the forest singletrack without a back injury. So why change them? Well, they were slightly deep (42mm), but the real push was tire optimization. The 42 Limitless were optimized for tires ranging from 38 to 42 mm, and if you follow the gravel world, the arms race of fitting larger (45-55mm) tires without lightbulbing on the rim is rapidly evolving. Hence, the push for a “do-most” gravel wheel, one that would go to the wide side of life without alienating itself like the Zipp XPLR 303 SW.
Width That Works
The 40 Limitless arrives with a fairly aggressive spec: 27 mm internal front / 26 mm internal rear, hookless rim design, a revamped hub, and rim shapes are tuned for 40–45mm rubber – but totally cool with 50mm (IMO).
The Hunt 40 Limitless Gravel Aero rim width provides just enough room for modern gravel rubber without compromising sidewall support. It’s wide but not absurd, enhancing the ride rather than taking away from it. For example, in crosswinds, the wheels feel planted, not twitchy, or floppy. On the practical side, the outer rim wall has a slight flare, which adds impact resistance, and the squared-off bead platform helps resist pinch flats.
Weight & Hub Upgrades
For wheels this deep and wide, they’re competitive in weight. The new rear hub feels tighter and more responsive than past versions. Hunt backs their claims with wind-tunnel data, proving these rims perform well with 40–45 mm tires at “grave race speeds”. And yes — when you’re rolling at a quick clip, you can feel the gains versus more shallow gravel hoops. Now, without the harsh ride that accompanies many deep-dish and mega stiff gravel wheels.
On the road, what jumps out right away is how planted these wheels feel when things get fast. In side winds, the front end stays predictable — none of that ‘sail effect’ you get with deeper carbon. Hunt’s CFD work clearly paid off; they’ve tuned the rim shape to reduce turbulence around large-volume tires, so you get free speed without twitchy handling.
Maybe Some Limits
Tubeless setup can be finicky with some tires. Those hookless bead seats demand attention (maybe some bead wax for those that abide), but only from a few tire manufacturers. Expect some effort getting certain tires seated cleanly, but now this is nitpicking. Also, don’t expect this wheelset to be all things to your road bike either. Yes, it’s a killer wheelset, and you can push slightly past the recommendations for tire size. But you’re not gonna have a great experience with a 32 or 28mm road tire…just wanted to put that out there. For that tire size, check out the Hunt 40 Carbon Disc Wheelset ($766 for the set right now). The 22mm internal and 30mm external widths will sort out the 28-35mm tires.
Hunt 40 Limitless Gravel Aero Wheelset — Tech Specs
- Rim Depth: 40 mm front / 41 mm rear
- External Width: 36 mm (front) / 35 mm (rear)
- Internal Width: 27 mm (front) / 26 mm (rear)
- Bead: 4.65mm
- Rim Construction: UD Carbon, hookless, gravel-aero profile
- Wheel Size / ETRTO: 700c (622 × 26–27)
- Weight: 1460g* per set, actual, vs.1328 g per set (carbon-spoke version)
- Spoke Options:
- Carbon TaperLock UD spokes — 20 front / 20 rear
- Steel spokes — 24 front / 24 rear (Tested*)
- Hub System: H_Ratchet DBL hub with 48-tooth ratchet (~7.5° engagement)
- Bearings: Double-sealed stainless steel cartridge bearings (standard)
- Optional upgrade to CeramicSpeed-coated bearings
- Tire Compatibility: Tubeless-ready hookless rim
- Brake Compatibility: Disc brake – centerlock mount
- Valve Stem: 50 mm alloy tubeless valve (included)
- Price: $1,479 USD (steel-spoke version tested*)
- Warranty: Lifetime + 5-year incident replacement
Balanced and Confident
On the road and in the gravel, the acceleration of the Hunt Limitless 40 is snappy. Even with 40mm+ tires, the stiffness sits in that happy middle ground — rigid enough to corner hard, compliant enough to not rattle your fillings loose. On pavement, they hum quietly and roll fast, feeling every bit like a dedicated road aero wheel. On gravel, the wide channel supports tires beautifully, keeping shape and traction consistent at lower pressures.
Could they be lighter? Sure — a few carbon-spoked wheelsets beat them on paper, but not really that much (maybe 100g). But here’s the trade-off: make a wheelset ultralight, and you often lose stiffness and durability. I’ll take Hunt’s steel-spoke version, with a balance of weight and utility most days, especially when traveling on the road.
Price & Extras
At $1,849 (now 20% off!), they’re not the kinda wheel you purchase on a whim. They do come with a killer Lifetime + 5-year incident replacement warranty, and that always softens the blow for me. If you’re a gravel racer, that might be worth the price of admission alone. Plus, you get wheel bags, valves, and some extra spokes – just because…stuff happens.
The Verdict
The Hunt 40 Limitless Gravel Aero hits that sweet middle: aerodynamic gains you can actually feel, durability that doesn’t quit, and width that plays well with modern tires. For the price, you’re getting a race-ready aero gravel wheelset that doesn’t require babying — and one that feels like a road race wheel.
The Hunt 40 Limitless Gravel Aero wheels strike a thoughtful balance. They don’t chase the “widest” crown, but they push what used to be ultra-wide into a realm that works with most modern gravel setups. They combine real aero gains, usable stability, and race-grade polish in a package that doesn’t feel like overkill.
If you’re after a wheel that bridges the gap between shred-ready gravel and aero-adjacent performance, these are worth a long look. For everyone else, the compromises are manageable, and the ride is compelling enough to convince most.
