HED Stillwater G50 Wheelset

Most gravel wheels hedge their bets. The HED Stillwater G50 Wheelset does not. At 50mm deep, it's HED's deepest gravel carbon wheelset — built for riders who want the aerodynamic advantage of a deep-section rim without sacrificing the wide-body geometry that modern gravel tires require. The Stillwater is designed for open, fast terrain: gravel racing, long-distance events on packed dirt roads, any ride where you're holding speed for hours rather than navigating technical singletrack. HED has been building wheels by hand at their facility in Roseville, Minnesota since 1984, and the Stillwater reflects that history applied to the specific demands of contemporary gravel riding. The rim is wider than any road wheel you'd run at this depth, the hub is designed to be serviced and rebuilt, and the construction comes from a company that has been accountable to its riders for four decades.

The 50mm carbon rim is the defining characteristic of the Stillwater's performance profile. At that depth, the wheel generates meaningful aerodynamic advantage across the open, sustained-effort riding that gravel racing demands — better momentum retention through headwinds, reduced drag over flat and rolling terrain, more speed per effort over a long day in the saddle. HED's stated goal with the G50's rim geometry was crosswind stability alongside headwind efficiency — a critical design consideration on the open farmland roads and exposed terrain where gravel events typically unfold. The rim profile is hooked, providing a secure and time-tested interface for tubeless tires. At 1665g for the wheelset (±10g), it's a competitive weight for a deep-section carbon gravel wheelset at this price point — light enough that the 50mm depth doesn't translate into sluggishness on climbs.

The rim dimensions are calibrated specifically for modern gravel tire sizing. A 28.5mm internal width paired with a 36mm external width creates a profile that works across the 40mm to 2.25" tire range — wide enough to cover race setups and all-day adventure rigs alike. The wider internal width allows tires to mount with a rounder cross-section, which improves traction, reduces sidewall stress, and supports running lower pressures without pinch flat risk. HED specifies 50 psi as the maximum tire pressure and 40mm as the minimum tire size, placing this firmly in the high-volume tubeless category that modern gravel riding is built around. The hooked rim design provides secure tubeless bead retention and long-term durability under the mixed-terrain punishment that gravel wheels routinely take.

The Sonic R36 rear hub is the mechanical core of the wheelset. Its 36-point dual ratchet engagement mechanism — with 36 engagement points, there's just 10 degrees of rotation between applying power and the drivetrain picking it up — is relevant in the technical gravel sections where you coast through rough patches and then need to sprint or push. Beyond engagement feel, HED designed the Sonic R36 for long-term serviceability: bearings can be replaced, internals can be rebuilt, and the hub is straightforward to maintain in a home shop. For a wheelset you're planning to ride hard for multiple seasons, that matters. Front and rear wheels use straight-pull bladed spokes in a 24-hole lacing pattern, contributing to the aerodynamic package and handling lateral loads well under rough terrain conditions.

Both wheels use centerlock disc brake mounts and standard thru-axle dimensions: 12x100mm front and 12x142mm rear. Three freehub options accommodate the current drivetrain range: HG11 for Shimano/SRAM 11-speed, Microspline for Shimano 12-speed, and XDR Driver for SRAM AXS. Within HED's gravel lineup, the Stillwater G50 occupies the fast, open-terrain end — riders who spend most of their time on technical, slow-speed trails would be better served by the shallower Lancaster G25. But for gravel racing, fast century routes on packed dirt, or any riding where sustained speed on open ground is the objective, the G50 is the wheel HED built for that exact purpose. Each wheelset is hand-built at HED's Roseville facility — individually assembled and tensioned, not line-produced offshore.