Best gravel bikes 2025: extensively ridden and rated

Our top-rated and best gravel bike reviews to suit all styles, terrain and budgets, from bikepacking to gravel racing

Two female riders traversing open rolling terrain along a rough gravel track.
(Image credit: Future)

The best gravel bikes are unlike any other category; the term encompasses a vast array of bikes that can be ridden in wildly different ways. We have tested everything from fast, aerodynamically optimised gravel bikes to rugged steel frame bikes with knobbly mountain bike tyres and suspension. That is the beauty of gravel bikes; you can tailor your bike to your bias of on and off-road riding. This versatility lends them to much more than just racing or weekend adventures; they can be fantastic for commuting, bikepacking and touring, cyclocross racing or even just a winter road bike.

So, what are the best gravel bikes? Whether you want to ride the King Alfred Way or race the red dirt roads of Kansas, we can recommend a bike for you. Our expert reviewers have extensively tested every gravel bike below. Through all this testing, the team unanimously awarded the Giant Revolt X our best overall gravel bike. We have tested several versions of the Revolt, and every time we swing a leg over one, its handling, comfort and value stand out from the crowd.

Ecomm and Tech Writer

Like many, Matt began his bicycle industry journey on the spanners at his local bike shop. After spending his youth mountain biking, he was inspired to embrace gravel during his tenure with Evans Cycles' in-house brands, Pinnacle and Hoy Bikes. Recognising the evolving industry, Matt eagerly seized the chance to become an E-bike designer, winning several awards with the E-bike brand Cairn Cycles.

These days, Matt is likely to have a toddler sitting shotgun or off the beaten track somewhere on the South Downs.