Dynamo Wheels: Do You Need Them?

With additional photos by Josh Meissner

Over the past 10 years, I’ve gone back and forth on using dynamo wheels. Though Josh Meissner‘s exhaustive guide to dynamo systems is a great place to start, I thought I’d add to our coverage at BIKEPACKING.com with some of my own thoughts and experiences. Having owned more than a few dynamo systems in my racing days—even blowing one up a few years back—I felt it was time to give the longstanding albeit still widely obscure hub system a deeper dive. I talk pros and cons and look at a few options available on the market today in my video below, which is followed by a written version.

What’s a Dynamo Wheel?

A dynamo wheel is a front wheel equipped with a small generator that converts rotational energy into usable, electric power through magnets. As the wheel spins, the dynamo hub produces a steady stream of electricity—generally anywhere from 3 to 6 watts—which can be used to power lights or charge small devices like a GPS unit or smartphone. For comparison’s sake, a new iPhone wall charger produces roughly 20 watts. So, it takes a bit of time and effort to charge that same device given the lower output. Dynamo hubs have been around for years, but recent advancements have made them more efficient and lighter, and they’re increasingly popular with bikepackers and commuters who want reliable, on-the-go power without needing to stop and charge.

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The Benefits

A dynamo wheelset offers plenty of benefits, especially for riders looking to be largely self-sufficient. Obviously, by generating power as you ride, you eliminate the need to charge batteries for lights or small devices like your phone, GPS, or satellite messenger. This makes dynamo wheels ideal for long-distance rides and bikepacking trips of effectively any length. Having lights that are always on also significantly improves safety and visibility, particularly for commuters or those riding at night. Additionally, it’s an eco-friendly choice, reducing reliance on batteries, as many dynamo systems eliminate the need for rechargeable, ultimately disposable, lithium-ion batteries. While the upfront cost associated with even the most budget-friendly dynamo systems can be higher, it may save money in the long run by cutting down on the need for external batteries, power banks, and cycling through rechargeable lights that may be of a lower quality.

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Moreover, it’s pretty common to see folks in the ultra-distance racing realm reap the benefits dynamo systems provide. In fact, 68% of this year’s Tour Divide Racers used dynamo systems—an obvious choice for many folks looking to stretch their capacity to ride the storied route, given they’re riding long distances at night. Charging and carrying enough batteries for weeks on the road wouldn’t be a sensible choice considering they’re looking for any competitive advantage they can find.

The Drawbacks

Of course, a dynamo wheelset has some downsides to consider. First, it adds a bit of weight to the front wheel and creates a slight drag while you’re riding. It’s a noticeable sensation if you’re hyper-fixated on speed-oriented marginal gains. A simple hand spin test confirms a pretty significant drag, but it’s much less in-your-face when out riding. That said, different dynamo hubs perform better than others in this regard. That said, the largest deterrent to widespread dynamo adoption, racing or not, is cost. Dynamo hubs, lights, and chargers can get pricey, especially for high-quality setups.

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While a dynamo hub can keep smaller devices powered, it has its limits. It’s not designed for high-power demands, so if you’re charging multiple devices or heavier electronics, you’ll need alternative solutions. Finally, it’s another component susceptible to failure or, at the very least, regular maintenance. In fact, during my 2015 Tour Divide run, I had some bad luck with a dynamo system out in the field. In the middle of nowhere, New Mexico, I realized there was significant drag on my front wheel. So much so that it made me feel like I had to pump out an extra couple hundred watts just to keep a decent speed. Turns out, it wasn’t just fatigued legs. When I got home, I discovered the bearings inside my Shutter Precision hub had failed. I had to send the wheel back to the builder, who then had to send the hub back to Shutter Precision, as it’s not a device optimized for user serviceability.

Ideal Candidates for a Dynamo System

With that all in mind, who is a dynamo wheelset for? It’s a question I’ve pondered for a while as it’s a system heavily marketed to bikepackers, but I’ve questioned whether it’s truly necessary for most of us. Though many bikepackers usually include resupply points or find that a power bank is sufficient, there’s no doubt that dynamo setups shine (pun intended) on multi-week or month-long trips. That said, I don’t find it particularly helpful for anything less than four or five days.

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Another drawback that has turned me off to dynamo systems is the speed required for many of them to work as intended. Given many dynamo lights don’t perform well at low speeds, the light can be unreliable at 3-5 miles per hour. For example, when climbing technical singletrack. Even at 5-7 miles per hour on rough terrain, it’s hard to see what’s in front of you without a secondary light on your helmet. To get full brightness from most dynamo lights, you generally need to maintain a speed of around 9+ miles per hour. And while there are dynamo systems built around off-road use where speeds are expected to be slower, I’ve still found some issues with the usable speeds. Having used a dynamo setup during both the Colorado and Arizona Trail Races in the past, it’s safe to say I pushed the limits of its usability. Because both trails have very slow average speeds, I couldn’t rely on the hub for much charging.

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One of the best use cases I’ve experienced with a dynamo hub was during my time commuting in Minneapolis. The constant light, day or night, made me feel safer by ensuring I was always visible to cars. It was also great not having to think about charging a light, especially during the winter months. Additionally, there rear lights that connect to a dynamo hub, which add more visibility and convenience for commuters.

Lastly, dynamo hubs aren’t ideal for weight-conscious riders seeking the most efficient setup. While the weight is negligible in the context of a fully loaded bikepacking rig, there’s noticeable rolling resistance. Brands have published data showing 1-3 watts of resistance when the hub isn’t generating power and up to 5-7 watts when it’s powering a light or charging a device. This level of drag might be subtle, but over long distances, it will likely add time to your total trip. If you’re not overly concerned about that minor slowdown or a bit of extra weight and prefer a low-maintenance, reliable light and charging setup, a dynamo hub can be a fantastic choice.

Dynamo Wheelset Options

Dynamo systems, especially those built specifically for off-road riding, are not cheap. Just a few years ago, riders looking for a dirt-specific dynamo setup were all but required to seek out a bike shop or wheel builder able and willing to build a custom wheelset. Though it’s still a popular and entirely valid way to go about getting a dirt-specific dynamo setup, it typically incurs a higher cost, especially in relation to the options provided by mainstream brands. Schmidt, Shutter Precision, and Shimano are the three big names in dynamo hubs, all of which have pros and cons detailed in the our dynamo guide mentioned above.

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My first custom dynamo wheel was the one I used on the Tour Divide in 2015. It featured an Shutter Precision hub laced with an Enve M60-forty carbon rim, a setup that provided a number of learning opportunities in terms of what makes sense to have for rugged, off-road riding. Just a few days before the race, I broke a spoke. It was an unfortunate circumstance that I’m ultimately glad happened before I set off because it made me realize how difficult field repairs would be. The J-bend spokes, proprietary internal nipples, and special tool required to tighten those nipples would have made on-the-trail repairs almost impossible. Thankfully, this experience prompted me to bring spare parts.

My next custom wheelset was built with i9 carbon hoops and a SON 32-hole hub. I used Sapim Race spokes with Sapim brass nipples, aiming for reliability and ease of maintenance. I had planned to use these wheels for the Tour Divide again in 2020, but the world shut down that summer, and I never really got to use them for their intended purpose.

DT Swiss Dynamo Wheels

More recently, we’ve seen the emergence of system wheels pre-built with dynamo hubs. These are often branded or incorporate one of the three popular dynamo hub designs. The most notable recent release is the new DT Swiss system wheels. Both the GR 1600 Spline and G 1800 can be built with the new DT 350 SP PL-7 dynamo Hubs. This hub features Shutter Precision internals combined with DT Swiss bearings and a custom hub shell.

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I’ve been riding this hub on the Otso Warakin over the last few weeks, and it has undoubtedly impressed. It feels very efficient, and based on DT Swiss’ testing, the resistance appears to be on the low end of what one can expect from a modern dynamo hub. However, one current limitation of this setup is its availability; the hub only comes in 12 x 100mm spacing with 24-hole configurations. This makes it more suited to road and gravel riders than burlier, mountain-bike-oriented riders. Hopefully, this is just the beginning of DT Swiss’ dynamo expansion, as I’d love to see a boost-spaced, 32-hole hub paired with a wider rim.

One particular feature that stood out is the hub’s straight-pull spoke design–a design choice that simplifies spoke replacement. I also think it’s intriguing that DT Swiss has taken SP’s technology and combined it with their expertise in crafting attractive hub shells and more reliable bearings. So far, it’s been promising, but I’ll continue my testing to see how they fare over the long term. The GR1600 dynamo wheel weighs 1,075 grams and costs $443 USD (front), while the G1800 wheel weighs 1,095 grams and costs $343 USD (front). The DT 350 SP-PL 7 hub alone weighs 376 grams and costs $237 USD.

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Hunt Dynamo Wheels

Hunt is another company that offers in-house dynamo wheels, with options for both mountain biking with the Search 29 MTB Dynamo (in collaboration with Mason Cycles) and road/gravel riding with the SuperDura, which Miles has tested over the past four years. If you’re interested in diving deeper into Miles’ experience with the SuperDura wheelset, you can find his detailed review of the SuperDura wheelset here.

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Hunt offers the SuperDura in 100mm hub spacing and the Search 29 in 110mm spacing, both with a robust 32-hole SON Hub and triple-butted 2.0-1.6-2.0mm spokes in a three-cross pattern with brass nipples for added strength and durability. Miles noted that the SuperDura wheels have held up well over the years, emphasizing the reliability of the SON dynamo hub and the competitive pricing of the wheels. The SuperDura weighs 1,939 grams for a full wheelset and is priced at $1,099 USD. They also offer a few other carbon wheelset options if you are looking for a higher-end wheelset.

Small Builders and Custom Dynamo Wheelsets

There are other ready-to-roll options from Curve, Sonder, and Velocity, but generally speaking, dynamo systems make up a very small segment of the market. However, with the likes of DT Swiss entering the space, it might be something we see grow into a much more common offering.

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What do you think? Are dynamo wheels a must-have for your setup? Let us know in the conversation below!

Further Reading

Make sure to dig into these related articles for more info...