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Adventure Gravel Framesets With Bikepacking Mounts: 2025 Canadian Buyer Guide, Top 5 Expert Picks for Multi-Day Expeditions

Published on Monday, August 25, 2025

Frames built for multi-day bikepacking and self-supported adventures combine multiple cargo mounts, eyelets for racks and triple bottle setups, and generous clearance for wider tires. These frames prioritize load stability, long-distance comfort, and versatility across remote terrain, making them ideal for Canadian conditions where varied surfaces, long stretches between services, and changing weather demand reliability and modular packing options. Consumers in Canada favor a balance of durability, corrosion resistance, predictable handling under load, and the flexibility to carry food, tools, and water for multiple days. Practical priorities include tire clearance to run low pressures for comfort and traction, mounting points for accessible hydration and gear distribution, and frame materials and geometry that reduce rider fatigue while improving control on gravel, forest service roads, and mixed-surface routes.

Quick Menu

1. Best Lightweight Carbon

2. Best Value Steel

3. Best Tough All-Road Steel

4. Best Touring-Ready

5. Best Modern ADV Platform

1
BEST LIGHTWEIGHT CARBON

Salsa Cutthroat Carbon Frameset

Salsa

The Salsa Cutthroat Carbon Frameset earns a best-in-class spot for adventure gravel bikepacking thanks to its lightweight carbon construction, tuned compliance for long days, and integrated mounts that accept big framebags and bolt-on accessories. Compared with the steel options in this list it prioritizes speed and weight savings for loaded fastpacking routes, though it comes at a noticeably higher price and trades some dent resistance found in steel frames for performance gains.

4.6
★★★★☆

  • Featherweight power

  • Massive tire clearance

  • Featherweight power

  • Massive tire clearance

Review Summary

92%

"Users praise the Cutthroat's stable, efficient carbon layup, generous bikepacking mounts and long-distance comfort. Common complaints are the high price and limited color/options."

  • Ultra-distance grin

  • Carbon monocoque frame tuned for loaded gravel and long-distance bikepacking.

  • Ultra-distance grin

  • Carbon monocoque frame tuned for loaded gravel and long-distance bikepacking.

Enhanced Physical Well-Being

Recreational Enjoyment

The Salsa Cutthroat Carbon Frameset earns a best-in-class spot for adventure gravel bikepacking thanks to its lightweight carbon construction, tuned compliance for long days, and integrated mounts that accept big framebags and bolt-on accessories. Compared with the steel options in this list it prioritizes speed and weight savings for loaded fastpacking routes, though it comes at a noticeably higher price and trades some dent resistance found in steel frames for performance gains.

  • Featherweight power

  • Massive tire clearance

  • Ultra-distance grin

  • Carbon monocoque frame tuned for loaded gravel and long-distance bikepacking.

  • Stable endurance geometry with generous tire clearance for large gravel tires (ideal for 29" setups).

  • Featherweight power

  • Massive tire clearance

  • Ultra-distance grin

  • Carbon monocoque frame tuned for loaded gravel and long-distance bikepacking.

  • Stable endurance geometry with generous tire clearance for large gravel tires (ideal for 29" setups).

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$3,000-4,200 CAD

2
BEST VALUE STEEL

Surly Grappler Frameset

Surly

The Surly Grappler Frameset is a market-leading choice for riders who value simplicity, durability, and budget-friendly bikepacking capability, offering a forgiving steel chassis and abundant, practical mounts for racks, bottles, and framebags. It is heavier than carbon and some modern steel designs here but is often the most economical and easily repairable option for remote adventure touring where toughness and serviceability matter most.

4.3
★★★★☆

  • Bulletproof steel

  • Modular mounting galore

  • Bulletproof steel

  • Modular mounting galore

Review Summary

86%

"Users say the Grappler delivers classic steel comfort, durability and plentiful rack/mount points at a strong value. Some note it's heavy and less lively than carbon alternatives."

  • Trail-loving hug

  • Durable CroMoly steel construction that absorbs trail chatter and stands up to heavy loads.

  • Trail-loving hug

  • Durable CroMoly steel construction that absorbs trail chatter and stands up to heavy loads.

Recreational Enjoyment

Skill Development & Mastery

The Surly Grappler Frameset is a market-leading choice for riders who value simplicity, durability, and budget-friendly bikepacking capability, offering a forgiving steel chassis and abundant, practical mounts for racks, bottles, and framebags. It is heavier than carbon and some modern steel designs here but is often the most economical and easily repairable option for remote adventure touring where toughness and serviceability matter most.

  • Bulletproof steel

  • Modular mounting galore

  • Trail-loving hug

  • Durable CroMoly steel construction that absorbs trail chatter and stands up to heavy loads.

  • Versatile, confidence-inspiring geometry suitable for mixed-terrain riding and loaded touring.

  • Bulletproof steel

  • Modular mounting galore

  • Trail-loving hug

  • Durable CroMoly steel construction that absorbs trail chatter and stands up to heavy loads.

  • Versatile, confidence-inspiring geometry suitable for mixed-terrain riding and loaded touring.

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$1,200-1,600 CAD

3
BEST TOUGH ALL-ROAD STEEL

All-City Gorilla Monsoon Frameset

All-City

The All-City Gorilla Monsoon Frameset stakes a position as a rugged, performance-minded steel adventure frame with ample tire clearance and versatile mounting points that suit aggressive bikepacking on rough gravel and mixed-terrain routes. It balances the durability of Surly with a more modern geometry and lighter feel, making it a mid-priced alternative for riders who want capability for big tires and cargo without stepping up to premium carbon.

4.1
★★★★☆

  • Load-hauling beast

  • Aggressive gravel fit

  • Load-hauling beast

  • Aggressive gravel fit

Review Summary

83%

"Owners appreciate the Gorilla Monsoon's burly steel construction and ability to carry heavy loads with predictable handling. Criticisms focus on its weight and that it's overbuilt for riders seeking speed."

  • Monsoon roar

  • Reinforced steel frame built for rough off-road conditions and heavy-duty use.

  • Monsoon roar

  • Reinforced steel frame built for rough off-road conditions and heavy-duty use.

Recreational Enjoyment

Enhanced Physical Well-Being

The All-City Gorilla Monsoon Frameset stakes a position as a rugged, performance-minded steel adventure frame with ample tire clearance and versatile mounting points that suit aggressive bikepacking on rough gravel and mixed-terrain routes. It balances the durability of Surly with a more modern geometry and lighter feel, making it a mid-priced alternative for riders who want capability for big tires and cargo without stepping up to premium carbon.

  • Load-hauling beast

  • Aggressive gravel fit

  • Monsoon roar

  • Reinforced steel frame built for rough off-road conditions and heavy-duty use.

  • Wide tire clearance supporting large gravel and plus-size tires for added traction and comfort.

  • Load-hauling beast

  • Aggressive gravel fit

  • Monsoon roar

  • Reinforced steel frame built for rough off-road conditions and heavy-duty use.

  • Wide tire clearance supporting large gravel and plus-size tires for added traction and comfort.

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$1,200-1,700 CAD

4
BEST TOURING-READY

Kona Sutra LTD Frameset

Kona

The Kona Sutra LTD Frameset is a purpose-built touring/adventure platform offering relaxed, load-friendly geometry and plentiful rack, fender, and framebag mounts that make multi-day bikepacking more comfortable and organized. Compared to the race-oriented Cutthroat it favors stability and carrying capacity over outright speed, and it typically sits in a competitive price band that undercuts premium carbon while delivering classic steel ride quality.

4.5
★★★★☆

  • Tour-ready comfort

  • Rack-friendly design

  • Tour-ready comfort

  • Rack-friendly design

Review Summary

89%

"Riders like the Sutra LTD for its refined steel ride, comprehensive touring mounts and comfortable geometry for loaded miles. Downsides are the weight and premium price compared with basic steel frames."

  • Endless-mile grin

  • Comfort-oriented steel frame with touring geometry optimized for loaded days and multi‑day trips.

  • Endless-mile grin

  • Comfort-oriented steel frame with touring geometry optimized for loaded days and multi‑day trips.

Recreational Enjoyment

Enhanced Physical Well-Being

The Kona Sutra LTD Frameset is a purpose-built touring/adventure platform offering relaxed, load-friendly geometry and plentiful rack, fender, and framebag mounts that make multi-day bikepacking more comfortable and organized. Compared to the race-oriented Cutthroat it favors stability and carrying capacity over outright speed, and it typically sits in a competitive price band that undercuts premium carbon while delivering classic steel ride quality.

  • Tour-ready comfort

  • Rack-friendly design

  • Endless-mile grin

  • Comfort-oriented steel frame with touring geometry optimized for loaded days and multi‑day trips.

  • Extensive braze‑ons for front and rear racks, fenders, and multiple bottle/framebag positions.

  • Tour-ready comfort

  • Rack-friendly design

  • Endless-mile grin

  • Comfort-oriented steel frame with touring geometry optimized for loaded days and multi‑day trips.

  • Extensive braze‑ons for front and rear racks, fenders, and multiple bottle/framebag positions.

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$1,400-1,900 CAD

5
BEST MODERN ADV PLATFORM

Bombtrack Beyond ADV Frameset

Bombtrack

The Bombtrack Beyond ADV Frameset is a modern European take on the adventure gravel frameset, featuring contemporary geometry, generous mounts for bikepacking hardware, and clearance for 29+/650b-plus tires to tackle technical routes. It often represents strong value in the market by combining up-to-date trail-focused geometry with extensive mounting options—positioning it as a cost-conscious, feature-rich alternative to premium carbon and a technical peer to the Kona and All-City steel designs.

4.4
★★★★☆

  • Adventure-ready agility

  • Bikepacking-friendly mounts

  • Adventure-ready agility

  • Bikepacking-friendly mounts

Review Summary

87%

"The Bombtrack Beyond ADV is praised for adventure-ready geometry, plentiful mounts and good value for the spec. Reviewers occasionally mention it's heavier than race-oriented gravel frames and note some paint/finish inconsistencies."

  • All-road smirk

  • Modern alloy adventure frame with progressive geometry for mixed-surface performance and control.

  • All-road smirk

  • Modern alloy adventure frame with progressive geometry for mixed-surface performance and control.

Recreational Enjoyment

Enhanced Physical Well-Being

Time-Saving Convenience

The Bombtrack Beyond ADV Frameset is a modern European take on the adventure gravel frameset, featuring contemporary geometry, generous mounts for bikepacking hardware, and clearance for 29+/650b-plus tires to tackle technical routes. It often represents strong value in the market by combining up-to-date trail-focused geometry with extensive mounting options—positioning it as a cost-conscious, feature-rich alternative to premium carbon and a technical peer to the Kona and All-City steel designs.

  • Adventure-ready agility

  • Bikepacking-friendly mounts

  • All-road smirk

  • Modern alloy adventure frame with progressive geometry for mixed-surface performance and control.

  • Built-in mounts for fork cages, multiple bottle mounts and rack/fender compatibility for bikepacking.

  • Adventure-ready agility

  • Bikepacking-friendly mounts

  • All-road smirk

  • Modern alloy adventure frame with progressive geometry for mixed-surface performance and control.

  • Built-in mounts for fork cages, multiple bottle mounts and rack/fender compatibility for bikepacking.

Order Now

$1,800-2,400 CAD

What Research and Testing Say About Bikepacking-Ready Gravel Frames

Controlled lab tests, field trials, and cycling biomechanics research provide practical guidance for choosing frames built for loaded gravel touring. Studies and published testing highlight how tire width and pressure, frame compliance, and weight distribution influence comfort, rolling resistance on rough surfaces, and handling stability when carrying loads. Material science comparisons and real-world durability testing also help riders choose a frame that balances comfort, strength, and long-term serviceability for multi-day adventures.

Wider tires at lower pressures improve comfort and reduce vibrational stress; several field studies show reduced rider fatigue and faster average speeds on rough gravel when switching from narrow high-pressure tires to wider, lower-pressure setups.

Frame compliance matters for sustained comfort. Biomechanics research indicates that frames with tuned compliance reduce transmitted shock to the rider, which can decrease muscle fatigue during long days in the saddle.

Load placement and secure mounting points improve handling. Tests demonstrate that keeping weight low and centered, using frame and fork mounts and a stable rear rack, preserves steering predictability and reduces steering twitch under load.

Material trade-offs are quantifiable. Steel frames provide predictable flex and ease of repair in the field, aluminum offers stiffness and affordability, and carbon provides tuned compliance and weight savings; material choice should match route demands and maintenance expectations.

Hydration and access reduce downtime. Practical studies of endurance cyclists find that accessible bottle and feed locations increase average hydration and nutrition adherence, which supports sustained performance on multi-day trips.

Tire clearance and geometry affect versatility. Frames designed for 45 mm plus tires with fender and rack compatibility extend seasonality and route options in wet or snowy Canadian conditions.

In Canada, these adventure-ready gravel frames deliver the mounting flexibility and tire clearance needed for long, self-supported trips across varied terrain. The five frames covered here each bring different strengths: Salsa Cutthroat Carbon Frameset for a high-performance, long-range carbon option; Surly Grappler Frameset for rugged steel durability and simplicity; All-City Gorilla Monsoon Frameset for aggressive geometry and load-savvy design; Kona Sutra LTD Frameset for classic touring comfort with modern features; and Bombtrack Beyond ADV Frameset for a contemporary balance of clearance and mounting versatility. For most riders seeking the best all-around blend of weight, comfort, and long-distance load stability on Canadian routes, the Salsa Cutthroat Carbon Frameset stands out as the best choice, while the Surly Grappler and Kona Sutra LTD remain excellent alternatives for riders prioritizing durability and serviceability. I hope you found what you were looking for; you can refine or expand your search using the site search to compare specs, local availability, and pricing.

Discover More
  • Carbon Gravel Frameset
  • Aluminum Gravel Frameset
  • Steel Gravel Frameset
  • Allroad Gravel Frameset With Wide Tire Clearance
  • Performance Gravel Frameset For Aggressive Riding

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