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2025 Canada Guide: Top 5 Single-Speed & Fixed-Gear Hubs — Expert Picks to Choose with Confidence (Phil Wood, White Industries, Surly, All-City, Paul)

Published on Monday, August 25, 2025

Single speed and fixed gear hubs are made for bikes without multi-speed drivetrains and often include flip-flop or track options with threaded or fixed cog interfaces; they prioritize simplicity, durability, and direct drivetrain engagement. This category appeals to urban commuters, track riders, and minimalists in Canada because it reduces mechanical complexity, lowers maintenance needs in harsh weather, and offers predictable, immediate power transfer. Canadian shoppers often weigh factors like sealed-bearing durability for winter salt resistance, flip-flop versatility for mixed riding, hub material and flange design for chainline and wheelbuild compatibility, and the availability of local service and parts. The hubs highlighted here reflect common Canadian priorities for reliability, ease of maintenance, and long-term value while covering a range of use cases from heavy-duty steel classics to lightweight sealed-bearing performance hubs.

Quick Menu

1. Best Durability

2. Best Eccentric Tensioning

3. Best Budget Value

4. Best Lightweight Track

5. Best High-Flange Craftsmanship

1
BEST DURABILITY

Phil Wood Track Hub

Phil Wood

Phil Wood track hubs are celebrated for their overbuilt, serviceable design and decades-long reputation in single-speed and fixed-gear applications, offering replaceable bearings and proven longevity that justify their premium. Compared with the lighter, more modern offerings on this list, Phil Wood trades low weight for long-term value and ease of rebuild, making it the go-to for riders who prioritize durability and low lifecycle cost over minimal grams.

4.8
★★★★☆

  • Bank-vault durability

  • Smooth precise spin

  • Bank-vault durability

  • Smooth precise spin

Review Summary

94%

"Phil Wood Track Hubs are consistently praised for legendary durability, silky-sealed bearings, and rebuildability, with many owners reporting decades of reliable use; the main complaints are high price and heavier weight compared with modern alloy hubs. Overall reviewers call them bulletproof and worth the investment for long-term riders."

  • Ages like vinyl

  • Handbuilt in the USA with serviceable construction built for long life.

  • Ages like vinyl

  • Handbuilt in the USA with serviceable construction built for long life.

Skill Development & Mastery

Recreational Enjoyment

Phil Wood track hubs are celebrated for their overbuilt, serviceable design and decades-long reputation in single-speed and fixed-gear applications, offering replaceable bearings and proven longevity that justify their premium. Compared with the lighter, more modern offerings on this list, Phil Wood trades low weight for long-term value and ease of rebuild, making it the go-to for riders who prioritize durability and low lifecycle cost over minimal grams.

  • Bank-vault durability

  • Smooth precise spin

  • Ages like vinyl

  • Handbuilt in the USA with serviceable construction built for long life.

  • Compatible with common track/fixed axle standards and multiple spacing options.

  • Bank-vault durability

  • Smooth precise spin

  • Ages like vinyl

  • Handbuilt in the USA with serviceable construction built for long life.

  • Compatible with common track/fixed axle standards and multiple spacing options.

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From 675.00$
2
BEST ECCENTRIC TENSIONING

White Industries ENO Eccentric Hub

White Industries

The White Industries ENO Eccentric Hub brings a unique mechanical advantage to the single-speed/fixed-gear space by integrating eccentric adjustment into the hub, eliminating the need for eccentric bottom brackets or horizontal dropouts and simplifying chain tensioning. Technically more specialized than the other hubs here, it is a higher upfront investment but can save money and complexity on conversions and frame limitations versus standard track hubs.

4.6
★★★★☆

  • Eccentric chain tension

  • Flip-and-forget adjust

  • Eccentric chain tension

  • Flip-and-forget adjust

Review Summary

89%

"The White Industries ENO Eccentric Hub is lauded for precise machining, smooth serviceable bearings and reliable chain tensioning for single-speed conversions; users note it is pricey and slightly heavier but performs flawlessly over long use. Most reviewers appreciate its quality and straightforward eccentric function."

  • Machined elegance

  • Eccentric hub shell provides chain tensioning without an eccentric bottom bracket.

  • Machined elegance

  • Eccentric hub shell provides chain tensioning without an eccentric bottom bracket.

Time-Saving Convenience

Skill Development & Mastery

The White Industries ENO Eccentric Hub brings a unique mechanical advantage to the single-speed/fixed-gear space by integrating eccentric adjustment into the hub, eliminating the need for eccentric bottom brackets or horizontal dropouts and simplifying chain tensioning. Technically more specialized than the other hubs here, it is a higher upfront investment but can save money and complexity on conversions and frame limitations versus standard track hubs.

  • Eccentric chain tension

  • Flip-and-forget adjust

  • Machined elegance

  • Eccentric hub shell provides chain tensioning without an eccentric bottom bracket.

  • CNC‑machined aluminum body for precise fit and alignment in singlespeed setups.

  • Eccentric chain tension

  • Flip-and-forget adjust

  • Machined elegance

  • Eccentric hub shell provides chain tensioning without an eccentric bottom bracket.

  • CNC‑machined aluminum body for precise fit and alignment in singlespeed setups.

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$240-360 CAD

3
BEST BUDGET VALUE

Surly Ultra New Hub

Surly

The Surly Ultra New hub is positioned as the budget-minded, rugged option for single-speed and fixed-gear wheels, built from stout materials that prioritize reliability over weight savings. It undercuts higher-end machined hubs on price while offering robust service life for daily commuting or cargo use, making it the pragmatic choice compared with the more expensive, precision-focused models on this list.

4.4
★★★★☆

  • Bombproof build

  • Versatile axle fit

  • Bombproof build

  • Versatile axle fit

Review Summary

86%

"Surly Ultra New hubs are regarded as tough, value-oriented track/fixed hubs that tolerate heavy use and rough conditions, though they are heavier and more utilitarian than premium offerings. Reviews praise reliability and longevity but mention basic finishes and greater weight compared to boutique hubs."

  • Pothole-eater

  • Affordable, rugged construction aimed at daily riders and utility builds.

  • Pothole-eater

  • Affordable, rugged construction aimed at daily riders and utility builds.

Recreational Enjoyment

Enhanced Physical Well-Being

The Surly Ultra New hub is positioned as the budget-minded, rugged option for single-speed and fixed-gear wheels, built from stout materials that prioritize reliability over weight savings. It undercuts higher-end machined hubs on price while offering robust service life for daily commuting or cargo use, making it the pragmatic choice compared with the more expensive, precision-focused models on this list.

  • Bombproof build

  • Versatile axle fit

  • Pothole-eater

  • Affordable, rugged construction aimed at daily riders and utility builds.

  • Simple fixed/free conversion and standard track spacing for easy use.

  • Bombproof build

  • Versatile axle fit

  • Pothole-eater

  • Affordable, rugged construction aimed at daily riders and utility builds.

  • Simple fixed/free conversion and standard track spacing for easy use.

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$90-160 CAD

4
BEST LIGHTWEIGHT TRACK

All-City New Sheriff SL Hub

All-City

The All-City New Sheriff SL hub strikes a balance between modern performance and value, offering a lightweight, sealed-bearing design and clean aesthetics tailored to urban fixed-gear builds. It typically sits between the heavy-duty Surly and the premium Phil/Paul pieces in both price and weight, giving riders a compelling mid-range option when you want lower mass without the premium cost of boutique hubs.

4.7
★★★★☆

  • Featherweight speed

  • Crisp engagement

  • Featherweight speed

  • Crisp engagement

Review Summary

91%

"All-City New Sheriff SL hubs earn strong marks for light weight, precise machining and a good balance of stiffness and durability for track and single-speed wheels; some users report the price is high for marginal weight savings and occasional minor service quirks. Overall feedback highlights quality, finish, and predictable long-term performance."

  • Sheriff swagger

  • Lightweight anodized aluminum body optimized for track and fixed-gear performance.

  • Sheriff swagger

  • Lightweight anodized aluminum body optimized for track and fixed-gear performance.

Skill Development & Mastery

Recreational Enjoyment

The All-City New Sheriff SL hub strikes a balance between modern performance and value, offering a lightweight, sealed-bearing design and clean aesthetics tailored to urban fixed-gear builds. It typically sits between the heavy-duty Surly and the premium Phil/Paul pieces in both price and weight, giving riders a compelling mid-range option when you want lower mass without the premium cost of boutique hubs.

  • Featherweight speed

  • Crisp engagement

  • Sheriff swagger

  • Lightweight anodized aluminum body optimized for track and fixed-gear performance.

  • Sealed cartridge bearings for smooth rolling and reduced maintenance.

  • Featherweight speed

  • Crisp engagement

  • Sheriff swagger

  • Lightweight anodized aluminum body optimized for track and fixed-gear performance.

  • Sealed cartridge bearings for smooth rolling and reduced maintenance.

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$200-320 CAD

5
BEST HIGH-FLANGE CRAFTSMANSHIP

Paul Components High Flange Track Hub

Paul Components

Paul Components' High Flange Track hub is a precision CNC-machined, premium hub aimed at riders who want exceptional wheel stiffness and classic high-flange styling for single-speed and fixed-gear wheels. Though it commands a higher price than mass-market options, its technical advantage—wider spoke bracing angles and meticulous machining—delivers a performance and aesthetic benefit that outweighs cost for builders focused on ride quality and bespoke wheel builds.

4.8
★★★★☆

  • Retro high-flange

  • Pinpoint alignment

  • Retro high-flange

  • Pinpoint alignment

Review Summary

93%

"Paul Components High Flange Track Hubs are frequently praised for exquisite machining, responsiveness, and long-term smoothness, with many riders valuing the aesthetics and serviceability despite the premium cost. Reviews emphasize top-tier build quality and longevity with only price and limited color/part options as common downsides."

  • Showroom anodize

  • Large high‑flange design increases lateral stiffness and delivers classic aesthetics.

  • Showroom anodize

  • Large high‑flange design increases lateral stiffness and delivers classic aesthetics.

Skill Development & Mastery

Recreational Enjoyment

Paul Components' High Flange Track hub is a precision CNC-machined, premium hub aimed at riders who want exceptional wheel stiffness and classic high-flange styling for single-speed and fixed-gear wheels. Though it commands a higher price than mass-market options, its technical advantage—wider spoke bracing angles and meticulous machining—delivers a performance and aesthetic benefit that outweighs cost for builders focused on ride quality and bespoke wheel builds.

  • Retro high-flange

  • Pinpoint alignment

  • Showroom anodize

  • Large high‑flange design increases lateral stiffness and delivers classic aesthetics.

  • Precision CNC machining and premium finishing from a boutique manufacturer.

  • Retro high-flange

  • Pinpoint alignment

  • Showroom anodize

  • Large high‑flange design increases lateral stiffness and delivers classic aesthetics.

  • Precision CNC machining and premium finishing from a boutique manufacturer.

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$260-420 CAD

What Research and Industry Tests Say About Single-Speed and Fixed-Gear Hubs

A mix of laboratory drivetrain tests, industry reviews, and field durability studies helps explain why single-speed and fixed-gear setups remain popular. Research and practical testing consistently emphasize lower maintenance overhead, simpler mechanical layouts that reduce points of failure, and reliably predictable power transfer. For Canadian conditions, tests and field reports also highlight the importance of sealed bearings and corrosion-resistant finishes to extend service intervals during winter months.

Drivetrain efficiency: Independent lab and industry tests show that eliminating derailleurs and shifters removes articulation losses and reduces the number of moving parts that can introduce friction, leading to modest but measurable improvements in transmitted power under steady-state pedaling.

Durability and maintenance: Lifecycle and field reports find that hubs with sealed cartridge bearings and corrosion-resistant materials require fewer servicing intervals and better retain performance in wet, snowy, or salted-road environments common in Canadian winters.

Simplicity and rider behavior: Behavioral studies and rider surveys indicate many commuters prefer single-speed/fixed setups because simplified systems reduce cognitive load, lower the chance of mechanical issues during commutes, and encourage more consistent maintenance habits.

Tensioning solutions and chainline: Engineering analyses demonstrate that proper chain tension and straight chainline (via flip-flop or eccentric hubs like the ENO) minimize lateral wear and improve drivetrain longevity, especially important on single-speed bikes where small misalignments are more obvious.

Hub geometry impact: Wheelbuilding and mechanical reviews show that flange diameter, spoke hole placement, and hub shell material affect wheel stiffness, spoke tension distribution, and overall ride feel—factors to match to rider weight and intended use.

In a Canadian context where winter durability, serviceability, and practical simplicity matter, these five hubs give clear options for almost every rider: Phil Wood Track Hub, White Industries ENO Eccentric Hub, Surly Ultra New Hub, All-City New Sheriff SL Hub, Paul Components High Flange Track Hub. Phil Wood Track Hub stands out as the best overall choice for long-term reliability and serviceability, while the White Industries ENO Eccentric Hub is ideal if you need built-in chain tensioning, the Surly Ultra New Hub is a practical and compatible option, the All-City New Sheriff SL Hub targets lightweight sealed-bearing performance, and the Paul Components High Flange Track Hub excels for classic engagement and aesthetics. I hope you found what you were looking for — refine or expand your search using the site search to compare specs, compatibility, and Canadian availability.

Discover More
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  • Rear Hubs with Freehub Bodies
  • Sealed Bearing Hubs for Wheels
  • Thru Axle Hubs for Wheels
  • Quick Release Hubs for Wheels
  • Disc Brake Hubs for Wheels
  • Boost Spaced Hubs for Wheels

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