Gravel E Series Long-Term Test: Unboxing and What Arrives in the Box
Part one of the long-term test of the 10PLUS Gravel E Series 38mm: how it was packed, what came in the box and what was already fitted.
The test set
The long-term test set is the 10PLUS Gravel E Series in 38mm, bought on AliExpress, not supplied by 10PLUS, and delivered to Portugal. These photos were taken the day it arrived, before anything was adjusted or fitted to the bike.
A sturdier box
10PLUS has switched to a sturdier box made from double-wall cardboard. This one arrived sealed and intact.
How it was packed
The wheels came in a 10PLUS-branded cardboard box. Open it and the first thing you see is a grey foam cover over the top.
Under the foam, each wheel is sealed in its own plastic bag, with a white cardboard disc over the hub and spokes.
First look
Out of the bag, the rims have a matte finish with the 10PLUS logo and a tone-on-tone cross pattern along the rim.
Two wheels, two bags
Front and rear arrive separately wrapped, so they don’t rub against each other in transit.
A quality control report in the box
A printed quality control report came with the wheels. What these reports contain is shown on the Quality Control page.
Tubeless-ready out of the box
The tubeless valves were already fitted, and the rim bed was already taped, with an orange inspection sticker inside.
That means no separate tape job before mounting tyres: fit the tyres, add sealant and inflate. The choice between tubeless and TPU tubes is covered in this guide.
What’s next
Next up: the real weight of the set on the scale, compared with the listed weight.