Many of us thought Hyperon wheelsets were simply extinct. A victim of a world where pure climber wheelsets were no longer a viable option for riders seeking aerodynamic efficiency. But apparently, like the Stromboli volcano, it has been dormant for some time, waiting to erupt again.

This latest version aims to incorporate the benefits of traditional climbing wheels (lightweight and responsive) into a more modern package. The list of best road bike wheels continues to grow, but with aero options dominating, it is refreshing to see an option that seems to target the best lightweight wheel segment.

The goal of this new Hyperon Ultra wheel, according to Campagnolo, is to create a magic ratio of performance. A pinch of lightweight, a spoonful of responsiveness, and a spoonful of aero. Not a climbing wheelset like the old Hyperon, but a more all-around performance option than the aero-focused Bora Ultra.

At 1,240g for the pair (1,160g for tubulars), they are certainly light. While not class-leading in this area, going lighter comes at the expense of other areas. It would also be at the top of the product pyramid alongside the Bora, rather than the second-best option.

Along with weight, the most important numbers are 37 mm depth, 21 mm internal/external width, disc only, and tubeless compatibility. The width is adequate, but not revolutionary, and not for all-road use. System weight limit (bike and rider) is 115 kg.

Unlike many wheels on the market, the new Hyperon Ultras have only one carbon layup joint. For reference, the industry standard is four. Interestingly, instead of drilling holes in the finished rim to attach spoke inserts, here the inserts are considered during manufacture so that the carbon fiber is positioned to surround the insert. This means that there is no risk of the fiber ends damaging the spoke inserts. The nipple is integrated into the rim, magnetically positioned, and adjustable with its own spoke key.

The spokes are also a unique unit thanks to the hub interface. This system is called "head-2-bay" and is essentially in the form of a ball-and-socket joint. The heads of the spokes are rounded and domed, and the hubs have corresponding sockets that allow the spokes to move on a microscale as the wheel flexes during cornering, braking, acceleration, and over bumps.

Continuing with the hubs, there is a new skeletal freehub body; the N3W body has been heavily machined to save a few grams of weight, but to maintain compatibility, the splines are the same orientation and size as current Campagnolo freehubs. They are also compatible with Shimano and Sram options. Ceramic bearings also maintain smooth, efficient rolling and durability.

Zoom back in for a larger image. Externally, the Hyperon Ultras have the same C-Lux finish as the Borlase, but instead of being lacquered, they are a high-gloss array formed from an initial layer of resin during construction.

According to Campagnolo, the wheels feature "advanced aerodynamics," but no mention is made of what this means in terms of wattage relative to competitors or the Borla Ultras.

If you want a set of Hyperon Ultras, global prices are as follows:

2WFit version (tubeless lady clincher): €3,650 / $4,099.95 / £3,200.00

Tubular version: $4,349.95 / $3,400.00 / £3,400.00

We have already brought one set to the test and have already traveled nearly 200km.