Went riding on Tuesday night, one of the guys had recently fitted 10 speed SLX.
He broke his chain twice and binned the ride.
Who else has it? What is the failure rate? Is it worth the effort?
Discuss! 
For what it is worth I reckon you end up with 9 sprockets too many on the back and 2 surplus chainrings. But that may just be me!
Did he put the chain on the right way - they're directional now...
Can't say I've had any issues and I kinda like it. Reckon wear rate won't be any worse because I think the chain is under less stress with smoother front shifting to closer ratios.
Wouldn't have rushed out and bought it but I was given a set, it works, there are benefits to the riding experience but they're not ground breaking.
Directional chain! I have no idea! 
I've got it on my bikes. It's saved about 1lb in weight which I consider to be not insignificant, especially on my race bike, without losing any important gears.
I've had a zero failure rate in roughly 2 months.
zero failure rate
you mean it hasn't broken?
SpokesCycles how did you save a pound in weight?
With some incredibly expensive components!
I took home an X7 2x10 set up last night but wont get round to fitting til weekend or further. I will be reporting over winter.
SpokesCycles - MemberI've had a zero failure rate in roughly 2 months.
How? 
I've just gone 1x10 (slx) but haven't ridden it yet ... seems alright sat in the workshop
I've got it on my bikes. It's saved about 1lb in weight
I find that hard to believe! What were you using before, Shimano's LTD edition gruppo made from lead?!
...Reckon wear rate won't be any worse because I think the chain is under less stress with smoother front shifting to closer ratios.
What is it that wears quicker? I can't see any reason for the chain wearing quicker. So is it the thinner cogs of the cassette that were?
I remember the old days when my fully rigid Trek had 3x7 STX-RC, those gears never ever went wrong (nor did the rest of the bike) despite some pretty serious abuse. Makes me wonder if less is sometimes more...
Sorry, totally off topic <puts rose tinted glasses back on and goes back to nostalgic daydreaming>
It's saved about 1lb in weight which I consider to be not insignificant,
Not changing to an identical 10 speed groupset you didn't, so that's not really fair.
I've had XX for a year now, nothing's broken, the big ring's worn out, the jockeys wore out and I've not changed the chain, so that and the cassette are now shagged! It's alright, nothing special, shifts very well, but so did the 9 speed stuff. The wider range cassette making a single/double more practical is a big bonus though IMO, and the main reason it's worthwhile.
What is it that wears quicker? I can't see any reason for the chain wearing quicker. So is it the thinner cogs of the cassette that were?
Chain and cassette cogs are thinner so arguably will wear quicker. But because the front chainset ratios are closer I reckon it will wear quite well due to less harsh/clumsy front shifting.
So far so good. I've got 3x10 and find the shifting super smooth and great for keeping a high cadence while shifting. No problems yet on the durability front, and done some big rides.
My enduro bike is kitted with the 10speed gearing.
Done lots of gloopy, hard miles these last few months, with no problems.
3 x 10 SLX here as well. Saved some weight over the mix and match of components that were on there before. It's never missed a shift, it's as precise as older XTR, very smooth and the bonus of the new chainring sizes is that you spend far more time in the middle ring as the ratios are better. Means less front shifting and it's designed to give the best pedalling response on full sus bikes (most of which are have the pivot point positioned to be optimum when the chain is on the middle ring).
Directional chain is a bit more faffy, it's more of a pain that the 10sp road chains aren't compatible and I *wish* they still did Dual Control shifters. Even now I still occasionally try shifting by flicking the brake lever before remembering that it's RapidFire+. 
will 10spd powerlinks fit these chains?
Is it only SRAM 10 speed chains that have a direction? ... I ask as my Shimano chain doesn't have any markings indicating direction and there was nothing in the packet to suggest it should be fitted a certain way round.
im pretty sure the xtr is directional.
Mines no xtr
neither will mine! just a vague memory from all the press. anyone tried a powerlink?
Haven't tried a powerlink but I did notice CRC are doing Brand X 10 speed powerlink copies.
Running SRAM XX shifter, cranks and front mech with X0 10 speed rear mech and XT cassette. Awesome, seems to make total sense for both AM riding and enduro riding. Shifting is as crisp as anything and gear ratios seem to compliment my style of riding :). Only miss the 44 big ring on long fireroad and road descents - need to crank faster!
Definitely upgrading my hard tail to it when the 9-speed X9 wears out. I have had to change the chain after 6 months, but that was pretty heavy riding (3-5 rides a week 15 - 64 miles per ride), but as SRAM 10 speed chains utilise the powerlock links I can't swap over chains easily without splitting the chain each time.
Is it only SRAM 10 speed chains that have a direction?
I wasn't aware that SRAM 10spd chains were directional. The Shimano ones are, the writing on them goes to the outside.
Ta, means it's the right way round then.
Running XT 3x10, so far its done two horrendous Big Dog laps in horrific conditions and 2 D2D laps in what can only be described as Somme like conditions; both times it was very well behaved, sure the shifting slowed a little once the derailleur turned into a muddy metallic lump but other than that its been fine.
The cogs are very thin though so durability maybe an issue but so far so good.
Watching this thread with interest as I'm considering chnaging from 2x9 to 1x10 in teh near future on my trail bike.
The only advantage I can see at the moment seems to be teh ability to drop front mech and run single riung up front.
I would be running a chain device to which would negate loss of fornt mech.
Suppose the bars may look a bit less cluttered.
For me the main upside of 10 speed is the plethora of cheap 9 speed stuff out there being dumped by the big on-line players at the moment Time to stock up! I'm running 2x9 double and bash and it suits me well.
'tis me that shortcut mentioned... The 10 speed Shimano chain was directional, and fitted correctly (at least before the first snap, second time round it was hurriedly slapped on in the dark!) - as mentioned above writing on the outside.
Had done about 100 miles before it snapped...
I fitted a SRAM 10spd chain this weekend, with a few extra power links purchased at the same time... Just in case! Let's see what happens in the dark on Tuesday!!
Heres hoping it was a bit of bad luck...
i've had 10 speed slx for a couple of months now but haven't been out of middle ring yet so i guess 20 of the gears are wasted 
peath: be interested in hearing how you get on withe the SRAM chain on Shimano 10 speed...
I remember this arguement with 8 speed, 9 speed, disc brakes, slide on cassettes etc
It'll never catch on. 
Just a quick update... SRAM 10spd chain on 10spd SLX still holding up after quite a few miles now... I guess it was either a dodgy Shimano chain or user error. Anyhooo everything seems to be running smoothly and I'll be sticking to SRAM chains - shifts well and hasn't caused any issues...
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