Already have a 34t Absolute black front chainring and a 42t one up range expander. What Shimano derailleur should I go for on my hardtail? Probably will go for a rad cage regardless.

Cheapest you can find (even deore 615 is ok) and the new RADr cage (shorter than the old RAD cage)

The Rad cage is only made to fit GS Shimano mechs isn’t it?

The RADr fits all of them, replaces the entire cage.

I’d get the cheapest SLX 10s you can find, and the RADr cage.

Is it only me, or does SLX look better than XT anyway 🙂

I’m using an XT medium. Way I see it is, you can probably go shorter cage, but the longer cage gives good chain control. There’s not much downside really other than crash protection, and helpfully the XT does seem to be pretty damn tough. Not Saint tough, but both of mine look like they’ve been gnawed on- I’ve done a bunch of mech hangers but still on the original, hard-done-by mech.