I know this gets asked quite a lot and I’ve done plenty of reading and still can’t make up my mind.

I’m hopefully looking at getting a new wheelset for my Soul to replace the Hope XC/Mavic 717 (which there’s not a lot wrong with) combo and can’t decide between Stans Crest and Arch EX rims.

I weigh in at about 85kg kitted up and generally do what I guess you’d class as trail riding, both natural and at trail centres and tend to shy away from big jumps and drops.

So what would people suggest??

If your 717’s have survived, you should be OK with crests

I’m lighter than you (by 9 or 10 kg) but also shy away from jumps etc

Crests on my Ti hardtail and have been blimmin fantastic

I’ve got heavy bones and went for Arch for my Soul. Have an EX on the front with Supercomps and very pleased with it.

85kg sounds about towards the stated limit for crests, but you should be fine.

+1 for Crests. However, if you are not racing then the Arch Ex might give you more confidence to tackle challenging trails.

I’m slightly heavier than you and have all the finesse of a brick.
I have crests on my XC hardtail.
It seems to occasionally forget that it’s an XC hardtail though and has to endure being launched off 3′-4′ flights of steps (No, not ridden down, I mean clearing the flight top-bottom).
They’re still straight and true after 6 months of such abuse.

Thanks for the reponses so far, I like the idea of Crests for the weight and they’ll cost less being a Hoop build. Though I like the idea of the EX for the extra strength. Leaning towards the Crests though.

@Ecky-Thump, where do you tend to ride?

If you’re a wheels on the ground kinda guy go for Crests.

otherwise if you like a bit of air time get the Arch EX.

@fathomer
I’m in Lancashire. The hardtail (rockhopper) with the Crests (hope hoops) tends to get used predominantly for local moorland stuff and trail centres.
eg West Pennine Moors, Calderdale, North Yorks Moors, Gisburn, Kirroughtree
(The steps example coming from Rivington).

Admittedly, I also have a FS bike with Flows for the more brutal stuff in the Lakes and Calderdale but the Crests on the hardtail don’t get that much easier a life.
I did have reservations and prevaracated for a while before buying as I kept thinking that another set of Flows might have been safer but I’m glad I ultimately went for the Crests for the hardtail. I’ve been really impressed with them so far. Currently running Spesh Purgatory on the front and Larssen TT on the back, both tubeless with Stans tape & fluid.

100kg here and Crests are fine with me but I’m not the hardest or baddest rider in the world.

Got a set of Hope Pro 3s on Crests for sale at the moment if you’re interested. They are the 6 bolt standard QR type.

E-mail in profile.

Cheers,

Alan

Thanks again guys, much appreciated, will give it a bit more thought but I’m definitely leaning towards the Crests as I’m not the harshest of riders!

@ j40aja, thanks but I’d rather buy new for this one.

Just wanted to thanks for everyones input, after much deliberation and talking with Moonglu I’ve gone for the Arch EX, should be here early next week for my trip to CyB.

Moonglu are fantastic wheel builders – You wont be dissapointed. 🙂

My Moonglu Arch wheelset has been superb – still perfectly tensioned and totally straight after 20 months regular use (the older Arch rims – wish the EX had been available then).

That’s good to hear!

i ran crests on hope pro ii’s on my turner flux and they were great… i weigh in at about 92kgs in my birthday suit, so fully togged i am somewhat more.

i used the bike on the w2 at afan and the wheels held up fine.

i am now running arch ex’s on my yeti and whilst it is too early to tell whether there is much difference, i am banking on them being a little more robust to compensate for my lack of skill.

i did consider flows but ruled them out as being a little too hardcore for my usage.