If you’re in that budget range then why not consider Enve AMs or XCs? I will always champion the virtues of hand built versus factory built wheels based on the ease of repair, wherever you are, of hand builts.
I’ve no experience of the cheap Chinese carbon rims that are appearing now but I’ve had a set of the Easton Haven Carbons and now run Enve AMs (these are both 26″ but it makes no odds to relative performance).
I had problems with the hubs on the Havens, four times IIRC, so yes the issues are real. Each time they were fixed but it was a faff being without the wheels.
The real bug bear was breaking spokes every six to eight months. On a trip to the Alps the rear lasted three hours of the first day riding before more giving up – I broke one spoke and then after that it’s game over as there are so few left to take the strain. On the third time I broke a spoke, I’d owned them for about 15 months and that’s when they went back and I got a full refund.
The Enves have been totally reliable in terms of build and strength and in my view at least, perform better than the Havens, being quite a bit stiffer. To get the weight you’re looking for I think you’d have to go with the XCs rather than the AMs though, and build them with Sapim CX Ray Spokes, all of which will be pricey.
Have a chat to Jonathan at Strada Wheels – they build a lot with Enve rims and also bring in their own 29″ carbon rim that they brand themselves.
