Here’s the thing, looking for a wheels for a 29er. My wish list:

• Strong & stiff – conventional wisdom would say 32 “standard” spokes;
• Light (for a 29er) – aiming for 1700g a pair;
• Quality hubs – don’t mind if their cartridge bearing or cup and cone;
• 6-bolt or splined hubs – not too bothered;
• 15mm front axle – Maxle or Fox/Shimano compatible;
• Under £500.

Suggestions?

Hope Pro2/Stans Arch EX.

Hope hoops; ProII on stans crest/arch ex/flow (depends on intended application).

American Classic AM? 1750g weighed so a fraction over but deffo deliver on the strong and stiff front.

I chose Stans 3.30 on Crests.

Work well for me and ~1550g real-life weight.

Might not work well for you if you’re not doing my sort of riding.

Superstar doing stans builds for £200 at the monent, flow or crest I think.

Winstanleys did me a set of 29er Pro2’s with Crests for £275 last week. Come in at 1680gr for the pair.

Just had some ProII/Arch EX wheels built by Just Riding Along for £345

There’s some crests on pro 2 evos in the classifieds section

Excellent suggestions, all. Any other hub suggestions? The noise of Pro IIs drives me mental…

Mate may have had a dud set but his 3.30 hubs didn’t last long. 3 wet xc races and needed bearings

I’m in the same boat and popped in to just riding along. They recommended the DT Swiss 350 which I think I’llgo for

you are better off going custom

I had some Stans Crests built on American Classic hubs for around the price you looking at by Just Riding Along,

they came in at 1500grams, loads of options for hub axles as well,

Pro 2 sp evo on crest seem very good and only took them off bike once to fit some racing golds

Hope Pro2/Stans Arch EX.

plus 1 🙂

…just don’t get them from Dave Hinde 👿

Mate may have had a dud set but his 3.30 hubs didn’t last long. 3 wet xc races and needed bearings

I was a bit pensive about them, reading the usual internet ‘dead in a week’ type forum posts.

However, I took the plunge to save weight over the Hope hubs and mine have done 18 months of riding, SS and geared, submerged in welsh rivers on loaded bikepacking trips, 12 and 24 hour enduros (although not many of them), and are still running fine.

I have no doubt that YMMV in the very literal sense.

The noise of Pro IIs drives me mental…

The 3.30s are quite quiet compared with my Hope Monos on the road bike and Hope XCs on the 26er.

Has anyone ridden Arch EX and Flow EX 29er wheels and was there any noticable difference in weight / stiffness / whatever?

I’m 15 stone and have a Cotic Solaris which I need wheels for, but not sure whether to go for Arch EX or Flow EX