After a quick internet/forum search not come up with anything particularly helpful, so here goes:

destroyed a mech hanger and mech for the first time on Saturday.

The bikes a 2010 Orange Crush, I run single ring up front, 34 tooth by memory and the standard 9 speed 11-32 cassette at the back….I think (correct me if I’m wrong)

Thinking about a replacement mech I’d like to keep to a Sram x9 for budget resons and pretty happy with the performance, but just wondered if there are any benefits to running a short cage mech over the stock medium cage? and will a short cage work with my gear setup?

thanks.

Short cage will work with a single ring, no problem. Main advantage is that the shorter cage is less likely to get bashed by rocks, plus it will weigh a bit less.

Less chance of the same happening again is the main reason for short cage. No downsides really if you run a single chainring and plan on continue doing so.

brilliant, short cage it is.
cheers

Short cage is definitely the way to go if you run a single ring setup.

Just a minor word of caution though, if you’re running anything bigger than a 30T rear cog it MUST be an MTB short cage mech. Modern roadie short cage mechs are ok up to a 30T, but not beyond (you need a medium/long for that), older roadie short cages only suitable up to 27/28T normally. But MTB short cage mechs will generally be fine with a 32 or even a 34T cog on the back, and even up to a 36T cog on a 10spd setup (with a 10spd specific rear mech of course).

I wouldn’t run a short cage mech with a 36T cassette

I do. Been absolutely fine. Seems to help reduce chain slap too.