3 punctures in 4 days is getting on my nerves especially since Alfine hubs aren’t the easiest to get on off. Currently using Continental Sport Contact 700c x 32c as these were on the wheels but these are probably too road biased.
Need something of similar width for comfort, fast rolling but with great puncture protection, any recommendations?

If you’re getting flats on the tow path, either you haven’t got enough pressure in your tires, or you are heavy on the bike. Hard to say without being out with you. The tires you have should be adequate.

Have your Conti’s got Gatorskin? Never had a puncture on my 700 x 28’s

Oh, look out for newly cut hedges. Hawthorn will puncture anything anywhere.

what he said they have cut hawthorns and the thorns are huge.

Spesh Armadillo tyres or Conti Gaterskins have worked very well for me on some fairly challenging surfaces.

Conti Top Contact

All the Top Contact tyre options are included in our SSG (Safety System Guarantee) which covers the tyre against punctures for one year from date of purchase. If you receivea puncture during this period, return the tyre to your dealer for a free replacement. The tyre also includes a FREE INNER TUBE

http://www.conti-tyres.co.uk/conticycle/ti%20topcontact.shtml

Schwable marathon plus with smartguard. Solved the puncture problem on our pram. Hawthorn and glass were my problems on the canal tow path.

I run at 80 psi (max 85) and they have the SSG belt on the tyres.
One pinch puncture avoiding a dip to hit a square edge instead so rider fault. The others I am assuming are Hawthorns as I’ve not found any stuck in the tyre or on the inside but found small holes in the tubes. All punctures have been in different areas so not something that I’ve missed inside the tyre.
Bonus is that I’m getting quick at changing the rear at about 10 minutes but I’d rather not have the puncture in the first place. I am usually quite hard on the bike but I’m really trying to pick the smoothest lines for the sake of my backside.

I’m loathe to say this with my long commute ahead of me tomorrow, but I run Schwalbe Marathons too and, erm, ahem, cough, am kind of ok when it comes to (not) having punctures. If you catch my drift. Punctures so far with them (about 1000miles riding lanes, dodgy surfaces and lots of proximity to hedges) can be measured in r0und numbers. Not that I’m superstitious or owt. Run mine at 80psi too and am on the larger side of things myself. 😯

Have heard good things about the Spesh Armadillos from the boys at the LBS who also ride towpaths.

Specialised armadillo here.

Schwalbe marathon plus here too. Heavy but i’ve yet to puncture one. Bought for the tandem because of the pfaff when out with kids. For narrower rims on the road I have Durano plus, but still too early to comment.

I use continental tour riders when I want comfort and protection, having said that am riding an old railway on speech armadillo’s arm without any problems

Another 3 punctures since I posted this 2 of which have been in the front tyre tonight in the rain. I had changed the tyres round so I’m confident that rear tyre (fitted to the front since last night) has problem that the puncture protection belt doesn’t work.
I’m going to get some Schwalbe Marathon Plus fitted tomorrow and be puncture free, thanks for the advice.

Those schwalbes are in the sale at on one at the mo for £5
Absolute bargain I just bought a pair as well as a few other tyres, inner tubes and merino base layers for £12.50

Check none of the spokes are protruding through the rim.

Iain, do you have link for those tyres as I can’t find them on their site?

Neil, all the punctures had been on the tread side not the spoke side but I had replaced the rim tape as a precaution anyway. I’m sure it’s a fault with the puncture protection system on the tyre that had been on the rear and now on the front.

The Schwalbe Marathon Plus have been fitted and used for all this week and no punctures. They are slower rolling tyres but since I don’t have to fix any more punctures I get there faster.