to me please....
Thinking of embracing the dark side and going tubeless - and my understanding is that Stans NoTubes rims simplify this - less faff than a conversion kit (and I need/want some new wheels in any case).
Can someone explain the range?
Crest, Flow, Arch, Alpine and their respective cross sections are all detailed on the NoTubes website, but their intended uses don't seem completely clear to me. I mainly ride XC woodland singletrack, but at 85kg don't really qualify for the term whippet. If my wheels leave the ground it's usually by accident and results in an undignified sprawl into a ditch.
In the same boat - and going for flow
Podium - Super light XC race
Alpine - XC
Crest - XC / trail
Arch - trail/ all mountain
Flow - everything
Flow's are their "DH" rim, although it's more like "DH Lite"
Arch is lighter, more "All mountain"
Crest is "just riding along" XC level
Alpine "xc whippet"
Podium "world class anorexic xc whippet"
For the riding you describe Arch or Crest. My new xc wheelset will have a Crest front, Arch rear. I'm using Flows on my Uzzi.(skinny but aggressive rider who's hard on wheels here)
Arch or Flow will suit from your description BUT, you still need the tape to make them tubeless. They are no different to 'normal' rims in that respect.
I'm 85 kg and have Flow on one bike and 355 on another. I think that crest replaced 355. Flows suit wider tyres and 'heavier' applications. Mine have been great for just over 12 months with trips to rocky areas like Lakes/ Peaks. I guess they would be fit and forget for you; this may be a bonus if you are not a weight weenie.
That said the lighter crest would be more in keeping with most of your riding. I have become progressively more adventurous on the lighter 355 over the past year, again without problems. They easily manage moderately rough terrain like trail centres and small drops.
molesworth - great description of your jumping skills there. I'm with you on that! 🙂
No problems with Crest over here, 80kgs with kit and I only leave the ground for the very briefest of moments (and certainly no more then 2 - 3 feet), otherwise Surrey hills singletrack stuff.
89 kilos here. I've run flows for 4 years now and only trued them earlier this year because I thought I ought too.
I've just taken delivery of some crest built wheels today for my SS, so I'll see how they go.
Stans rims make tubelessing tyres of any description sooooo much easier.
I went with Flows, they're tougher than I need but lighter than I require so what the heck. Might have had Arches if there had been Hope Hoops with those. Usually they're overkill for me but I had a decent sized crash in France, a guide stopped and helped me up and says "We'd better check your wheels after that one, ah no, Flows, lets not bother" 
TrevorB - Member
"Arch or Flow will suit from your description BUT, you still need the tape to make them tubeless. They are no different to 'normal' rims in that respect."
That's not right- you do need the tape but they're designed for tubeless with the tape, and have an effective bead etc unlike a standard rim with tape on which is much more likely to let the tyre burp or roll off entirely. Stans + tape is equivalent to Mavic UST, in my experience, works pretty much identically.
but lighter overall than porky UST rims.
Northwind, the OP mentioned "less faff than a conversion kit", and my comment was around that point. The mounting of tyres, Stans or 'other' brands has never given me any issues. Just my opinion..
Oh yeah... The weights look comparable with Mavic til you realise that their claimed weights are totally crooked and don't include the insert things for the nipples. Really I don't think there's any competition there.
You can't really compare the yellow tape with a conversion kit, it's not the same thing at all.