Cranks – deore vs slx vs xt

Bit tight for cash this month and needing to replace my current crankset.

Have been looking at the Deore M590 chainset.

Is there any difference in the actual crank arms or BB (aside from visually) between Deore, SLX and XT?

There's a 200gram weight difference*, but I think most of this can be accounted for in the two steel chainrings (compared to composite ones on the XT & SLX).

I know in the past the Deore lacked the hollow crank arms, but is this still the case? Can't find any info on the weights/structure of the arms themselves on the 2010 models

Cheers

* yes I'm a tart

I got the M590s from Evans for £50 last week, they have the hollow arms.

First ride on them tonight.

i got deore 590 and they don't have hollow arms….

slx and XT are very similar to one another.

I looked at same options then went for the non series deore with steel pedal inserts and dual ring.

Now that i'm running a chain device on my fun bike i'm sort of glad i went for the cheap strong option

The SLX hollow axle is stronger than deore (thicker walls).

SLX is the one I would go for. The middle steel composite chainring lasts for ages and the HTII bearings are bigger/better sealed than the Deore ones. There is little difference weight wise is XT. In fact the Deore bearings are rubbish ruin an otherwise good value chainset.

I've just run a deore BB and can't tell any difference between than and SLX so far, had a decent life from it. Think I'll get another again. But the crankset itself, I'd say SLX is still the winner, it's not that much more expensive but it's a reasonable amount lighter. XT doesn't make a lot of sense to me.