XC / Trail rims for (reasonably) light rider?

Psychotext

I'm looking to buy my nephew a new wheelset as the ones which came with his bike might as well be made out of lead. I've had a look around and I've found a few but I really don't know how to judge if any of them are any good.

Weight wise, looking at bike + rider we're talking around 74kg. Riding style is mostly XC on a 100mm travel hardtail. Lately there's a bunch of trail centre use too but he wont be on anything worse than a red and he doesn't do jumps.

So far I've found the following which might fit the requirements:

DT Swiss XR400 (400g)
Halo Vapour (415g)
Mavic XC717 (395g)
Stan's ZTR Crest (340g)
Pacenti TL28 (390g)

These seem to be in the right weight range / usage window. Anyone have any thoughts on those / others?

njee20

Look out for some ZTR Podiums second hand, loads of racers going 29er and selling 26" ones. They're c290g, my wheels are 1246g.

poah

hope pro2 on crest's

benpinnick

American classics would be my choice.

Psychotext

The used idea is a good one, but to be honest I've been stung a couple of times with used wheels and I don't think I'll be risking it again.

As for the hope pro 2 suggestion, I wouldn't be surprised if that's the way it ends up going.

I didn't notice American Classics options on the wheel building sites I looked at, but I'll have another nose around.

njee20

Well depending on budget I'd add Podiums to the list anyway.

Mine are on A2Z hubs with Revolution spokes. Works out about £400.

Briggo

I've had American Classics MTB Tubeless on my hardtail and have Crests on Hope Pro 2's on my FS.

I weigh 70kg and are both excellent lightweight wheels which have handled a beating, I'd certainly recommend both. If you want a quieter hub go for the American Classics out of the two (and I found getting tyres on the AC's easier)

apreading

The prebuild with Crest rims from superstar is a crazy deal for £180 - worth looking at!

Psychotext

So where actually sells those American Classics? I've still not managed to find them. I definitely think he'd prefer a quieter hub.

WindyG

You didn't look very hard then http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/american-classic-mtb-tubeless-26-wheelset-id78234.html

felix.london

apreading wrote:

The prebuild with Crest rims from superstar is a crazy deal for £180 - worth looking at!

+1

njee20

Yep, can't argue with that deal.

Psychotext

WindyG wrote:

You didn't look very hard then http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/american-classic-mtb-tubeless-26-wheelset-id78234.html

Apparently not.