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Think of the question in another way:
What's one step down from the ubiquitous
MM/HD
DHF/DHR(or HRII)
Baron/King
Combos?
HR2/Minion SS?
FWIW, 25m ID rims.
I went with HD/Razor - happy enough with the results so far, but maybe actually overkill depending on trails you ride.
For a lot of trail centre type trails XC tyres with tougher carcass options do very nicely.
Ardent 2.4/Ardent race 2.2
Or 2 ardents
Dhr2 front SS rear. Been amazed how good it is even in slop
CRC had 29" Continental Mountain King and X King in black chilli protection top of the range flavour for less than £25 the other week. Might be worth seeing if they still have them as they would fit the bill.
I'll have to keep an eye on this as it's time to replace the worn out Rapid Rob deathtraps on my 29er hardtail 😆
Dhr2 front SS rear. Been amazed how good it is even in slop
That was the combo I had in mind, or possibly a specialized butcher up front and SS rear. Be interested to hear some opinions on the 29" butcher, it looks like it would roll well and have plenty of grip.
One step faster? Rocket Ron/Racing Ralph combo.
I've found them very fast and surprisingly grippy (for what they are). Obviously not as grippy as MM/NN that I run when it gets really gloopy and I'm not doing anything long/racing.
Vittoria Barzo front and Mezcal rear, much like the Ron / Ralph combo but don't quiver at the sight of sharp rocks
Like honourablegeorge I also have DHR2 3C front and a Minion SS rear. I started off with the silkworm SS but managed to tear a chunk out of it on my second ride. Now gone with an exo TR SS which is faring ok so far.
If you don't mind accepting that you won't stop on a sixpence, its fine as a rear. I really rate the DHR2 up front too despite it supposedly being a rear tyre.
I did previously have a Maxxis Ikon 3C 2.2 on the back but tore that being too enthusiastic and, to be fair, taking it outside of its xc comfort zone.
The Minion SS is way more capable than the Ikon, particularly noticeable when cornering. The Ikon is faster rolling, just, but nowhere near as versatile as the Minion SS everywhere else.
Not 29", but I used a 27.5" Rock Razor last year (on the rear) for everything from trail riding to Antur Stiniog, Revolution and Llangollen DH so the capability of the RR / SS is definitely very broad.
Vittoria Barzo front and Mezcal rear, much like the Ron / Ralph combo but don't quiver at the sight of sharp rocks
I'm aware of their reputation, but I've done some pretty rocky trails with them with no problems (and the front is the super paper thin sidewall - not even snakeskin). I think sidewall tears are a lot to do with bad luck as well as tyre sidewalls though, so my anecdotal experience may be atypical.
Got a minion ss for the rear, but hunting a dhf in 2.3 is impossible, and the 2.5 is 1.3 goddamn kilos? Seriously?
I like the Bontrager XR ones
THE XR1 is the XC one, the XR4 is the ... chunkiest. XR2 and XR3 come in between.
I use XR3s for trail riding
I have a 29" Butcher up front and Captain out back and no complaints from me except they clog badly in South Downs mud so I'm about to go for some Storms or Bonty Mud for winter bridleway type riding.
Summer/Autumn use it feels good to me but then I'm not comparing it to anything else really.
The Conti X Kings mentioned above are really fast rolling, even on tarmac. Still available at CRC for less than £25 as well, and that’s the protection version.
Conti MK2 2.4 protection fr, x-king 2.4 protection rear
Ran this all season as a race ready trail setup on my Spark plus (with 29)
Bicycle Rolling resistance suggests that Maxxis dont do wuite so well with rolling resistance.. Is good mental race fuel when my race buddy mounts his ardents for race day 😉
DHR2 or DHF and a Minion SS is very effective but the semislicks are definitely an aquired taste, it took me a while to like it.
Captain is a fantastic rear but is lacking in choices of carcass and size, if they put out a 2.4 Grid I'd be all over it.
Butcher Purgatory Grids on ours. Had no problems with them. Picked up four new Butcher Grids yesterday and they have changed the compound to make them grip even better and also roll faster. They have also altered the tread pattern with alternating blocks now in them.
The 2.6 x 29 isnt available in the UK yet