Would these be a good option for XCM (eg Cape Epic)?
My concern is an early flat that requires a tube; then having to carry it down the back of a jersey for 80km…
I haven’t ridden XC in a while due to a wrist injury, but IMHO it is extremely dependent on terrain and soil conditions. Some situations where no insert is best, then others where the sidewall support and pinch flat protection are great. I found the CushCores to the be squishiest with most support, then the PTNs, then the Tubolights. I have also since run the Effeto Mariposa ones, and they are really minimal and nice for fast trail conditions. I’d put them on the end of the spectrum there after the Tubolights.
I’m not a pro or even a skilled rider by any means. Mediocre at best. But I like messing with gear 
just my $0.02.
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I completely agree with what you have said, except I don’t know that I’d ever choose not to run an insert.
I only ever do rides that spend mostly all their time on SingleTrack with roots/rocks etc. If it were only groomed rail trail/fire road type riding then maybe.
I only use one in the rear, and agree that CushCore seems to provide the most support both laterally and in terms of squishy/progressive bottom out. The PTN is a lot harsher, but provides support and protection for half the weight.
I have ridden out of a ride with a folded CushCore tucked under my pack/through the straps. I suspect the PTN/Tubolight etc might be harder to fold neatly. Just a hunch though.
Agreed, I run them rear only on my XCM set up, I look at them as flat prevention rather than tire tuning.
Does anyone have experience with Tubolight EVO SL 29er on rims narrower that 25mm internal?
I have 23mm internal/28.1mm external rims, run 2.2-2.3 tires. Tubolight says on their site the inserts are for minimum 25mm inner rims. I can imagine that they would be harder to install, but want to make sure they can get squeezed in there before buying.
I’m also looking at Pepi’s R evolution S/M noodles. Curious about the Tubolight’s since they are a few grams lighter. These would be going on my light XC/XCM bike.
I used the Tubolight EVO SL last year for my race wheelset that was about those rim and tire dims and was not a problem. It was a bit snug getting the tire on. I never did flat so dont have an experience getting them off but yea…for XC i’d go tubo all the way…inserts are heavy enough, no need to to ad any more.
I didnt see anyone mention them yet, so figured id chime in. Im using Tannus Armour Tubeless. They work pretty well. As a biger rider who corners aggressively, its the best way to run reasonable pressures, and keep the tires on the rim.
I dont always use the, but I do like them for certain terrain. I do feel it takes away from the baloon feeling where the tires want to bounce all over the place, which I like, ad definatelly lets me corner harder while keeping the tire on the rim. Im actually able to fold the tire all way over without burping.
I run it in the rear, at 150g doesnt seem so bad to me.
I also use them on CX wheels too (smaller one), even raced them in an UCI elite CX race (cleared the blocks, which I was surprised about, had tubulars beside me just in case), and was able to smash a rooty section much faster than folks around me while running 40 PSI in a 33mm tire, (I barely get that low with tubulars) which is unheard of for me, with no burps. I would very confidently use them in certain gravel races. I tend to burp, and roll tubeless tires in 45 psi plus, since the time I lose from accelerating and climbing (I’m 210 lbs) is usually made up for via aggressive cornering and descending.
Thanks for the reply. Very helpful info.
Cracked a wheel last week. First time. Wheels were 5 years old, so maybe getting towards the end of expected life?
Question: is it worth getting inserts?
I’ve never cracked a wheel before, so maybe this time was just bad luck. I’ve read about the pros of inserts, but there’s also got to be cons - otherwise everyone would use them. For people who have used inserts, or thought about it and decided not to - what are the downsides of inserts?
Downsides - weight, and the hassle if you do have an irreparable flat. I’ve had to carry a slimy CushCore down figure eighted around my shoulders (not an irreparable puncture or failure of the tyre, but failure of the valve/rushed tubeless conversion).
I absolutely love having an insert in the rear and would say the benefits far, far outweigh the potential negatives in my experience.
Thx. Rear wheel only?
Any particular brand of insert you recommend? I’d like something easy + light…
Effetto Mariposas Tire Invader, easy to install, light. Not a CushCore style tuning option, offers no sidewall support but saves rims. I run Cush Core on the trail bike but prefer the ride feel of these for XC stuff
I am using Tubolights this year on gravel (Enve G23’s) and XC (Enve M525s). @Jonathan had recommended these and they seem to be amongst the lightest out there. I reached out to Silca about their new sealant and they said it is compatible with inserts, so I am also using it now too.
Our trails have been pretty wet this spring, so mainly been on gravel up to now, but so far the inserts have been good. I don’t really notice a big difference riding but I’ve dropped pressures a little bit compared to running without.
Has anyone had luck getting Tubolights in the US? I have checked online, this forum and many other forums before asking. Cannot seem to find them anywhere.
I had gotten mine some months back through Universal Cycles. BikeINN (which ships from Europe) has also had them. However stock might be pretty limited so you may have to keep checking.
From my experience so far, rear is fine for XC.
CushCore in my experience is the most effective and nicest feeling, but it’s a noticeable weight gain. Using a noodle type like Pepi’s etc feels a lot nicer in terms of acceleration and does just a good a job of holding the tyre on the bead and preventing bottoming out on the rim.
I’ve also got a Tubolight in the post as per Jonathan’s recommendation and that may be the holy grail in terms of feel and weight.
I ordered mine direct from tubolight.https://tubolight.bike/
These are $25 for a pair… including tubeless valves. That’s a lot cheaper than Tubolights from bikeinn. I got some and they seem fine for a basic insert (and they were $12 at the time 
).
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Very late reply but anyways - I’ve been running them front and rear on 21mm inner width rims for a year with zero issues.
For those that have been using inserts for awhile now, how have you found removing the tire trailside in the event of a flat?
I’ve been running Cushcore in the rear wheel for a couple seasons and have not punctured with it yet, but it can be very difficult to remove the tire even in my workshop.
I am wondering this because I am doing a stage race and considering running Cushcore front and rear, and I’m not sure I could remove the tire trailside if I had to.