Tough-as-Nails Rear Hub
 

Does anyone have suggestions for a tough rear hub for a light touring/randonneuring bike (ie 130 rear spacing)? The bike will haul moderate loads and will be taken through some rough urban territory in addition to longer trips. The Phil Wood looks nice, but pricey and heavy. The Chris King looks nice as well, but similarly pricey. Thoughts?

Phils are more than nice. They are veerry nice;) But for cheap toughness, XT are just fine. I've used them for hardcore mountain biking for years and they hold up very well. Lower level mountain bike hubs have similar toughness but a slightly less nice finish.

I'll second the XT.
Even better is a high-flange XT level shimano tandem hub with a shortened axle. I love mine

Hugli can't be beat on cassette hubs. If you can tolerate running freewheels you can't beat the Phil for price and quality. XTs are good for average use. But if you really want something extra strong they aren't the choice: The hub material is pretty dentable, The labarynths on mine are banged up form the factory. The axle is not hardened, and the frehub structure is weak. But as has been pointed out one can bang them up pretty bad and get away with it. I don't like riding the expensive stuff in the city too high a probability of theft.

Phil Wood 48 hole cassette hub.

130 spacing? you don't want XT then.

130mm is correct. thats why im having problems. otherwise i could just get some white industries racer hubs.

Hi,
I weigh 250 pounds and do lite touring. I have Durace hubs, but my next set of wheels will have Ultegra hubs. I have already bought them.

It is hard to beat Shimano. I have beat on my wheels without mercy for years.
If you want to make a style statement, or feel compelled to throw your money away, that is your perogative. But if you just want good hubs at a reasonable price, they can't be beat.

Old 7 speed XT's were 130mm. A body transplant and you have 8/9 speed compatible.

If your current spacing is actually 130mm, you could probably make a 135 fit. If your spacing is 126, then 130mm or cold setting the frame is what you'd have to use.

I'd suspect that even an Ultegra hub would stand up to lots of abuse. And the price would be similar to that of XT.

My mountain bike/touring bike/everything bike has 7 speed 130mm XT rear hub. It's took everything I could throw at it from 1994 to 2006 from mountain biking to loaded touring, to loaded on rough terrain. I just repacked the bearings every few years. It finally took kids to do it in! I had a child seat on the back and was pulling 100 lbs of kids and gear in a trailer up a steep grassy slope in the granny gear and busted the pawls. I swapped out the innards from a parts bike (LX hub I think) and the actual freehub/pawl assembly was nearly identical. It's been going strong again since then.