Originally Posted by
mrrabbit
No need for the 29er label...it is just a marketing term. Consider the A719 as already suggested - an excellent rim. Others are the Velocity Chukker (very heavy though) and the DTSwiss TT series.
Deore XT hubs as suggested a good budget suggestion...Phil Woods are nice but ain't cheap.
Double-butted 2.0/1.8/2.0 DT will suffice - put the parts in the hand of a very good wheel builder - you'll be all set.
Avoiding a too-knobby tire makes the tire a little more efficient on asphalt - while still responding well off-road.
Pretty much echoing Jeff and FB here...
=8-)
While your suggestions are alright, they don't take into account a large rider, a loaded bike and off-pavement riding. Old XT hubs would be a good choice but the latest models seem to have some issues. Phils would be excellent but, as you've pointed out, they are pricey. Another choice would be White Industry hubs. Not quite as expensive as Phil Wood hubs and available (but hard to find) in 36 hole drilling.
For rims,a Mavic touring rim would work fine with no issue on fitting tires. A XC717 rim is 17mm wide and is designed for 2.1" tires. An A719 is 19mm wide so it should work with a wider mountain bike tire. Another choice would be the Velocity Aerohead OC which has some advantages over the Mavics. It's an aero rim so it uses slightly shorter spokes which results in a stronger wheel. It's an off-center rim so the wheel is dished less which allows for more even tension and a better triangulated wheel.
For spokes, especially with a bike carrying a big guy with a load on less than ideal pavement surfaces, I'd go with a DT Alpine III spoke. They make a much, much stronger wheel, especially in off-pavement...or on-.... touring conditions.