My 29er HT was fast out in the open and on long smooth down hills.
It was a handful anytime the trail got tight, switchbacks were hard work, BUT it had heavy wheels, not a big dollar bike.
I see riders on better quality HT's smokin it !
Think of wheel size as a bike fit parameter instead, A 6' tall long legged rider should fit a 29er real well..
I was 5' 11" and found my 27.5 to be faster almost everywhere for me, the wheels were also not expensive but still the smaller size meant less weight and a stiffer build.
I just did not have the engines to get the most out of the 29er...
Personally for me, If I was to do a Hard Tail I'd want a 29er, except I'd Insist on a much better (more expensive) wheel set....
On a $2k budget I'd have to have my current drive train, the Shimano Deore XT M8000 1x11, Its very affordable now.
Shifts just as well as the $1,000 Srams but cost less than half that..
Last edited by osco53; 10-06-15 at 08:13 AM.