What would be the best quality chain to use for shimano components on my mt bike
using XT components. all new. just a few hundred km on them

like a more reliable chain, suggestions please
that would be compatible for shimano
thanks

As far as specific chains, that'll depend on how many cogs are in your cassette. I can't opine on Shimano or KMC chains, but this:

https://www.sram.com/sram/road/products/pc-1091r-chain

...would be an extremely good 10-speed chain, as an example. However, high quality comes at a price...not sure I could bring myself to spend $56 on a chain.

Is there a specific problem you are trying to solve? Is your current chain unreliable in some way?

Don't spend $56 on a chain unless it's for the bling factor. Here's a perfectly serviceable 10-speed chain for less than half that amount:

KMC DX10SC / X10.93 10 Speed Chain > Components > Drivetrain > Chains | Jenson USA

The big players in chains seem to be KMC, SRAM, Shimano. I stay w/those brands and prefer KMC. Because KMC actually manufactures their chains, whereas the other brands do not.

+1

Chains are consumable items. Every one of them will end up in the recycle bin. None of them break if correctly installed. The SRAM, KMC and Wipperman are easier to install and convenient to remove for cleaning. They all last lots of miles, usually much longer than we keep them for. The more frequently you clean and replace them the longer more expensive parts like cassettes and chainwheels will last. Improperly installed Shimano (or Campy for that matter) will take out your rear der and ruin your day.

I say buy cheap chains with removable links, clean often, replace annually. Don't waste money or time fretting about them or spending way more to save a few grams or get blingy plating.

Just because nobody else has said it you can run a KMC/Sram quick link on a shimano chain. Pick up a pack of quick links and throw one in your bag along with a chain breaker to take on your rides. Nothing worse than breaking your chain out in the middle of nowhere and not having a way to fix it.

KMC fairly cheap but reliable.. and replace sooner better than later..

its a consumable, don't form attachments..

What's wrong with current chain? It should hardly be worn if the components are that new...

If you having issues with your current chain wearing out that quickly you need to look at how you're lubricating it, both how often, and what you're using. I'll now step out while this thread degenerates into a "Which lube?" thread.

Another KMC chain user here.

I have KMC chains on both my mountain and CX bikes. They take their fair share of abuse and the only broken chain failure I have ever had was due to my own crappy shifting technique where I tried to muscle it over a small rise without shifting and broke a link. I was out for a quick and short ride and Didn't have a quicklink so ended up hiking home a couple miles.

I feel a strong link bonding me, my bike and the components!

Me too, and that strong link is a cheap chain serviced often and replaced regularly.

KMCs have served me well. I used the 10.93 a lot when I had 10-spd. I'm currently using a Sram XX1 on my Shimano XT M8000 11 spd.

I just replaced my old rusty chain with KMC (9.93 for my 9 sp), so far so good

My new 11 speed Shimano chain Is some new fangled Teflon coated thing. (It's baked on I'm told)

I ride a mountain bike in the worst sugar sand, (wet and dry) I sometimes encounter the most abrasive lime rock dust ever.
This chain gets properly cleaned maybe every 15 to 20 rides, gets lubed when I feel like it. (I run It very dry, the sand remember ?)

About 7 or 8 months now, I am a weekend warrior, I ride every weekend, per the park chain stretch guage, nothing yet, still like new..

Btw this teflon makes for one super slick smooth shifting silent drive system,, I will not run anything else,,Cost was $38 plus tax..
You get what you pay for ya knows

Wipperman user here. Love the link! Have also used Shimano with a KMC link with good results as well.

If OP is keen on getting a high-end chain, regardless of the advice here, some pretty good deals can be had on eBay, for about 1/2 the price of retail. I recently saw some top-of-the-line chains (in bulk shop packaging, not retail) go for $23 instead of $50-60.

I had a guy at a lbs tell me that chains come pre lubed. When I was a noob I believed it. Once I bought a new chain that had a stiff link and ran like crap. Took it to the shop and the mechanic said it just needed lube. I quickly pointed out he told me it was pre lubed. He hem hawed around about still needing lube.
I took my bike home, pulled the chain and soaked it in a little kerosene. Swished it around and a ton of black crap came off of it.
I took a pic of the mess in the bottom of the bowl. Next time I was in the shop I showed it to him and called him a unflattering name.
I wiped down my chain well and let it dry. Put it back on my bike, gave it another good wipe and lubed it. It ran like a champ til it stretched out of tolerance.
Lesson learned.
I don't have a schedule per se. When I tune and do maintenance on my bike it's now one of the things I do. Chains last longer and run better as do my drive train parts.
BTW everyone should have a quick link. Its just as vital as a tire repair kit.

whats the problem with shimano chains on a shimano drivetrain? -- admittedly I don't have KMC or Whipperman experience, but I don't need it ---- I haven't broken a chain in quite some time

There's no problem with a Shimano chain (whether on a Shimano drivetrain or something else) unless there's some goofy sizing going on there that I'm not aware of. Doesn't matter who made the chain (Shimano likely doesn't actually make the chain themselves but has a third party fabricate the chains and then they put their label on it).

Of course, some chains are better quality than others. Sure, some chains from inferior manufacturers may be out-of-tolerance or made with substandard materials, but these days even low-budget chains are very likely to be quite serviceable. Even Walmart has a decent-looking alloy chain with master link for about $15 (as well as some lower-price versions), I wouldn't hesitate to buy the $15 chain if I needed one. Or even one of their chains for less than $10 if I needed one. It's only a chain.