Which do you prefer and why?

Open Pro because I like boxy looks.

Open Pro!

Open Pro versus CXP33 might be a fairer comparison. The only thing the CXP22 has going for it is the much lower price.

Red head or Blond?

Red!

'sall bout dem firecrotches.

Yeah, as much as I love CXP22s they don't have a chance against Open Pros. Though if I was putting money into OPs I'd probably rather go with CXP33s depending on the bike.

well i found the CPX22 laced to formula rims for $150 vs the Open Pros laced to Dura Ace hubs for $350, is it worth the extra $200? i'm trying to keep my build under or around $1000.

The price difference there is the hubs, not the rims, which aren't too far apart in price.

This would be my take as well. Pick the hub based on the type of riding you plan to do. Formula are pretty good hubs. Either way, budget taking the wheels into a good shop to have the tension checked into your figuring. I am assuming you are looking at bicyclewheels.com. The set I got from there were a good deal but needed some time in the stand before they were acceptable.

The CXP22 is a good, sturdy rim. Had a pair on a machine built pair of wheels, used them for about 3+ years on my single speed conversion. Only needed to tweak the trueness once or twice.

actually, cxp's cost about 30-35$ a rim while open pro's cost 65-75$. open pro's are a much lighter, stronger and higher quality rim with eyelits that go through both walls and a seamless weld. aesthetically, they are much better looking, having a boxy look with a reflective sticker while the cxp's sticker looks like it's from McDonalds and a wear indicator that looks like you have already ruined the rim.

You can compare the two rims on aesthetics but they're really not on the same level of performance at all. CXP-22 is a great street rim though, I wouldn't want to lock up anything much higher end or ride anything much lower end. It's tough, light, and inexpensive.

Off topic, but if anyone's interested a guy I know here has a NOS Mavic Reflex (old name for the Open Pro) laced to a higher end Campy hub, just a front wheel for $65. Pretty good deal IMO. You could save a little bit and build your own rear or just go mismatching.

Mods please move to For Sale

hahahah BUSTED

I have an Open Pro/Dura Ace wheelset (32-h, DT D/B 14/15G, low flange) and a CXP22/Formula wheelset (also 32-h, DT 14G). Some observations:

The Open Pros are extremely light and build up round and true very easily...much easier than a lot of other rims I've built over the years. I've used the OPs on various road bike builds and they will stand up to just about anything. They're twice as much as the CXP22 rims, but they're worth it.

The Dura Ace hubs are just about the lightest and smoothest hubs you can find, they seem to spin forever. They look great if you like the low flange style...I do. The high flange versions are more expensive, a bit stiffer and look more "tracky". I wanted a little more give in this wheelset, so I built them up with the low flange hubs. The axle nuts are nicely machined with an attractively-rounded end and they tighten down very precisely on the chromed axles, not like some of the poorly-machined industrial-looking nuts on a lot of cheaper hubs. The rear axle is dimensioned to fit 120mm precisely, the ends are rounded and you'll not have an ugly end sticking out beyond the nuts. They DA hubs use old-style, adjustable bearings, not sealed bearings, that can be rebuilt easily and adjusted to suit your needs. They're expensive, but good stuff usually is.

The CXP22/Formula wheelset is a lot heavier. Quality is very good for the price. The set I got was well-built and used good spokes. I paid a bit less than $150 for the pair, which is cheaper than I could build them up myself. I did have to true them up a bit after riding them for a week; the spokes were a bit slack, but that's usual for these low-priced wheel builds. The semi-aero profile is a matter of taste, some folks like the boxy Open Pros better, I think the 22's also look good. And they're tough and stiff.

The Formula hubs use sealed bearings and have the high, relieved flange design...it's a nice-looking hub. The rear hub's axle is a bit long for a 120mm track spacing, they stick out a little further than necessary on either side when the nuts are tightened. I think they intended this rear hub to also be used with conversions (126mm rear dropout spacing, common on bikes with old-style horizontal dropouts) so they allowed a bit of excess axle length for inserting spacers.

One important thing to keep in mind, since this is the "fixed AND SS" site:

The Dura Ace hubs can only be used fixed...either single-side fixed or dual-side fixed...not with a freewheel. Most of the Formula hubs you can buy are fixed/free. So...if that makes a differencce to you, and you want to put a freewheel as well as a cog on a wheelset, don't get the Dura Ace hubs, either high or low flange versions.

Why? The Dura Ace hubs have fixed-cog threads that are cut pretty deeply, almost into the base of the hub's flange, unlike Formulas (and some other hubs) that have their fixed-side threads cut with a little more clearance at the base of the flange. If you try spinning a freewheel onto the fixed threads of a Dura Ace hub, then apply pedal torque to tighten it down further, you will make contact with the spokes exiting the flange....the freewheel body will jam up against the spoke ends on the flange. Trust me, I know because I tried it.

I have the CXP22-formula wheelset, it serves my purpose on the street as an errand bike and as a fun thing to ride quite well, though eventually I will probably invest in some dura ace hubs for a decent weather bike.