32H vs 36H spokes for MTBs

Garyh_GONP07 said:

Over lunch today a fellow biker and I were discussing 32 vs 36H spoking for MTB wheels. BOth of us have been into heavy touring (36H/4x patterns) and MTBs (36H/4x predominantly). Years ago bikers would swear by 36H for strength and taughtness. Nowadays there seems to be an entrenched trend toward the softer, "supple" (as we have known it) 32H pattern. What are the variations and why??

36 h 4 cross the spokes usually leave too much spoke on the hub shell leading to premature hub shell breakage. 4 cross patterns usually accompany 40h or 48h shells, this is why 40 and 48 hole hubs are so very popular with the touring crowd and 36 hole hubs are predominately accompanied by 3x. Spokes and rims are now very much improved since the early eighties thus the 36 spokes for strength is outdated. Rim section dictates wheel strength. Spoke selection dictates the suppleness of the wheel. That said, all my mountain wheels are 32 spoke for cross and touring I use 36 front and rear because the increase in length of wheel life outweighs any weight savings.

Of course, there any many permutations to the arguments above. Ride what works for you.

VTW