Confused about cassettes quality

[ConfusedBiker]

Hello, good evening.
I'm new to MTB and the amount of new information I'm seeing is overwhelming.
As the title says, I'm confused about the quality of some cassettes, specifically, the Shimano TZ500 and the Shimano CS-LG300.
Which one of those is better in terms of durability and functionality?
In what should I look in components to know if they're of better quality than other ones? Leaving weight out of the equation because I don't really care about that.
In general, how can i differentiate if a component is better than other one?
Thanks in advance.

 

[mike_kelly]

You know "better" is in the eye of the beholder. The measure of "better" is a fine thing. Today even the cheapest brands from China are decent usable quality. You will find on the forums there are people who can afford a $2500 drive train. I am sure they work very well but what is the incremental difference between a $200 drivetrain and a $2500 drivetrain.?
So it boils down to what kind of rider you are , your budget and how important the ego of the bike is compared to the functionality.
I can't afford a $2500 drivetrain so I am a value buyer. I also don't bend the limits of riding. I am not doing 30ft jumps. So what works just fine for me is a lot less expensive.
I am also not that picky. If the drivetrain shifts it works for me. Does not have to shift instantly or perfectly just reliably.
Reading the forums you can get the impression that unless you buy a bike with a $500 cassette you will be miserable for the rest of your life.
It is just not true.
So for me the part that is reliable and long lasting is the better value and it does not cost $2500.
Amazingly enough I ride almost every day and my bike still works!

 

[steve_sordy]

The really cheap ones are heavy, but you don't care about that. But pay a bit more and they have a coating that means you don't have to clean and lubricate after every wet ride (that may not be as a big a problem in Mexico as it is in the UK).
Also, I have discovered that if you pay a bit more they last longer. What I have just said applies to chains as well.

 

[RickBullotta]

I have always tend to go "one down from the top" - XT, X01, etc...thinking is that the high end stuff might have some compromises in strength or durability in exchange for weight, but that the next one down has all the same performance.

 

[Mikerb]

fairly simple for cassettes on an EMTB.............Steel cogs rather than ally ( except perhaps the biggest cog). Fully pinned cassettes are stronger than cassettes comprising individual cogs with spacers.

 

[ConfusedBiker]

You know "better" is in the eye of the beholder. The measure of "better" is a fine thing. Today even the cheapest brands from China are decent usable quality. You will find on the forums there are people who can afford a $2500 drive train. I am sure they work very well but what is the incremental difference between a $200 drivetrain and a $2500 drivetrain.?
So it boils down to what kind of rider you are , your budget and how important the ego of the bike is compared to the functionality.
I can't afford a $2500 drivetrain so I am a value buyer. I also don't bend the limits of riding. I am not doing 30ft jumps. So what works just fine for me is a lot less expensive.
I am also not that picky. If the drivetrain shifts it works for me. Does not have to shift instantly or perfectly just reliably.
Reading the forums you can get the impression that unless you buy a bike with a $500 cassette you will be miserable for the rest of your life.
It is just not true.
So for me the part that is reliable and long lasting is the better value and it does not cost $2500.
Amazingly enough I ride almost every day and my bike still works!

I share the same mindset as you (more expensive is not always better). I want to use my money wisely in certain components that are durable and good, but I don't have the knowledge to know which components are those and I also don't know in what to look for, besides from the price and the brand.
I appreciate your comment and hope you get more fun rides on your bike!

 

[ConfusedBiker]

I have always tend to go "one down from the top" - XT, X01, etc...thinking is that the high end stuff might have some compromises in strength or durability in exchange for weight, but that the next one down has all the same performance.

Hmm, I haven't tried that. How do you know which stuff is the high end, mid end and low end quality? Besides from the price. Do you check any brand pages or check the materials?
Thanks for your input.

 

[ConfusedBiker]

fairly simple for cassettes on an EMTB.............Steel cogs rather than ally ( except perhaps the biggest cog). Fully pinned cassettes are stronger than cassettes comprising individual cogs with spacers.

Thanks. I'll check that out.

 

[#lazy]

I used to buy sram gx cassettes but now just by she cheaper shimano steel ones at half the price and last way longer .