My 29" Velocity Blunt (35mm) rear wheel with XT hub has had the head pop off of 2 nipples in the last couple of months, the wheel is about 3 years old, it survived the Cairngorm loop 18 months ago.

Just wondering why the nipples have failed, is it normal ?

I have had broken spokes before but the actual spoke broke not the nipple.

Alloy nipples? They corrode due to road salt etc. I never use them on wheels I build.

As ScotRoutes above.

What they said... had broken nipples many years ago (some dt alloy ones) and stopped using... still have some alloy ones on my road bike but only cos thats how they came but wouldn't build another road or mtb wheel if it was my choice (although on th3 DA wheels I did save over 40g or more per pait

another for only alloy ones have ever done this to me

Thanks all, the evidence is pointing toward alloy nipples, will have to check it out.