Cane Creek 110 is also a great headset.

 

That's a loaded question. There are alot I'd consider best or 2nd best. I have never had a King so I don't have the personal experience to say they're any better than the others - Cane Creek, FSA, Hope, Wolf Tooth... I haven't had many headset problems through the years so I may not be the best judge. I have never bothered with the "high end" rather opting for mid-grade units that have been rock solid. I do try to maintain them well, clean and regrease the bearings and replace them (bearings) if theyre too far gone. Depending on your maintenance habits, I'd think you'd be fine with a Cane creek 40 or 110, or check out one of FSA's offerings.

 

I've had good luck with Ritchey headsets in the past, but more recently Cane Creek has been my go-to.

If you aren't going for shaving grams of weight, headsets are pretty reliable in recent years. Hard to go wrong with most modern headsets. If shaving grams is your thing, there is always Extralite UltraTop/UltraBottom

 

The Cane Creek Hellbender has the stainless bearing of the 110. I haven’t found the 40 stays terribly happy if you spend a lot of time in the rain and mud.

 

Only problem I have with headsets is water and cheap "open" bearings with caged balls, they aren't good at keeping water out and the cage will rust really quick. Even if you pack them with grease they will rust if you ride in the rain in winter, and then they will start to creak.
I don't like to pay for overpriced stuff so I try to get stuff with good price/quality ratio, best headsets I got are the ones from Token, super smooth and you can feel they are fully packed with grease, they are better than any FSA, or Cane Creek I got.

 

Only problem I have with headsets is water and cheap "open" bearings with caged balls, they aren't good at keeping water out and the cage will rust really quick. Even if you pack them with grease they will rust if you ride in the rain in winter, and then they will start to creak.

I should mention I use Phil Wood Waterproof grease. Probably a contributing factor to my good luck with headsets in general.

 

I was looking for a headset for MTB last autumn and reviewed all of them (almost). In the end I got Hope - price was good and they have good seal on the lower bearing. Many other headsets are inadequatelly sealed IMO. Hope has a split crown race that is easy to install and remove. I was doubtful at the beginning, but reviews were good and it has't caused problems to me.

 

In 35 years of riding bikes I’ve never had a problem with a headset. I’ve never owned a high end unit either.

 

Wolftooth make great headsets as well.

 

lm surely not the only one who uses Marine Grease?

 

My preference for top end headset is Hope for aheadset. Cane Creak 40 are trash for me, came OEM and my last two bikes and did not last long before giving problems. First one lasted two rides.

 

I cannot recommend any other headset than Chris King. For me its a one time purchase that'll be on the bike forever. The few bikes I do have without CK headsets, will be upgraded to CK when those headsets wear out. Quick count has 9 of the bikes in our household with CK headsets and almost as many CK hubsets.

 

I'm a die hard CC110 headset user. Whenever I buy one myself, it's a 110. I currently have two. Sold bikes last year that had 2 others. Have never had to replace bearings in them, and they predate the even better sealed Hellbender bearings that they come with nowadays.

Some might think I go a bit overboard with grease in my headsets, but I have no doubt that doing so keeps the water away.

 

Yep, plenty of marine grease.
I am a little surprised at so many killing headsets fairly quickly.
I ride plenty in rain and mud. They've never been a problem.

 

I kill cheaper headsets in about 1/2 a season. I sweat like a pig & it gets in there & just corrodes the bejesus out of the bearings. Cane Creek Hellbenders have worked very, very well for me, though. I will be putting one in my Orbea Oiz soon as well as cleaning all the corrosion out of the stem bolt holes & brake mounting points.