I have just bought some Hope M4's and was looking to buy some spare pads, but which to get.

On CRC they have Fibrax, Goodrich and Hope types all in sintered (more expensive) or organic.

Have any of you any experience of which type offer the best braking performance with M4's?

GOODRIDGE

No contest far better feel and power over the stock hope pads

that should have been goodridge Stintered

Just ordered another set of Goodridge Sintered's for my XT's - they're the muts.

Are they worth the extra few quid?

Why sintered over organic?

Do they squeal any less?

Sintereds in the wet conditions will well outlast organics & I've not seen any real loss of 'bite'. Goodridge seem to be way better than the Shimanos so they're worth the extra IMHO.

Generally speaking, it's unlikely to be pads that cause squealing unless they're contaminated with oil or summat. There are unfortunately many other possible reasons for that :)

I was told years ago by LBS to fit new pads & do six or so sprints/stops to bed pads in - not had a problem since

six sprints and stops? i do twenty!!!
i'm using XTR pads on the XTs and they seem ok. i take it organic for the alps this summer, right?

Chance to ride the Alps would be enough to buy organic pads for!

yeh tom organics dont build up as much heat as stintered but vanish in the wet... had goodridge organics on my I-drive last summer and they lasted fine but one wet ride in dalby killed them.

Saying that XT's are ment to be well insulated from pad heat..