1.) Intended use vs. weight = weight alone is not enough to determine if the wheelset is a right fit for your riding style, for there are some heavy XC wheelsets that really can't go beyond XC, while there are some light XC wheelsets that are over built for XC to make them more durable, either for a heavier rider or a more aggressive rider.

 

2.) Double‑butted spokes = by having a double butted spoke, it actually makes the wheelset a little bit less strong on a single impact, but in the long run makes the wheel quite a bit more durable. The theory behind the double butted spoke is that it is impossible to eliminate flex, therefore by assigning two separate widths to the spoke it makes them more durable because you can control the point at which they flex instead of being at the mercy of wherever the weak point has developed, usually right at the hub. Adding controlled flex equates to shifting the pressure to the center, beginning right above the cross pattern and then ending as the spoke meets the rim at the other end. They're perhaps a little easier to true should you need to as well.

 

3.) Sealed bearing cartridges = this is where Shimano has really lacked in my opinion, by using free ball bearings. Free ball bearings are actually better in terms of having less rolling resistance, but at the same time they are significantly more succeptable to interference through dirt, mud and moisture that are able to break in through the seals, and then they never roll like they did brand new, until you service them. Bearing cartridges are also incredibly easy to change and very cheap‑‑slap them in and your done. Less maintainence to me is more user friendly at such a miniscule cost to performance.

 

4.) Disc hubs with V‑Brake rims = unbeatable versatility, no matter who you are or what you're going to do in the future. However, disc specific rims often times can be more freely engineered for strength without the obligation to accommodate for a braking surface. These are few and far between and not a real performace issue, just simplification no matter what bike they're on. FSA is looking to do this with the XC-100 wheelset but not for another 2-3 months.

 

5.) Hand Built = added strength and durability beyond the mere design of the wheelset.  In DSC's humble experience, handbuilt wheels tend to be up to 20%sronger and 25% more durable in comparison to machine built wheels, or even those which are considered to be "hand finished." This is where craftsmanship meets high end components in a wonderful marriage, though this usually makes the wheels significantly more expensive in many cases.

 

*Criteria 4-5 are less important than criteria 1-3, and therefore DSC considers them to be more closely associated with options than necessary criteria, but are still to be considered.