I'm getting a new wheelset for my touring bike. I've settled on 36h Shimano XT front/rear hubs (thanks for your help on this!) and am planning to use Sun CR18 rims and 14 gauge spokes (3X). Most everything I had heard about these rims was good, but when I looked for reviews/opinions on the internet, I was surprized by their negativity.

The source of the worst reviews was mountain bike folk. Many were along the lines of "This rim is weak" or "I took a 4 1/2 foot drop, and the rim was ruined." This isn't how I'm planning to use the rims, though, so I'm taking the reviews with a grain of salt. Does anyone have direct experience with these rims when used for self-contained touring? I'd appreciate your feedback on these (or your favorite) rims. Thanks.