Best hubs have 2 design elements:
- The main load-supporting bearings are as close to the ends of the hub as possible. Ideally the bearings would be flush against the frame dropouts, but there are some compromises in design required. The closer to the center of the hub are the bearings, the heavier has to be the axle - a suboptimized design.
- Angular contact ball bearings. Cartridge bearings are used in hubs by small-fry manufacturers who don't have the tooling or sales volume to support custom hub parts such as forged and polished cones and cups. Angular contact balls support axial loads better (mainly the clamping force of the quick release), and are easier to service and replace wearing parts. Balls cost pennies each. Cones cost at most $20 per set.