I normally just use these for a few races and they're absolutely fine for that. However I'm going to need some 'good ones' for just one day later this year.
Are pads pads or are the Koolstops and Swiss stops any better. I was chucking my crosser downhill yesterday to see how far I could push it, and it wasn't far. I just got a lot of noise and very hot rims.
Also do the various colours actually mean anything?

I've used the Swisstop green on my road bike which I've ridden a fair bit in the Alps and the Pyrenees. I like them, they stop well in pretty much all conditions and seem to last quite well without destroying the rims either.

I know the Koolstop colours are:
red/pink – wet
black – dry/normal
green – for ceramic rims

Then they do dual-compound ones in black AND red. These are my personal favourites. Much better than the stock shimano pads that came with the last set of V's I bought. They're obviously no disc-brake but they do offer more bite.