In the application of drysuits, CR metal airtight zippers or resin airtight zippers?

In the application of drysuits, metal airtight zippers and resin airtight zippers have their own advantages, which is more suitable for the use of wetsuits, performance requirements and maintenance costs and other factors to make a comprehensive judgment, the following is a detailed comparative analysis:

Contrasting	CR metal airtight zippers	Resin airtight zippers
Strength & Durability	Metal materials (such as brass, stainless steel) have high strength, can withstand large tensile force and water pressure, and have strong anti-wear performance, which is suitable for long-term high-frequency use or wearing in complex underwater environments (such as rocks, coral areas).	The resin material (polymer) has moderate strength and good impact resistance, but long-term friction or force may cause tooth fractures, and the durability is slightly inferior to that of CR Metal Airtight Zippers.
Waterproof sealing	CR Metal Airtight Zippers are usually equipped with waterproof adhesive strips, zipper covers and other designs (such as Kevlar fiber reinforcement), which have excellent sealing performance and can effectively block water penetration, and are suitable for professional diving scenarios with extremely high waterproof requirements (such as cold water diving, long-term underwater operations).	The smooth surface of the Resin airtight zippers combined with the precision bite design (such as the YKK PROSEAL series) makes them equally waterproof, and some products are equipped with a water-repellent coating between the zipper teeth, making them suitable for regular recreational diving or neutral water temperature environments.
Weight and flexibility	The weight of the metal material is larger, the overall zipper is harder, and it may need to be more forceful when putting on and taking off, and the flexibility is slightly poor, especially in the low temperature environment, the metal may affect the operation feel due to cold shrinkage.	Resin airtight zippers are lightweight, soft, easy to put on and take off, and stable in low temperature environments, making them suitable for users who value lightness and wearing comfort (e.g., female divers, long dive preparation scenarios).
Corrosion resistance	Stainless steel and other anti-rust CR Metal Airtight Zippers have strong resistance to seawater corrosion, but if the brass material is not properly maintained, oxidation and rust may occur, and regular cleaning and maintenance are required; If not rinsed in time after exposure to seawater, metal parts may be damaged by galvanic corrosion.	The resin material is completely rust-free, has excellent resistance to seawater and chemicals, and does not require complex maintenance, making it suitable for users who are too lazy to maintain their equipment frequently due to tropical seawater, high salinity waters, or frequent maintenance.

1. Scenes where CR Metal Airtight Zippers are more suitable
– Professional-grade diving: such as technical diving, cave diving, cold water diving (water temperature < 10°C), the zipper needs to withstand high pressure difference and long-term underwater immersion, and the CR Metal Airtight Zipper has more reliable strength and sealing.
– Heavy equipment matching: If the dry wetsuit needs to be connected to heavy waterproof boots, wrist seals, etc., the CR Metal Airtight Zipper has better load-bearing capacity and is not easy to be deformed due to long-term stress.
– Harsh environment operation: such as industrial diving, underwater engineering, may come into contact with sharp objects or need frequent friction, the wear resistance of CR Metal Airtight Zippers can ensure the service life.

2. Scenes where resin airtight zippers are more suitable
– Recreational diving and daily use: Ordinary offshore diving, tropical water diving, moderate waterproof and strength requirements, resin airtight zippers are more practical for lightness and easy maintenance.
– Neoprene wetsuit: The resin zipper fits the flexible fabric better, the fabric is less likely to scratch when putting on and taking off, and the weight is light, making it suitable for the design of a wetsuit that pursues comfort.
– Frequent donning and taking off scenarios: such as diving teaching and experience diving, the resin zipper is more convenient to operate, which can reduce the time and physical exertion of putting on and taking off.

3. Maintenance cost and service life
– CR Metal Airtight Zipper:
The maintenance requirements are high, and it needs to be thoroughly rinsed with fresh water after each dive to avoid seawater residue; Regularly apply special lubricants (such as silicone-based grease) to prevent jamming, and if the metal parts rust, they need to be removed in time, otherwise the sealing may be affected. The service life can reach 5-10 years under normal maintenance.
– resin airtight zippers:
It is easy to maintain, can be washed, does not need frequent lubrication, has strong aging resistance, and is not easy to be damaged by environmental factors. The service life is usually 3-8 years, but care should be taken to avoid sharp objects scratching the resin teeth to avoid breakage.

4.Comprehensive recommendation

• Prefer metal zippers: If you are a professional diver, often dive in cold water or complex environments, or have high requirements for the durability of your equipment, metal zippers (such as stainless steel material + waterproof cover design) are a more reliable choice.
• Prefer resin zippers: If you focus on recreational diving, focus on lightness and ease of maintenance, or use a drysuit made of neoprene fabric, resin zippers (such as YKK PROSEAL, a professional waterproof model) are more suitable.

Summary: There is no absolute advantage or disadvantage between the two types of zippers, the key is to weigh them according to their own diving needs and use scenarios. If you have a sufficient budget, you can choose a high-end composite zipper (such as metal tooth + resin coating) that takes into account the strength of metal and the lightness of resin to further optimize performance.