Plastic zip, BDM or tizip?

[Taliena]

I heard that Otter uses a plastic zip in suits too, that seems to be a BDM zip. No grease needed here. The tizip needs grease at the docking end.
Is the BDM zip better than the tizip? And same durable? No leaks?

 

[dbulmer]

I doubt whether there is much difference.

I suspect the reason why Otter use BDM is that they can buy the zips in smaller quantities than TZIPs

 

[Taliena]

but no difference in durability between tizip and bdm zips? Same pressure difference possible before leaking?
But why now lubrication needed for BDM and it is needed for tizip?

 

[Peter_C]

"Show me a zipper that doesn't need lube, and I will show you a zipper that doesn't get used."

I have lubed every metal zipper I have used on a drysuit and I have installed a couple of TiZips so far.

 

[beekeeper5]

I've had both the BDM YKK brass zippers and TiZip plastic zippers. All I can say is that TiZip is less maintenance and more flexible than the BDM YKK brass zippers. As for longevity, I've had about 80 dives on the TiZip zipper and still going strong.

Look at this thread for more information: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/exposure-suits/358529-ykk-bdm-vs-tizip-zippers.html

 

[steveb3000]

Very Happy with my TZIP.
Maintenance is what we do with everything to prolong the life.
Look after it, and your efforts will be rewarded with a dry, warm dive.

Stevo

 

[Taliena]

I asked about the difference of the BDM plastic zip and the tizip. Both made of plastic. Otter uses the BDM plastic zip is told to me and that needs no lubricating. Is that zip Otter uses better or as good as the tizip in durability? And what about leaking?