Zipper on both the weir and the swale is identical, made by a company called riri. I've had both pairs.
My tips for prolonging the life of the zipper
1) Rub a candle on it for some lubrication that won't wash off.
2) Dont crease it. This is the most important part. I killed 2 zippers by just tossing my waders in a heap after fishing. Both zippers failed where the waders were folded. Now, I fold them in half at the waist, taking care to not fold the zipper.
3) Store them zipped up. I know the directions say the opposite. Be careful not to pull the zipper apart when taking off your waders, and keep them zipped up. In my experience this keeps everything's lined up the way it should be, and keeps it watertight.
I like the closed back on the Swale. It keeps the straps on your shoulder, even if the straps are loose.
My vote goes to hodgeman for both quality of product, and excellent customer service.
