10-speed chains ; Shimano vs Sram vs others

[robjh]

I'm about to go from 9 to 10-speed on my road bike, and (obviously) I'll need a new chain.
I've previously disliked shimano chains because of the need for a special pin tool to remove links, but have just found out that Sram 10-speed chains too are less re-usable than their 9-speed ones, as the PowerLock on 10-speeds is single use and you need to buy spares (unlike the PowerLink on 9-speeds that you can undo and reattach as often as you wanted).

Does anyone have any views on this? Do you live quite happily with Shimano or Sram chains and just buy the extra tools? Or would you go for something else like KMC?

I'm probably going to be running a Shimano 105 cassette for what it's worth, but would go with Sram if the price was right and there were any other advantages.

 

[Herzog]

KMCs are great, seeming to last a long time and I've never snapped one (the same cannot be said for Shimano chains).

 

[ianrauk]

KMC.
Used to use Shimano, but they wore out far quicker.

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

Shimano chains for me, not a problem at all

 

[smokeysmoo]

KMC or Sram, but personally I stick to KMC on both bikes, one 7 speed and one 10 speed, I won't buy anything else anymore, simple as that.

 

[addictfreak]

Talk about coincidence, I snapped a chain today (shimano). Probably down to lack of maintenance if I'm honest.
Just ordered a KMC chain to replace it.

 

[fossala]

I have used kmc x10sl for a while, I'm bored of buying 40-50quid chains, went with a 7801 chain as I'm on a 6700 triple, putting it on tomorrow, will report back after a few weeks.

 

[derrick]

KMC

 

[Pottsy]

Another KMC fan here.

 

[Hacienda71]

I have had 6000 miles out of my ten speed Sram chain and cassette.

 

[Banjo]

The powerlock is supposed to be single use on 10 speed chains but i must admit to using them 2 or 3 times each without probl;ems.

I need a tool to realease it though unlike the 9 speed which I can do with fingers alone.

 

[RiflemanSmith]

KMC.

 

[slowmotion]

KMC. They do a reusable 10 speed missing link too.

 

[mark st1]

The powerlock is supposed to be single use on 10 speed chains but i must admit to using them 2 or 3 times each without probl;ems.

I need a tool to realease it though unlike the 9 speed which I can do with fingers alone.

Can i ask what you use to un do the stubborn little link

 

[slowmotion]

Can i ask what you use to un do the stubborn little link

KMC do a pair of pliers for this.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/kmc-chain-link-pliers/
Sometimes the links can be easily removed by finger pressure alone...other times you need the tool.