Has anyone had a chance to use the new black recoil guides from REC? I am having issues with the "Double Black Chrome" wire guides plating wearing thru extremely fast ( 4 months ) on fly rods getting daily use. I like the look of the SF black wire guides so the H&H DLC and Recoils are my next options, and increase in cost basis as well.

I know the DLC coating wears off the H&H guides eventually, so will it happen to the recoils PVD coating as well, and how long can we expect them to last with frequent use?

Lightweight REC snake recoils deform easily, which creates another problem. To prevent the snake guide foot from springing out from under its wraps if the guide is bumped along the axis of the rod I have found it necessary to make as long a thread wrap as possible along the guide foot and to compress the guide slightly while wrapping the second foot of the guide. A locking wrap or two would also help prevent the guide springing free.