The waterproof material seems to be of EXCELLENT quality. It's very flexible and not rigid. The hardware is very sturdy and is of excellent quality also. I would certainly order this collar again. The collar has LOTS of holes so that you can adjust the size easily if your puppy is still growing. You won't have to punch extra holes yourself!!! WHEW!I put waterproof collars on my dogs as they get wet outside while on their walks and swimming quite often. This collar will not STINK. I also use a permanent marker to put my phone # and my dogs name on it to help ID them if they go AWOL. The hardware - buckle, D-ring, and O ring will allow me to attach their dog tags and microchip tag also. PLEASE put ID on your pet's collar so that if they are lost they will have a much higher chance of being reunited with their family. For those in the USA - PLEASE BUY YOUR County Dog Licenses to help dogs get reunited with their family! Microchipping your pet will also ID them in case they lose their collar. EXCELLENT COLLAR. I purchased the Blaze Orange color to ensure my dogs are not mistaken for wildlife if they are in the field when it's hunting season.