I purchased this set of three locks to use one to lock up my spare tire under my truck, so it is continually exposed to the elements. So far I have had no issues with the lock rusting or being hard to open. The rubber casing on the lock helps to keep mud and dirt from getting into the internals of the lock, keeping it in good working order for longer.I also like the flap on bottom that covers the keyhole, as that is usually a common area for a lock to rust and get dirt in making the key hard to turn, so far I have had none of those issues. Another benefit is that all of the locks are keyed alike giving you the ability to use the locks in different places but only having to carry one key.Overall I would highly recommend this lock to anybody looking for something sturdy and that is going to withstand the elements better than a standard padlock.