Upon first glance if you had to choose one solely based on visual durability the o ring chain fits the bill.
What does an o ring chain look like.
Like the standard o ring chains it is also used in high performance motorcycles.
It has higher performance in terms of durability lifetime and power loss than non o ring chains as it has less friction than o ring chain while.
They look like this.
The x ring chain is a specialized type of sealed roller chain used to transfer mechanical power.
The o ring chain is named for the rubber o rings built into the space between the outside link plate and the inside roller link plates.
It uses x ring seal to keep lubricant usually grease in place.
As upon pressing these type of rings come in contact with lesser surface area and hence less drag coefficient is generated with same efficient sealing property as o ring chains provide.
The o rings actually somewhat self lubricating rubber inserts that fit in between the outside link plates and inside roller link plates seal in lubrication and seal out.
The o ring chain operates the same as a roller chain except for in a couple of very significant areas.
The x ring type chains are more modern chains with x shaped rubber ring placed in between the chain plates to seal the grease filled inside the chain components.
The o ring chain looks beefier and feels quite a bit heavier too.
Chain manufacturers began to include this feature in 1971 after the application was invented by joseph montano while working for whitney chain of hartford connecticut.