Deck screws vs hidden fasteners, which actually holds up in wet climates?

I built two small decks last summer, one with coated deck screws and one with the hidden clip system. After this rainy Pacific Northwest winter, the screwed deck has popped boards and rust streaks near the coast, while the hidden fastener deck looks almost new but the clips cost me an extra $180. Honestly, I get the aesthetic argument for hidden fasteners, but for a guy who just wants a solid platform without fuss, screws won on price and repairability. The hidden system also made it a pain to replace one warped board because I had to unscrew the whole section. Has anyone else run this comparison in a damp climate, or am I overthinking the rust thing?

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harperp315d agoMost Upvoted

Man, that rust streak thing hits home. My buddy used those coated screws on a dock box near saltwater and they looked like a crime scene in six months. Still, I'd rather grab a drill and swap a board in twenty minutes than fight that hidden clip system when something goes sideways.