If you’re reading this, then your water softener may be seeing the end of its days. That’s because you’ve seen it using a lot more salt and regenerating more than usual. If this is the case, you should perhaps consider either changing the resin or switching over to a new water softener system.

Like most parts of the world, such as the United States, hard water is a common problem. Although certain water elements like magnesium and calcium offer certain health benefits, hard water prevents you from throwing up the soap and reduces your appliances’ life expectancies.

Typically water softener resin is known to last a long time. Unfortunately, like every other human-made item, it doesn’t last forever. Soon, the water softener resin stops catching the minerals, making your water hard as a result. And that’s when you need to consider changing the resin.

That’s why we took it upon ourselves to prep this article and list some of the best water softener resin you can find.

Best Water Softener Resins

1. DuraWater C-100E Purolite Cation Resin

We start this list with arguably the best resin for water softener overall in Purolite C-100E Cationic Resin. This is very suitable for those who have a private well, as it usually consists of high iron content.

Apart from working like every other softener resin, this product offers a lot more. It reduces the hardness in water to the point that it makes it suitable for consumption and use with bathroom and kitchen appliances.

This resin is a polystyrene durable acid cation exchange resin. It’s in the sodium form, which is ideal for both domestic and industrial purposes.

2. Aquatrol Water Softener Resin

We have another premium-quality entry in Aquatrol. Their resin is made from DVB and polystyrene beads with an 8% crosslink.

To ensure your health and money are in good hands, the FDA has given its approval for this product when it comes to treating food for the sake of human consumption. It means that it isn’t going to affect your drinking water once it’s gone through the softening process.

Although Aquatrol is known for making resins for residential use, it’s best to inspect the manual for compatibility and know the appropriate amount. The resin is said to last between 15 to 20 years, that is if your water is extremely hard.

Overall, it’s safe to say that we ourselves are one of the best resins for water softener.

3. Oceanic Water Systems Water Softening Resin

Oceanic Water Systems’ water softening resin is a premium, high-purity cation resin that is a 100% upgraded ion exchange.

It is highly recommended for homeowners who get their water supply from municipalities or the city. It offers homeowners high-quality and pure water. The 10% cross-linked resin is suitable for chlorinated water, except without iron.

It’s made specifically for treating foods, beverages and water for food processing. It’s also suitable for potable water.

A good water softener system needs proper sizing and if that’s what you want, then read more here.

4. ABC Waters SOFRES1 Water Replacement Softener Resin

SOFRES1 is another one of the best water softener resin types that is ideal for use with any standard water softener. It is a company in a one cubic-foot bag, that should be sufficient for a basic 9in mineral tank. When the time comes, it’s easy to replace this resin in the water softener tank apart from the fact that it comes with a 12-year shelf life.

This bead-form, high-capacity resin boasts a traditional gel polystyrene sulfonate cation exchange material that is suitable for industrial and household purposes.

The resin removes iron, dissolved manganese, and also hardened ions (calcium and magnesium) and other matter in your water supply. NSF, USDA, and FDA have given their approval for this product. What’s more, is that it features a high-quality 8% crosslink water softener resin.

5. LiquaGen Water Softening Ion Exchange Resin

If you want a high-quality resin that softens hard water without dealing with an expensive price rate, then LiquaGen is at your service. This resin is ideal for not only softening hard water but also prepping high purity water for food and potable processing.

This food-grade water softener resin comes with a 10% crosslink and is said to be resilient enough that they can last a long time before they require changing. The higher crosslink is useful if your water has plenty of iron or chlorine, as it can be found in a well.

It also comes with incredible value as you get 1.5 cubic feet of resin as well as a complimentary funnel. It’s a great way when you want to refill your tank and know that those beads don’t come out of the bag quickly.

6. iFilters Water Softener Resin

Another excellent choice for low-budget consumers is iFilters Water Softener Resin. It’s made specially to replace the old rein bed to boost your water softener’s efficiency in the best way possible. Besides that, it’s quite a sturdy material, so much so that neither leakage nor can harm it. 

The resin is capable of exchanging 100% ions, allowing hard water to soften up without creating any issues for the softener. It also comes with an 8000-grain capacity, making it suitable for small residential areas where the need for soft water isn’t as much as that of large households.

What’s more, is that NFC has certified this resin, meaning there are no hazardous consequences affiliated with its use.

7. A-Plus Waters

A-Plus Waters offers an 8% standard cation resin that comes in a 1/2 cubic footbag. It is capable of filling up a 16000-grain water softener, which is relatively small as it’s suitable for individual and apartment purposes.

The resin’s material is of high-capacity gel polystyrene cation exchange that comes along with sodium ions.