I have run both of them, the batterys are glass matt batterys, they both have acid in them, but have a vent that is hard for the water inside to escape, they will start venting at 120 deg. so if you plan on rolling it get one, otherwise get a regular battery, I run them because of the real cold weather here they start better, the optimas have cheapend up after the year 2000 and are not as good from what I have seen but most of them got so costly that the guys around here were getting them from costco, so not sure if they are the same quality or not? good luck, p.s. my orbital will not start my sammie now after being only six months old but it has a two year unlimited warrenty so i'm good, they changed the looks of it on the new one.