[Nick Phillips]

Highly scientific............

Yep, best way has to be in the using of the product.

 

[Bronzhaii]

Yep, best way has to be in the using of the product.

But, then you would need to use them all, for it to be an objective test. I get to test a lot of new products, and always ask the supplier of the sample, just what is in it or how is it made. Rarely, do we get any realistic answer that has any technical substance, just quasi justification for increased costs/profits............

 

[Nick Phillips]

But, then you would need to use them all, for it to be an objective test. I get to test a lot of new products, and always ask the supplier of the sample, just what is in it or how is it made. Rarely, do we get any realistic answer that has any technical substance, just quasi justification for increased costs/profits............

I just go on experience of using things and the views of others I know.
If you said to me what was the perfect braid then I would say Sufix 131.
Flawless to use and handle.

 

[u0347108]

As a fairly recent convert to braid (shore fishing the holderness and North Yorkshire coasts) I’ve found spiderwire smooth 8 to be pretty decent, and Berkeley whiplash in 30lb.

I did buy a reel second hand with the sufix 131 loaded on, and that has been superb stuff especially over the rougher ground, during the last year. I’m told it’s gone up in price so being from Yorkshire rather than buying new I’ve kept it and just reversed it onto another reel.

Initially I bought some daiwa j braid 4-stand thinking this would offer more resilience over mixed ground but on loading it on the spools it seems incredibly springy, hope it improves with use but since experiencing the smoothness of the 8 strand, I think it will be left on the spare spool purely as back up.

 

[jackjock]

Ive been using the Saratoga 8 strand braid from china for a couple of years , ive used a lot of different braids from various manufacturers in 4 and 8 strand and the saratoga as good as any for the price . The cheap Chinese braids are always thicker than diameter the state so if you want a braid like Saratoga in .26mm order the .20mm which i use for clean beaches
























































































































nt













































































nt make

 

[Phil Roberts]

Some of my friends in the pike game swear by Power Pro but to be honest whilst I do have some, I just didn't like how stiff it was but there again I was using it with quite light lures and not with a 5oz lead and bait.
A pal of mine has just offered me a spool of Berkley Fireline to try so that will go on first.

Just been looking for my beloved Toray Invisible Braid but it seems not to be available so perhaps try their Dragon braid. I worked with Toray for many years and as a company, they are fantastic to deal with, their technical standing in carbon, nylon and photopolymer is second to none. Most of the top tennis rackets and golf clubs are Toray carbon, some Savage gear rods and all the Dragon rods along with a few other makes use their carbon so I would be foolish not to test (in my own way) some in the salty stuff.

Phil

 

[SiDfish]

It would be hard to get me to change from Whiplash Pro 8 or Spiderwire Stealth Pro 8. It feels great, casts well and is very thin for its breaking strain. Only prob is the breaking strain v thickness, where any spool is thicker than quoted but also stronger by a large margin. It is also relatively cheap. Works well spinning, floatfishing, beachcasting and from the boat. Needs a few casts to 'bed in' and lose springiness. Been using 10lb Spiderwire (should be called spiderweb) for salmon/sea trout spinning and it's been great, just hard to get my head round the fact that something so strong can be as thin as whipping thread. Instead of measuring the thin of the oval braid there should be a thickness equivalent and proper breaking strain quoted as I'm overgunning it in many cases, using quoted 34lb which breaks at 50+

 

[notleysimmo]

Been using braid from the outset, even field tested some of the very first Dynon 3 strand flat braid for the importer. Increasing the number of strands appears to have brought big incremental steps forward in performance of the braids. As stated by others, 4 strand is quite rough when compared to a good 8 strand; however, been recently testing a new 6 strand that has a different weave pattern to the normal 8 strand, and it is thinner than a comparable 8 strand (strength) from the same weaver and appears to perform better over the test period. This 6 strand has also proved to be quieter when passing through the guides on the cast.

There is a school of thought that for different applications, different weave patterns and constituents can significantly affect performance for any given application. Shorter casting distances required in say US Bass fishing and most lure fishing require a different braid construction to say maximum distance for surf casting, or other applications like deep water jigging. We all experienced the same sorts of variations with nylon lines and different applications, why do we expect it to be any different for braids? However, the problem for the big manufacturers is that they would rather just produce one braid to fit all applications, apart from the obvious colour marker braids aimed at the jigging market, the biggest single global market is for US Bass fishing.

Braid coverings is another issue, as the core material UHMWPE is pretty inert to taking coatings, and they effectively have to be a self setting enclosure, rather than bonding to the actual core material. We have had some solid experience of braids that haven't had any coating, sure they are pretty mundane being just plain white, but they are infinitely more flexible and softer, and in surf casting have a noticeable effect on distances attained.

Do you know where we can get the six strand, have had a look and can't find any.

 

[Bronzhaii]

Do you know where we can get the six strand, have had a look and can't find any.

Not in the UK, we get it direct from the weaver in South Africa, company called HMP or Braid Cord.

 

[Ftp900]

Hugely debateable topic as seen over many years and disciplines, whats good for ones not good for others, .
Ive tried a load as well , different rod ringing systems , lures , leads , styles , generally i,m always after maximum distance and minimal aggro like many others , there's no holy grail if you want it to do everything!
Best thing for the OP to do is narrow down what he wants to do and go from there.
Super supple max standed stuff can be a nightmare than some less stranded thicker lines.
Really interests me tbh as nylon for the most part ( not floro) is a lot easier to get on with without the specialisms.
Braid all the way for me tho, tried cheap agepoch 8 strand with a few recommendations on here but after careful examination whilst loading binned it , stunning poor quality weave with fluff ups and knots all the way thro a 1000m spool