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Braid use has become more popular recently due to its strength-to-diameter ratio and increased sensitivity characteristics. It is, however, an expensive option over the traditional fishing line.
Braid is a synthetic material offering superior strength and a small diameter compared to monofilament and fluorocarbon lines. Casting your rig, bait, or lure is more manageable, with less stretch in your line, and provides greater sensitivity from a biting fish. They work well in snaggy, heavy-cover, and weeded areas due to the reduced chances of line breakage while setting the hook or retrieving fish. They also last longer before being replaced if correctly spooled and maintained.
They are, however, more expensive than a mono or fluoro line and put more stress on reel parts, rods, and line guides.
Choosing a braid is difficult because of the vast range and available options. The best braids come from many countries; in this guide, I will cover the best options available in the United States and Europe.
My 9 Best Braided Line Recommendations
- SpiderWire Stealth Braid Fishing Line
- Sufix 832 Advanced Superline Braid
- Berkley NanoFil Braid
- Piscifun Onyx Braided Fishing Line
- Daiwa J Braid X8
- PowerPro Spectra Braid
- KastKing SuperPower
- Seaknight W8/S9
- TF Gear Banana Spod & Marker Braid
SpiderWire Stealth Braid Fishing Line – My Most Versatile Pick!
Spiderwire Stealth comes in eight or twelve-fiber options. It’s a tough, super smooth line made from Dyneema PE microfiber, also used for fishing nets. One of the significant benefits is its ability to slide through rod guides to enable longer casts with low noise.
If you want a versatile line for any fishing style, stealth is a great option. The extensive range of breaking strains and the color choices enable it to be used in almost every fishing scenario.
If you are fishing where the water is clear or when the fish are a bit spooky, blue or green camo is a good choice to lower the chance of fish seeing the line.
Stealth is a mid-range priced line that, combined with its proven quality, is an excellent choice for any angler who prefers to fish with a braid.
Key attributes:
- Color patterns: Available in nine colors, including red, blue, green, yellow, camo, and translucent.
- Spool length: from 125 to 1500 yards.
- Breaking strain sizes from 6 to 150 lbs.
- A versatile option that can be used in freshwater, saltwater, and surf fishing.
- The cost for a 300-yard, 30 lbs breaking strain spool is around $25.00
Sufix 832 Advanced Superline Braid – My Best Allround Pick!
Sufix 832 is one of the best mid-range priced braids you can buy. It’s an innovative braid with better castability because the outer covering provides lower friction as it passes through your rod guides.
Its small diameter compared to its strength is one of the main selling points. Like Spiderwire, its fibers are from Dyneema, giving sensitivity, water resistance, and power. It is the first-ever eight-carrier braid with a 7:1 ratio of Dyneema and a single “gore” outer cover. The outer gore cover helps prevent it from sinking as fast as other braids. This blend makes it a unique option and a groundbreaking fishing line for anglers.
Due to the innovative technology features, Sufix 832 is quite expensive compared to other braids. If you are considering using a line that can sink slower for fishing with lures, then the 832 is an excellent choice.
Key attributes:
- Color patterns: Available in three colors: green, ghost, and low-vis.
- Spool length: from 150 to 1200 yards.
- Breaking strain sizes from 6 to 80 lbs.
- Performs great for game, sport, predator, saltwater, and freshwater fishing.
- A 300-yard, 30 lbs breaking strain spool costs around $28.00.
Berkley NanoFil Braid – My Best Pick For Small Fish!
Berkley is the biggest-selling braid manufacturer in the US. The Berkley NanoFil Uni-Filament Fishing Line is not a braid or mono. It’s constructed using a combination of Dyneema filaments, which are joined together to create an ultra-thin single line.
With the combined strength and smoothness, it casts further and more accurately than any other Berkley line. One key feature is that it’s Berkley’s thinnest line per pound test, making it ideal for fishing with ultralight fishing. Other benefits include zero line memory (eliminating tangles), and its unique material construction enables an awesome feel to the lightest of bites. It has also won several international awards.
However, one drawback to NanoFil is the cost; it is one of the most expensive braids on the market.
If you target small-size bass or crappies regularly, I recommend using this line as its performance is outstanding for catching mainly smaller species.
Key attributes:
- Color patterns: Available in three colors: green flame, clear mist, and low-vis green.
- Spool length: from 150 to 2118 yards.
- Breaking strain sizes for ultralight fishing from 2 to 17 lbs.
- It’s suited for targeting smaller-size fish.
- The cost for a 300-yard, 17 lbs breaking strain (strongest) spool is around $39.00
Piscifun Onyx Braided Fishing Line – My Best Budget Pick!
If you want an affordable line with excellent abrasion resistance, consider buying the Piscifun Onyx. This affordable line is available in a four-strand fiber material for breaking strains up to 50 lbs and eight strands for 65 lbs to 150lb test. However, most braids will outperform Onyx in the lower breaking strains, as they offer an eight-strand option.
If you plan to do a lot of deep-water fishing, then the Onyx is an excellent option due to its lower price point.
Key attributes:
- Color patterns: Available in six colors: black, green, blue, yellow, multicolor, and white.
- Spool length: from 150 to 547 yards.
- Breaking strain sizes from 6 to 150 lbs.
- It is best used in deep saltwater for tuna and freshwater fishing for catfish.
- The cost for a 300-yard, 30 lbs breaking strain spool is around $15.00
Daiwa J-Braid X8 – My Best Pick For Spin Fishing!
I use Daiwa J-Braid X8 for all my spin fishing reel setups when using braid. Compared to other braids, I can’t fault its quality and ultra-low stretch capability, especially when spinning. It has a high strength ratio versus its small diameter due to being manufactured from a high-quality Japanese yarn.
The Diawa brand is well respected in the United States and European fishing communities, and their braid is one of the best on the market. J-braid is best suited for spinning, either in saltwater or freshwater. Carp and catfish anglers using baitrunner reels favor using j-braid as it’s a soft and smooth line that is more sensitive than many others.
Due to its proven capability and mid-range pricing, Daiwa J-Braid is one of the most established and largest-selling lines globally.
Key attributes:
- Color patterns: Available in four colors: multicolor, dark green, chartreuse, and white.
- Spool length: from 165 to 3300 yards.
- Breaking strain sizes from 6 to 150 lbs.
- The cost for a 330-yard, 30 lbs breaking strain spool is around $25.00
PowerPro Spectra Braid – My Best Overall Pick!
PowerPro Spectra is a value-priced braid premium brand option. Spectra performs outstandingly against all the other braids and is well respected for its high strength vs. low diameter ratio. It’s been one of the highest-rated braids in the market for several years and is the second-best-selling braid in the United States.
PowerPro has developed an ultra-strong braided fiber with “enhanced body technology” to create a round, smooth, ultra-sensitive line. It’s super strong, sits on the water well, casts great, and provides a sensitive feel through to your rod when hooking a fish. This braid comes in a handy box where you can spool it directly to your reel, which includes a built-in line cutter.
Spectra will cover all your fishing styles, whether you are a summer bass angler or fishing deep-sea for predator fish. However, it is one of the highest-priced options.
Key attributes:
- Color patterns: Available in six colors: Moss Green, Green, Hi-Vis Yellow, Multicolor, Vermilion Red, and White.
- Spool length: from 100 to 3000 yards.
- Breaking strain sizes from 3 to 250 lbs.
- A tremendous all-around line due to its wide product range.
- The cost for a 300-yard, 30 lbs breaking strain spool is around $27.00
KastKing SuperPower – My Best Value For Money Pick!
KastKing SuperPower is the best-selling braid in the United States. Its most significant selling point is the excellent value for money it provides.
However, SuperPower has a larger diameter than other braided lines, so it can be challenging to tie consistently strong knots. The bigger diameter makes casting longer distances more difficult than using PowerPro Spectra, and you get fewer yards on your reel spool.
KastKing SuperPower is a perfect choice for the beginner or those wanting to use a reliable but slightly cheaper option.
Key attributes:
- Color patterns: Available in five colors: Moss Green, Low Vis Grey, Yellow, Multicolor, and Blue.
- Spool length: from 327 to 1097 yards.
- Breaking strain sizes from 6 to 150 lbs.
- Best for surf fishing, ice fishing, and trout fishing.
- The cost for a 330-yard, 30 lbs breaking strain spool is around $19.00
Seaknight W8/S9 – My Best General Sea Fishing Pick!
Seaknight Monster W8 and S9 are both outstanding braided lines at a very affordable price. The W8 is an eight-strand entry-level, and the S9 is a nine-strand performance option. The S9 is approximately 50% more expensive than the W8.
I don’t venture out sea fishing as much as I used to, but the Monster has been my pick for braid when surf fishing over many years. Seaknight W8 is the best-selling sea fishing braid in the UK, is in a low/mid-price range, and is an excellent value-for-money option.
Monster is a high-density braided line that helps prevent less line twist and looping. Once you have mastered the tying technique for braid knots (which can be difficult at first), you will find the W8 and S9 have superior knot strength properties.
Another key aspect of the Seaknight monster series is the option to use either a hi-vis or low-vis color; this provides anglers with alternatives when the water color changes or when fish are more spooky to take the bait.
The W8 and S9 are suited for most types of fishing styles, but it excels in saltwater sea fishing (either boat or shore fishing). As with all braids, it is perfect for fishing on the bottom, and due to its strength, it can withstand snags and rocks better than other lines.
If you are confused about whether the line is called Monster or Manster, don’t worry, it is only the renaming of the product. Most anglers still refer to it as Seaknight Monster!
Key attributes:
- Color patterns: Available in five colors: Green, Red, Yellow, Grey, and Blue.
- Spool length: from 327 to 547 yards.
- Breaking strain sizes from 15 to 100 lbs.
- A line for saltwater and freshwater fishing, including carp and catfish.
- The cost for a 327-yard, 30 lbs breaking strain spool is around $13.00
TF Gear Banana Braid – My Best Pick For Spod, Spomb, And Marker Float Use!
Something more specific in the braid arena. TF Gear banana braid is not used for catching fish!
This braid is the most widely chosen option for spodding and spombing use when carp fishing. It’s thin but super strong and durable, allowing it to be easily cast with a fully loaded prebait. It also has a low diameter that gives super long and, more importantly, accurate casting.
Carp fishing requires specific positioning of prebait, and the hi-vis banana braid is perfect for multiple heavy casts. This color provides fantastic visibility of where you have cast your spod or marker position.
TF Gear banana braid is designed to take the strain of the heavier weight of a spod or marker float casting. One downside to banana braid is the cost; although it is expensive, it will last several years without needing to be replaced and always performs with almost no concerns.
Key attributes:
- Color patterns: Available in one color: Banana yellow.
- Spool length: Only 330 yards.
- One breaking strain is available at 30 lbs.
- A line developed for carp anglers who use spod, spombs, and marker floats.
- The cost for a 280-yard, 30 lbs breaking strain spool is around $35.00
How To Choose The Right Color Braid?
Some anglers are unsure of which color braid they should opt for. For general fishing situations, green is the best to use since it matches the color of the water for most fishing days.
If you need a visible line that is more sensitive to feel and see, then a chartreuse color line is the option.
A white or opaque line will be difficult for fish to see against the sky or the water surface; this is an excellent option for those fishing from the flats or offshore, especially in low-light or cloudy skies.
If you are in shallow water going after any flats species, a camo blue or green will be an ideal option to prevent spooking fish.
Multi-color lines change color with every ten meters of length, so anglers can easily see the line indications and movements. As such, these multicolor braids are best for saltwater drop fishing in deep waters, jigging, and trolling from boats.
What To Do Next?
While braid is more expensive, its benefits outweigh the extra cost. Spending more on the best braid available is a sensible and easy-to-justify decision.
If you’re unsure whether braid is right for you, check out my article to learn more about the benefits of braided fishing lines, including their pros and cons and the best ways to fish with them.
You can also check out my in-depth buyer’s guides on the best fluorocarbon line or best monofilament line as an alternative to braid.
Steve holds a special place in his heart for the mighty Carp and the elusive Tench
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