Best Fishing Braid

Daiwa's J-Braid X8 weaves eight strands of Japanese yarn into a thin, ultra low stretch line that's very strong for its size. The Dark Green version comes on 150m spools.

Strains run from 9lb to 58lb, with diameters from 0.06mm to 0.28mm, so one braid covers light perch lures through to heavy jigs. A highly circular, smooth weave should add distance and keep it quiet through the guides.

Lure anglers after perch, zander, chub and bass will get the most from it, and pike anglers can use the heavier strains with a wire trace. Next to the Spiderwire Stealth Smooth 8, it gives up the longer spool, but it starts far lighter, at 9lb, for perch and light lure work.

To be fair, 150m is half what some braids give you, and rough ground still needs a leader. For lure anglers who want one thin, strong braid for most jobs, though, I think it's the best lure braid here.

Made in the USA, Spiderwire's Stealth Smooth 8 is an eight-carrier PE braid with a tight weave, a round profile and a thin microcrystalline polymer coating. You get 300m on the spool.

It's soft and limp for smooth, quiet casting, and knots clinch securely. Strains run from 22lb to 83lb, the tight weave gives high abrasion resistance, and there are five single colours, from Hi-Vis Yellow and Code Red to Moss Green and Camo.

For me, it suits pike anglers on lures with a wire trace and sea anglers who want a quiet, tough braid. Next to the Daiwa J-Braid X8, it's the longer spool and goes heavier, and next to the Sufix 832, it trades the GORE fibre for a soft, limp feel.

To be fair, 22lb is the lightest strain, so it's too heavy for finesse perch lures. For pike, sea and heavier lure fishing, though, I think it's a superb, quiet-casting braid.

Sufix 832 mixes seven HMPE fibres with one GORE Performance Fibre in an eight-fibre braid, with 32 weaves per inch. The Neon Lime version comes on 120m spools.

Diameters run from 0.10mm at 12.98lb to 0.18mm at 26.4lb. The GORE fibre improves abrasion resistance, casting length and accuracy, R8 Precision Braiding keeps it round and consistent, and the high pitch count makes the braid water-repellent.

It's made for casting, trolling and jigging with medium to large lures, so it suits pike, zander and bass anglers on rough or rocky ground, with a wire trace for pike. Next to the Spiderwire Stealth Smooth 8, it's the tougher build on a shorter spool, while the Wychwood Agitator AX8 is the quieter colour and a simpler braid.

To be fair, Neon Lime is bright and 120m is a short spool. For lure anglers who fish rough, rocky water and want a thin braid with real toughness, though, I think it's a superb choice.

Wychwood's Agitator AX8 is a neutral-density braided mainline for lure and bait fishing, so it sits between floating and sinking braids. This 150m spool of coated, perfectly round eight-strand PE is 16.5lb at 0.12mm.

A silk-like coating cuts friction for casting, raises linear strength and can lift knot strength by up to 20%. It stays quiet through the guides, and the dark moss green is a low-visibility colour.

Perch, zander and chub anglers who want one affordable braid for lures and light bait work are the ones it suits. Next to the Sufix 832, it's the subtler colour, and next to the Berkley Forward, it's the all-rounder rather than the finesse specialist.

To be fair, there's only the one 16.5lb strain on this spool, which is too light for pike on big lures. For light lure fishing on a budget, though, I think it's very good value.

Berkley made the Forward Braid for finesse spinning for perch and zander, giving direct contact with the lure. The proprietary construction is all about sensitivity, so the slightest bite should register at the rod tip.

Spools hold 150m of Low-Vis Green, from 0.08mm at 3.9kg to 0.26mm at 15.4kg. A smooth coating helps distance and accuracy, the thin profile lets lures move naturally, and the smaller diameters sink faster.

For me, it suits perch and zander anglers who spend most of their time on drop shot, small jigs and soft lures. Next to the Wychwood Agitator AX8, it's the specialist rather than the all-rounder, while the Skeater Zero-X Floating is a much heavier pike braid for float and lure work.

To be fair, it's one of the dearer lure braids, and it isn't built around abrasion resistance for rough ground. For finesse perch and zander fishing, though, I think it's a superb, sensitive braid.

Skeater's Zero-X Floating is a zero-stretch, eight-strand braid with a round profile, built for pike, zander and perch. Because it floats, the line stays up and clear of snags in weedy or snaggy water.

Every spool holds 300m, in 30lb at 0.25mm, 40lb at 0.30mm, 60lb at 0.35mm or 70lb at 0.40mm. The weave is made to resist abrasion without losing casting distance, and the finish is a low-key dark green.

Its natural jobs are float fishing deadbaits, drifting baits and casting lures over weed for pike. The Berkley Forward Braid is a far finer line for finesse perch and zander, while the Fox Rage Predator Elite is the tougher braid but only comes in 40lb and 60lb.

To be fair, a floating braid isn't the line for ledgering, and every pike rig still needs a wire trace. For float, drift and lure fishing for pike, though, I think it's the best pike braid here.

Fox Rage built the Predator Elite for pike and predator fishing, pairing a micro-bonded weave with a slightly larger diameter for extra abrasion resistance. It's an eight-strand, round-profile floating braid in dark green.

Two strengths are on offer, 40lb (18kg) at 0.34mm and 60lb (27kg) at 0.41mm, each on a 300m spool. A 150m marker on every spool lets you split it evenly across two reels, which suits anglers running a pair of pike rods.

On snaggy, weedy or rocky pike waters, that extra toughness pays off. Next to the Skeater Zero-X Floating, it's the harder-wearing line, though the Skeater gives you four strengths, and the Skeater Zero-X Sinking is the one for ledgering, since the Fox Rage braid floats.

To be fair, it's one of the dearer braids, and the thicker diameter may cost a little casting distance. For pike anglers who put toughness first, though, I think it's a superb choice.

The Zero-X Sinking is Skeater's bottom-contact predator braid, made for ledgering, bottom rigs and long-range work. Its round, eight-strand weave has zero stretch, giving instant contact with the rig.

An integrated PTFE core keeps it sinking once the coating wears, which is the clever part. Five strains run from 15lb at 0.19mm to 30lb at 0.29mm, all on 300m spools in dark green. The weave is built for abrasion resistance on snaggy, rocky or weedy ground.

Zander, perch and pike anglers who ledger or fish bottom rigs at range are its natural buyers. The Fox Rage Predator Elite floats and goes heavier at 40lb and 60lb for big pike, while the Berkley Flex Braid is a tough four-strand line built for the sea instead.

To be fair, it's one of the dearer predator braids, and it tops out at 30lb. For bottom fishing for predators, though, I think it's a smart, well-thought-out line.

Built for sea fishing, the Berkley Flex Braid is a thermally fused, four-strand PE line. It's extra tough and abrasion resistant, so it should break less often around rocks, mussels and heavy weed.

The 275m spool comes in moss green, with diameters from 0.12mm to 0.33mm and breaking strains from 5.1kg to 23.1kg. A slightly stiff build helps it cast easier and farther, and it's easy to knot and resists wind knots. Low stretch gives sensitive bite detection too.

Shore and boat anglers fishing rough, snaggy ground will get the most from it. The Skeater Zero-X Sinking is a rounder eight-strand braid, but it's a predator line, while the Leeda Super Braid is the budget pick for deep water and long range.

To be fair, four strands and a stiffer build won't run as smoothly as a round eight-strand braid. For sea anglers over rough ground, though, I think it's the best sea braid here.

With near-zero stretch and an ultra-thin diameter for its strain, Leeda's Super Braid is a round-profile braided mainline. It's made for deep-water fishing, long-range casting and anywhere strength and durability count. It's a no-frills line that covers the basics well.

The 20lb version measures 0.18mm on a 300-yard (274m) spool, and the 40lb comes on 150 yards (137m). Knot performance is strong, and the 150-yard spool also covers pike and lure fishing. Near-zero stretch means bites show quickly, even in deep water.

Anglers on a tight budget, or trying braid for the first time, have a lot to like in it. The Berkley Flex Braid is tougher over rocks and mussels, while the Thinking Anglers SBX is a specialist sinking mainline built for carp.

To be fair, it's a simple, general-purpose braid rather than a floating or sinking specialist. For strong, thin, low-stretch braid on a budget, though, I think it's the best budget braid here.

SBX from Thinking Anglers is a sinking braided carp mainline, made from a tightly woven, round blend of fast-sinking fibres. It comes in 25lb at 0.40mm and 40lb at 0.48mm, on 300m or 600m spools.

Zero stretch gives a direct feel and clear bite detection, and the weave gives high abrasion resistance. A green base with black sections breaks up its outline, and the 600m spool has removable markers at 200m, 300m and 400m for loading more than one reel.

Carp anglers on weedy, snaggy or demanding venues who fish at range are the ones it suits. Next to the Leeda Super Braid, a thin sea and deep-water braid, it's a heavier sinking line made for carp, while the RidgeMonkey Descend is lighter and finer. Our best carp fishing line guide covers carp mainlines in full.

To be fair, you'll need leaders, and some waters ban braided mainline. For carp at range over weed and gravel, though, I think it's the pick for carp, and the camo finish seals it.

RidgeMonkey's Descend is a sinking carp braid in weed green, and its round, low-diameter profile gets it down very quickly. It comes in 20lb at 0.28mm and 30lb at 0.35mm.

Both strains come on 300m or 1000m spools, so one bulk spool can load several rods. Virtually zero stretch keeps a direct line to the rig, and high abrasion resistance helps it cope with rough ground and tough conditions.

Anyone fishing open or weedy waters at range who wants a quick-sinking braid that keeps the line pinned down will get on with it. Next to the Thinking Anglers SBX, it's the finer and lighter line, and it trades the camo finish for a plain weed green.

To be fair, there's no heavy strain for really snaggy swims, and you'll still need a leader. For filling three reels with a fast-sinking braid that won't break the bank, though, I think it's very good value.