40lb braid strength test

[SFL BassHunter]

So I bought several 40lb braids. Some I already had, and some of the cheap chinese braids I purchased for this test. I am still waiting on 2 other chinese lines to come in but I figured I would start my test and post my results.

*Disclaimer: I am not an expert, and this is not an official strength test.*






A real strength test would be with no knot. But I wanted to test my knot with different lines. As seen in the pictures above each test was run the same way. Knot to the clip on the strap, knot on the scale, lift the blocks slowly adding pressure to the lines and watching the scale till it snapped.

Knot: Palomar

Stren Superline Braid
Test 1: 23lb break at the knot
Test 2: 25lb break at the knot

Spectra Extreme Braid
Test 1: 24lbs break at the knot
Test 2: 23lbs break at the knot

KastKing SuperBraid
Test 1: 23lbs break at the knot
Test 2: 24lbs break at the knot

PowerPro Regular
Test 1: 28lbs break at the knot
Test 2: 22lbs break at the knot
Test 3: 23lbs break at the knot

So I performed 3 tests on PP because the first test showed a higher break strength than the rest of the lines. I wanted to find out if that was an anomaly or if we were going to see a superior line. In the end the other two tests actually yielded around the same as the others.

What this test meant to me was that a 40lb braid is breaking at the knot in the range of 22-25lbs with 1 anomaly case at 28lbs. This being the knot I regularly uses strength between all lines is about the same and therefore would be a matter of preference.

But that wasn't good enough for me and so I tried the San Diego Jam (6 turn) knot. Field and Streams tested this knot to be stronger.

Knot: San Diego Jam

Stren
Test 1: 20lbs at the knot
Test 2: 14lbs at the knot 
Test 3: 16lbs at the knot
*Was tested 3 times because the second test yielded a MUCH lower break strength. But what I noticed was the strands separate when making this knot, the knot becomes jumbled up and the strands never join back together properly. This seemed to account for the lower break strengths. Also this was not the first line I tested with this knot. In fact it was the last. But I wanted to keep the same order from the first round on the forum.

Spectra
Test 1: 24lbs at the knot
Test 2: 27lbs at the knot

KastKing
Test 1: 27lbs at the knot
Test 2: 26lbs at the knot

PowerPro
Test 1: 27lbs at the knot
Test 2: 25lbs at the knot


So which line is better? Heck if I know. What my test shows me is that each of these lines breaks at similar lbs at the knot depending on the knot used. The only major exception seemed to be the Stren line with the San Diego Jam which seems like it doesn't play nice. Could it be human error? Maybe.

The conclusion for me is either of these lines will work for me using my palomar knot and there really wouldn't be a difference. So if I continued using the same knot I could purchase either of these brands and have similar results on the water. So now it would boil down to personal preference.

1. Price
2. Limpness or Stiffness
3. Fade
4. Diameter

But the bigger question becomes, do I continue with the palomar knot which is fast to make and lose a couple lbs of strength or go with another knot that may prove stronger like the San Diego? Hmmm. 

[Lipripper]

Rick it looks like they are all real close to the same break at the knot Lb strength. The question is would a few Lbs lost in strength going to make that much of a big deal if must of the fish you catch is under 5 lbs. 

[SFL BassHunter]

Rick it looks like they are all real close to the same break at the knot Lb strength. The question is would a few Lbs lost in strength going to make that much of a big deal if must of the fish you catch is under 5 lbs. 

Exactly!
But also you have to consider that down here we don't fish open water often . A 5lb fish being pulled through vegetation changes the pressure on the line. This is why we use 65lb braid in heavy vegetation for punching and some even for HB frogs.


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[Capt. BassinLou]

Sounds like you past the time ok with line experiments Rick. I personally wouldn't let those line experiments deter you from fishing your favorite knot and brand of braid. Remember, we are fishing for LMB not Goliath grouper. You will never exert that amount of force on a bass. And if you do, I would re-evaluate your technique in certain situations. In real life, we have tools ie. Rod and reel, that will work for us if set up correctly. Even if the fish got into a mat of vegetation, you wouldn't be pulling out that fish with your rod and reel. You would have go to the mat and fish for that fish with your hands. Just my .02

[SFL BassHunter]

Sounds like you past the time ok with line experiments Rick. I personally wouldn't let those line experiments deter you from fishing your favorite knot and brand of braid. Remember, we are fishing for LMB not Goliath grouper. You will never exert that amount of force on a bass. And if you do, I would re-evaluate your technique in certain situations. In real life, we have tools ie. Rod and reel, that will work for us if set up correctly. Even if the fish got into a mat of vegetation, you wouldn't be pulling out that fish with your rod and reel. You would have go to the mat and fish for that fish with your hands. Just my .02

Well my test started out to see if there was a difference between lines. Basically for the cheap Chinese lines compared to the more expensive ones.

For example the Spectra braid on Amazon costs 11.90 for 300yrds. It can be found a little cheaper on Ebay.
KastKing on ebay goes for around 10 dollars for 330 yards
Stren is 150yrds for 13 dollars
PP is 150 yrds for about 14-15 dollars

So now that I know that the cheaper lines hold up the same as PP which is what I use currently, then I can make the decision to test the other lines for fishing. What I didn't want was to test a Chinese line on the water and find out its break strength stinks.

[Capt. BassinLou]

I see what your saying. Good luck with the Chinese lines. 

[Pferox]

I have used Kast King in the past and it worked good.  I use both 20 and 40 lb test, I think it was.

Although the line comes from China, it is re-spooled from Japanese made braid.

[SFL BassHunter]

I have used Kast King in the past and it worked good.  I use both 20 and 40 lb test, I think it was.

Although the line comes from China, it is re-spooled from Japanese made braid.

Hey Pferox!
Yeah I hear you, but hey you can never be too careful with Chinese made stuff lol. They aren't exactly known for their quality, or quality control.

Why did you stop using KastKing if you don't mind me asking?

[cortman]

Very interesting and eye-opening test, Rick. I'm really surprised braid has a break strength so much lower than advertised. Usually with line it seems like it's the opposite.

[SFL BassHunter]

Very interesting and eye-opening test, Rick. I'm really surprised braid has a break strength so much lower than advertised. Usually with line it seems like it's the opposite.

Well keep in mind the break strength of line is usually measured by the company selling it without knots. The knot weakens the line or cuts the line. So if I was to test the line without knots I would probably get closer to their labeled strength.
But really who fishes without a knot?

[analfisherman]

Thanks for the test Rick!

One thing I came to learn about tieing a Palomar Knot.
Now I came to this idea researching using a Polamar to tie Fluorocarbon.
BUT I think it applies to all line types.....maybe not as much.....but still has an effect.

I got real lazy tieing a Palomar (incidentally I don't tie it very often at all any more) but it was so easy I got careless.

When you bring the double line through the eye, you then have to take the tag end and main line  and the loop on the other side and MAKE SURE THE LINES DON'T CROSS OVER ANY WHERE before you make the knot before looping over the hook point.
When tighten the knot before and after moistening again check for cross over.

If you have cross over and super tighten the knot itself.....it cuts into line and weakens it....ESPECIALLY with Floro.

But reason tells you....braid can actually cut your fingers 'DEEPLY' when tightening.....it certainly can cut into itself.
Maybe it's only a strand or two on a 6 or 8 ply/strand.....still weaker, right? 

After I started, when I still used it, being careful of the line cross overs.....can't remember a break off at the knot.

Many have mentioned about the lack of abrasion resistance of braid......again, do you think it may not hold up to a ruff tie and cross over line digging into one another?

Logic is there, experience showed me a difference.........just a thought.

Again,
RICK THANKS FOR A GREAT THREAD!   

[Pferox]

Hey Pferox!
Yeah I hear you, but hey you can never be too careful with Chinese made stuff lol. They aren't exactly known for their quality, or quality control.

Why did you stop using KastKing if you don't mind me asking?

I still have it spooled on a couple of my reels, and have some more left for a couple more reels.  I haven't fished in a while, so everything is past tense.

[SFL BassHunter]

Thanks for the test Rick!

One thing I came to learn about tieing a Palomar Knot.
Now I came to this idea researching using a Polamar to tie Fluorocarbon.
BUT I think it applies to all line types.....maybe not as much.....but still has an effect.

I got real lazy tieing a Palomar (incidentally I don't tie it very often at all any more) but it was so easy I got careless.

When you bring the double line through the eye, you then have to take the tag end and main line  and the loop on the other side and MAKE SURE THE LINES DON'T CROSS OVER ANY WHERE before you make the knot before looping over the hook point.
When tighten the knot before and after moistening again check for cross over.

If you have cross over and super tighten the knot itself.....it cuts into line and weakens it....ESPECIALLY with Floro.

But reason tells you....braid can actually cut your fingers 'DEEPLY' when tightening.....it certainly can cut into itself.
Maybe it's only a strand or two on a 6 or 8 ply/strand.....still weaker, right? 

After I started, when I still used it, being careful of the line cross overs.....can't remember a break off at the knot.

Many have mentioned about the lack of abrasion resistance of braid......again, do you think it may not hold up to a ruff tie and cross over line digging into one another?

Logic is there, experience showed me a difference.........just a thought.

Again,
RICK THANKS FOR A GREAT THREAD!   

The funny thing is I've never broken off with a palomar knot in real life fishing situations using 40+ braid. Except maybe after fighting a fish through heavy vegetation and not re-tieing.

Your thoughts on the cross over make sense. I'm usually pretty careful with my knot tying, never rush through them. But it can happen. I'll tell you I've been known to cut the line and start all over if I feel like the knot didn't look right or there was a curl in the loop.
I'll pay attention to line cross over a bit more from now on just to be sure!



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[SFL BassHunter]

I still have it spooled on a couple of my reels, and have some more left for a couple more reels.  I haven't fished in a while, so everything is past tense.

Oh ok. Thanks for the input. I appreciate it, it's good to know others have confidence in it. Might give me confidence to actually try it lol 


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[FlatsNBay]

Great test! I wonder how the more expensive braids like Suffix 832 would compare? Everyone seems to rave about it. Also I wonder how the double palamor knot would test? It's supposed to be one of the best knots for braid.

[Trap2016]

BUT!!! How does it cast and it digs into the spool and back lash a plenty!!!! Or do you need a high speed reel??

[cortman]

Well keep in mind the break strength of line is usually measured by the company selling it without knots. The knot weakens the line or cuts the line. So if I was to test the line without knots I would probably get closer to their labeled strength.
But really who fishes without a knot?

Ha. Both excellent points- I forgot about the knot part, but really, that's the real world test!

[LgMouthGambler]

That was a great test Rick. I really enjoyed that. You had it well thought out, and proved some really good information. Thank you.

<")))<{

[SFL BassHunter]

Great test! I wonder how the more expensive braids like Suffix 832 would compare? Everyone seems to rave about it. Also I wonder how the double palamor knot would test? It's supposed to be one of the best knots for braid.

I've seen some tests done and the palomar has beat out the double palomar in most cases. Interestingly enough.
I'm not sure about Suffix, I don't like it personally. I find it digs in way more than PP. So it wasn't a test I wanted to run. The PP and Stren I already owned. The cheaper stuff if what I purchased for the test.

BUT!!! How does it cast and it digs into the spool and back lash a plenty!!!! Or do you need a high speed reel??

Dunno, turns out those tests can't be done with a scale and concrete block lol. I guess when I test them on an actual reel I will find out. I will most likely write up a review on them.

I will tell you that the Stren and PP are much smoother. The Chinese braids are rough because they have no coating.

Ha. Both excellent points- I forgot about the knot part, but really, that's the real world test!

Right. I guess they can't really post knot strength considering each knot will have a different break point.

That was a great test Rick. I really enjoyed that. You had it well thought out, and proved some really good information. Thank you.

Glad you enjoyed it LMG.
I will probably be doing the same tests on 60-65lb braid soon. I have a few to try out to see just how well those stack up against each other and how well they do with the knot. I might need more concrete blocks for that test lol

[Oldfart9999]

Rick, have you tried it being careful with tying the palomar? Curious to see the difference.
Rodney

[SFL BassHunter]

Rick, have you tried it being careful with tying the palomar? Curious to see the difference.
Rodney

I'm always careful when i tie my knots. If I even get the slightest sense that it didn't look right I usually cut it and start over. I also don't rush through making my knots. Anyone who has seen me tie one knows I take my time.

[Oldfart9999]

I'm always careful when i tie my knots. If I even get the slightest sense that it didn't look right I usually cut it and start over. I also don't rush through making my knots. Anyone who has seen me tie one knows I take my time.

Right idea wrong person, my head is bowed in shame! Sorry.
Rodney

[SFL BassHunter]

Right idea wrong person, my head is bowed in shame! Sorry.
Rodney

lol, it's ok.

That is why I tie that palomar. It is easy, so there is less chance of a  up 

[Oldfart9999]

lol, it's ok.

That is why
Happens to be my favorite also, same reason. When you get old you'll be glad you picked it.
Rodney

[bassinbrian]

I'm always careful when i tie my knots. If I even get the slightest sense that it didn't look right I usually cut it and start over. I also don't rush through making my knots. Anyone who has seen me tie one knows I take my time.

Great post.

Yeah same here , if I don't like it when I tie it for any reason ... cut and retie. 
After any bad snags or a few good fish , Retie !     I don't ever want to lose a fish to line breakage 

I never use the Palomar , ever since I was little my dad showed me the Improved Clinch Knot    and it has been very good to me, no issues with braid or mono of different lb strengths.

In the past I have always noticed line conversations always turn into a preference thing, what ever you're happy with and have had great results with seems to be the ticket.  I have tried different ones and always seem to go back to my fav.   .... I'm probably one of the few Stren Line users, my buddies up north were not big fans of it.


My 2-cents
BB