Berkley's Unique, Nine Carrier Braid

Total Score: 7.86 - GOOD

Introduction: Most braided lines today come with either four (4) or eight (8) carriers. Meaning the line is made up of smaller threads woven together to create the final product. One recently reviewed line, Finatic's Pro Series Braid, featured six (6) carriers and on a recent quest to discover new braids to fish, I came across a product touting nine (9). Naturally, I had to acquire some to check out. Here's our take on Berkley Fishing's X9 braid.

Background:

Introducing Berkley's X9 Braid

Impressions: Curious about the line's actual diameter, I took the micrometer to five different spots on both the 20 and 50 pound test. Where the 50lb test is specified at 0.30mm in diameter it actually measures out at 0.333mm. On the other hand, the 20lb test is specified at 0.17mm and measures at 0.150mm. Not that it's very precise, but between the fingers the diameters feel about right for their specified strengths. As a point of comparison, our historical average for braided line rated between 50 to 55 pounds in strength is 0.319mm (we don't yet have enough samples of 20lb to calculate an average). In both cases, the X9 has a nice, smooth texture aligning nicely with expectations for a line that has more than 8 carriers.

The 50lb test is specified at 0.30mm in diameter and actually measures out at 0.333mm

Real World Tests: While I did acquire Berkley's X9 braid in strengths suitable for both my casting and spinning equipment needs, I only really managed to fish the line on spinning gear. For these duties, I spooled the 20lb test in Flame Green onto my Abu Garcia RevoX spinning reel paired with my Phenix Maxim MAXS-610L. I also tied a short leader of 6lb Sufix Advance Fluorocarbon to help disguise my line from line shy fish.

While I did acquire Berkley's X9 braid in strengths suitable for both my casting and spinning equipment needs, I only really managed to fish the line on spinning gear

Casting: The line has what feels like a very subtle coating that gives it a little body without making it too stiff. It also has what feels like a very round profile when you run it through your fingers. 8 carrier lines traditionally handle better than 4 carrier, so I had high expectations for a line touting 9.

Overall Berkley X9 has nice handling characteristics and comes off the spool very easily. It is trouble free through the guides and displays little to no memory on slack line (few braided lines do).

The 20lb test is specified at 0.17mm and measures at 0.150mm

Abrasion: Braided lines with a smooth finish hold up well against hard surfaces. Those with a rougher texture are better around soft vegetation where that rough texture can serve to cut through weeds. That's partially why 4 strand braids are still around - they have rougher textures and are good at slicing through vegetation if your bait or line gets caught. Berkley's X9 definitely falls on the side of a smooth braid.

Berkley's 9 carriers together with the tight weave the company uses to complete the line holds up well against rocks and I assume will perform just as well against wooden obstacles too, but it's better in more open water environments than around weeds.

Berkley's X9 braid has a very smooth finish

Noise: Another benefit of that smooth outside texture is the low level of noise the line creates when going through your guides both on a cast and retrieve. This is especially nice on spinning gear where your line is more chaotic coming off the spool and during finesse presentations where your retrieve is much slower requiring a good deal of concentration. In these situations lines that lack stealth just serve to annoy me to the point I'll put a combo down in favor of something else. I had no such urges while fishing this combo with Berkley's X9 spooled on my reel.

Intentionally fraying the line for a look at the fibers

Fresh off the spool, X9 is very limp

Ratings:

Pluses and Minuses:

I really appreciate the thinking and effort that went behind development of this line