Holoholo writer and fly tier Matthew would like to share his positive experience with Sufix 832. If you’re interested in trying this braid that’s hard to find locally, drop us a line and we’ll try to add more to the Store.

Matthew: Braided line (braid for short) is very popular among all fishermen, but it is especially popular among whippers using lures. Its very thin diameter allows you to pack much more line on than a Monofilament line of the same strength. For example, I am able to fit around 240 yards of 20 pound braid (Sufix 832) on my Stradic 4k, while I would have to use 8 pound mono to get the same yardage. Mono also shortens the cast significantly, while braid can cast further.

A very popular discussion is, “What brand of braid is the best and why?”. Many people have different opinions about which brand they like, but I, along with many other dedicated whippers use solely Sufix 832. Keep in mind that I have only tried three brands of braid, Powerpro, Daiwa J-braid, and Sufix 832 but with the experiences I’ve had with the other two, Sufix 832 came out on top. Powerpro is a very stiff line and has a significantly wider diameter than Sufix 832. Powerpro is not necessarily a bad braid, and some like it, however many have had problems with Powerpro snapping randomly on the cast. 

Daiwa J-braid is more similar to Sufix, in the fact that it is a more limp and smooth braid, being not anywhere near as stiff as Powerpro. However, I have had some problems with it, including wind knots and quick fraying. My first two batches of J-braid lasted around 3 months before it frayed to the point where it was unsafe to keep fishing it. A recent batch of Sufix 832 lasted me around 4 months before I deemed it unfit for fishing. Keep in mind I fish at least two times a week and whip for 3-4 hours each trip, so there is a significant amount of wear and tear on the gear.

Sufix is the thinnest in diameter of all the braids I’ve seen, even thinner than J-braid. Thinner diameter means you can fit more line in your reel. A thinner line will also always lengthen the cast, which is helpful if you need to cast as far as you can. For boat/kayak fishermen, a thinner line also means that it is easier to drop baits into the deep. Sufix claims to have better abrasion resistance than Powerpro and J-braid , which in my experience holds true. This may be an experience isolated to me but I had some issues with Powerpro slicing up my fingers with normal use, while J-braid and Sufix 832 have not caused any cuts on my fingers so far.

Price is a big factor. Sufix is a lot cheaper than some premium JDM braids that I have seen, but for a braid that is readily available in the US and performs extremely well, Sufix 832 is reasonably priced. And while I have heard great feedback about some expensive JDM braids, Sufix is more than good enough. Sufix is slightly more expensive than Powerpro and J-braid, but it is well worth it in many ways. If you are looking for a deal on Sufix, Scott brings some in and sells them for below retail prices in the Store. If you don’t see the color and pound test you want, let him know.

If you are a whipper who uses mono primarily, I highly recommend you make the switch to braid. Even though braid can be hard to use and has quite a few disadvantages, in my opinion it is well worth it.  However, if you are just beginning to learn how to fish, stick with mono until you feel you’re ready for braid.

Here is a list of Mono vs Braid pros and cons, regardless of brand:

Mono Advantages: Very affordable, good abrasion resistance, easy to use, simple tangles can usually be fixed without cutting line

Braid advantages: Can cast much further than mono, greatly increased line capacity

Braid disadvantages: Expensive, hard to untangle any knots (simple or not), wind knots occur in certain brands, decreased abrasion resistance, can cut through skin if not careful

Mono disadvantages: Can’t cast as far as braid, wide diameter restricts capacity

Overall, it is all preference which brand of braid you choose, and all brands will work, but some will work better than others. For a fisherman that prefers good casting distance, more line capacity, top tier abrasion resistance (in terms of braid, mono always has better abrasion resistance), Sufix 832 is my recommendation, with J-braid coming in second place, followed by Powerpro in third place. However, this is only my opinion and analysis. There are many others that swear by the other two braid brands, although a great number of braid users in Hawaii use Sufix.

Thanks for reading this review of the different brands of braid that I have tried, and good luck fishing??