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Almost every line commonly used for carp fishing has an under-rated breaking strain indicated on the spool or box. With a good knot, most line will always break at a higher strain. With no international guidelines for indicating breaking strain or diameter, manufacturers under-rate lines to different degrees. A line labelled as 12lb from one Company may consistently break around 20lb; a line labelled as 12lb from a different Company may regularly break at just 14lb. To give a better idea of the specifications of lines we sell we have tested breaking strains and diameters ourselves. We took line from different points on the spool and measured breaking strains five times using a Salter tension and compression tester, and diameters using a high quality digital caliper. Breakage tests were conducted with five turn grinner knots and a knotless knot to mimic what the average angler uses. Braid diameters shown below are as accurate as possible, but unlike nylon lines some braids do not have round profiles. Each spool of line was tested brand new, but we accept that performance of all lines varies with age and different batches of lines supplied to shops may show slight differences in performance. However we hope the chart will provide useful general guidance. |
Stated
Strain
|
Average Strain
|
Stated
Diameter
|
Measured Diameter
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NYLON
|
|
|
|
|
Fox
Soft Steel
|
8lb
|
11.88lb
|
0.27mm
|
0.27mm
|
|
10lb
|
14.88lb
|
0.30mm
|
0.30mm
|
|
12lb
|
17.88lb
|
0.34mm
|
0.34mm
|
|
15lb
|
22.63lb
|
0.39mm
|
0.39mm
|
Shimano Catana
|
8lb
|
14.13lb
|
0.28mm
|
0.28mm
|
|
10lb
|
16lb
|
0.30mm
|
0.30mm
|
|
12lb
|
18.88lb
|
0.33mm
|
0.33mm
|
|
15lb
|
20.5lb
|
0.35mm
|
0.35mm
|
Nash
Bullet XT
|
10lb
|
13.63lb
|
0.29mm
|
0.30mm
|
|
12lb
|
18.75lb
|
0.35mm
|
0.35mm
|
|
15lb
|
24.5lb
|
0.38mm
|
0.40mm
|
|
18lb
|
31.5lb
|
0.43mm
|
0.45mm
|
Sufix Synergy
|
10lb
|
12.38lb
|
0.28mm
|
0.28mm
|
|
12lb
|
12.75lb
|
0.30mm
|
0.30mm
|
|
15lb
|
18.25lb
|
0.35mm
|
0.34mm
|
|
20lb
|
25.63lb
|
0.40mm
|
0.41mm
|
Daiwa
Sensor Brown
|
6lb
|
8.5lb
|
0.235mm
|
0.22mm
|
|
8lb
|
10.75lb
|
0.26mm
|
0.25mm
|
|
10lb
|
14.63lb
|
0.31mm
|
0.30mm
|
|
12lb
|
16.5lb
|
0.33mm
|
0.32mm
|
|
15lb
|
17.63lb
|
0.37mm
|
0.36mm
|
Daiwa
Sensor Clear
|
8lb
|
10.12lb
|
0.26mm
|
0.25mm
|
|
10lb
|
15.87lb
|
0.31mm
|
0.30mm
|
|
12lb
|
16.75lb
|
0.33mm
|
0.32mm
|
|
15lb
|
21.37lb
|
0.37mm
|
0.35mm
|
ESP
Carp Mono
|
8lb
|
13.63lb
|
0.30mm
|
0.29mm
|
|
10lb
|
16lb
|
0.32mm
|
0.32mm
|
|
12lb
|
17lb
|
0.35mm
|
0.34mm
|
|
15lb
|
22.13lb
|
0.37mm
|
0.36mm
|
|
18lb
|
26.13lb
|
0.40mm
|
0.41mm
|
|
10lb
|
14.15lb
|
0.30mm
|
0.30mm
|
|
12lb
|
17.5lb
|
0.35mm
|
0.34mm
|
|
15lb
|
21.25lb
|
0.40mm
|
0.40mm
|
|
10lb
|
14lb
|
0.30mm
|
0.30mm
|
|
12lb
|
17.25lb
|
0.35mm
|
0.33mm
|
|
15lb
|
20.75lb
|
0.40mm
|
0.39mm
|
Kryston-ite
|
8lb
|
8.62lb
|
0.25mm
|
0.24mm
|
|
10lb
|
13.62lb
|
0.29mm
|
0.28mm
|
|
12lb
|
13.75lb
|
0.31mm
|
0.30mm
|
|
15lb
|
16.12lb
|
0.36mm
|
0.35mm
|
|
18lb
|
22.5lb
|
0.41mm
|
0.40mm
|
TFG Gunsmoke Carp
|
6lb
|
7.5lb
|
0.245mm
|
0.24mm
|
|
8lb
|
10.87lb
|
0.275mm
|
0.27mm
|
|
10lb
|
14.5lb
|
0.303mm
|
0.29mm
|
|
12lb
|
17.5lb
|
0.355mm
|
0.345mm
|
|
15lb
|
22.62lb
|
0.399mm
|
0.40mm
|
Big
Game Clear
|
14.8lb
|
13.38lb
|
0.31mm
|
0.29mm
|
|
18.3lb
|
17.75lb
|
0.36mm
|
0.34mm
|
|
22.8lb
|
22.38lb
|
0.38mm
|
0.38mm
|
Big
Game Green
|
14.8lb
|
13.88lb
|
0.31mm
|
0.30mm
|
|
18.3lb
|
15.75lb
|
0.36mm
|
0.34mm
|
|
22.8lb
|
20.75lb
|
0.38mm
|
0.38mm
|
Big
Game (Carp) Brown
|
14.8lb
|
13.63lb
|
0.31mm
|
0.29mm
|
|
18.3lb
|
17.63lb
|
0.36mm
|
0.34mm
|
|
22.8lb
|
21.5lb
|
0.38mm
|
0.38mm
|
GL
Pro Gold
|
6lb
|
8.38lb
|
0.255mm
|
0.24mm
|
|
8lb
|
11.38lb
|
0.28mm
|
0.27mm
|
|
10lb
|
11.88lb
|
0.305mm
|
0.29mm
|
|
12lb
|
17.5lb
|
0.355mm
|
0.35mm
|
|
15lb
|
22lb
|
0.38mm
|
0.38mm
|
GL
Pro Clear
|
10lb
|
12.13lb
|
0.26mm
|
0.26mm
|
|
12lb
|
14.5lb
|
0.29mm
|
0.29mm
|
|
16lb
|
19.75lb
|
0.34mm
|
0.34mm
|
|
20lb
|
24.75lb
|
0.40mm
|
0.38mm
|
Fox
Warrior Mono
|
10lb
|
14.88lb
|
0.33mm
|
0.33mm
|
|
12lb
|
16.13lb
|
0.35mm
|
0.35mm
|
|
15lb
|
20.5lb
|
0.38mm
|
0.38mm
|
Fox
Soft Steel Camo
|
10lb
|
13.25lb
|
0.30mm
|
0.29mm
|
|
12lb
|
17.25lb
|
0.34mm
|
0.34mm
|
|
15lb
|
22.63lb
|
0.39mm
|
0.37mm
|
GL
TXS Mono
|
10lb
|
10.5lb
|
0.32mm
|
0.31mm
|
|
12lb
|
13.88lb
|
0.35mm
|
0.35mm
|
|
15lb
|
13.63lb
|
0.37mm
|
0.37mm
|
Drennan Double Strength
|
8lb
|
8lb
|
0.22mm
|
0.22mm
|
|
10lb
|
9.63lb
|
0.235mm
|
0.24mm
|
|
12lb
|
10lb
|
0.26mm
|
0.27mm
|
|
15lb
|
13.37lb
|
0.285mm
|
0.29mm
|
Sufix Magic Touch
|
8lb
|
12.25lb
|
0.25mm
|
0.28mm
|
|
10lb
|
14lb
|
0.28mm
|
0.29mm
|
|
12lb
|
16.88lb
|
0.30mm
|
0.35mm
|
|
15lb
|
21.75lb
|
0.35mm
|
0.40mm
|
Sufix Memory Free Black
|
15lb
|
15.88lb
|
Unstated
|
0.38mm
|
|
20lb
|
23.75lb
|
Unstated
|
0.45mm
|
|
30lb
|
33lb
|
Unstated
|
0.56mm
|
Sufix Memory Free Clear
|
15lb
|
16.75lb
|
Unstated
|
0.37mm
|
|
20lb
|
21lb
|
Unstated
|
0.45mm
|
|
30lb
|
34.75lb
|
Unstated
|
0.55mm
|
Korda XTough
|
20lb
|
24.88lb
|
Unstated
|
0.47mm
|
|
30lb
|
28.75lb
|
Unstated
|
0.55mm
|
ESP
Stiff Rig
|
15lb
|
24.75lb
|
0.43mm
|
0.42mm
|
|
20lb
|
29.5lb
|
0.47mm
|
0.45mm
|
|
25lb
|
39.25lb
|
0.53mm
|
0.52mm
|
FLUOROCARBON
|
|
|
|
|
Korda IQ
|
10lb
|
11.88lb
|
Unstated
|
0.29mm
|
|
15lb
|
14.25lb
|
Unstated
|
0.33mm
|
|
20lb
|
18.75lb
|
Unstated
|
0.47mm
|
|
25lb
|
21.38lb
|
Unstated
|
0.44mm
|
Grand
Max Riverge
|
12.5lb
|
10lb
|
0.24mm
|
0.25mm
|
|
14.5lb
|
11.88lb
|
0.26mm
|
0.28mm
|
|
16.5lb
|
13lb
|
0.285mm
|
0.30mm
|
|
18lb
|
15.13lb
|
0.33mm
|
0.33mm
|
|
22lb
|
21lb
|
0.36mm
|
0.38mm
|
ESP
Ghost
|
10lb
|
10.75lb
|
0.33mm
|
0.32mm
|
|
12lb
|
12lb
|
0.35mm
|
0.34mm
|
|
15lb
|
16.13lb
|
0.41mm
|
0.42mm
|
|
18lb
|
16.5lb
|
0.45mm
|
0.44mm
|
CRU
|
10lb
|
12.5lb
|
Unstated
|
0.28mm
|
|
12lb
|
12.25lb
|
Unstated
|
0.29mm
|
|
15lb
|
16.25lb
|
Unstated
|
0.33mm
|
CRU
|
12lb
|
11.75lb
|
Unstated
|
0.32mm
|
|
16lb
|
14lb
|
Unstated
|
0.35mm
|
Riverge Reel-Soft
|
16lb
|
11.75lb
|
0.33mm
|
0.32mm
|
|
20lb
|
14.12lb
|
0.37mm
|
0.35mm
|
BRAID
|
|
|
|
|
|
10lb
|
17.75lb
|
Unstated
|
0.22mm
|
|
14lb
|
21.38lb
|
Unstated
|
0.28mm
|
|
20lb
|
26.38lb
|
Unstated
|
0.34mm
|
|
30lb
|
38.13lb
|
Unstated
|
0.43mm
|
Whiplash
Pro Braid
|
20lb
|
15.75lb
|
0.20mm
|
0.18mm
|
|
30lb
|
21.75lb
|
0.25mm
|
0.20mm
|
Nash
Bullet Braid
|
15lb
|
18.88lb
|
Unstated
|
0.34mm
|
|
20lb
|
20.75lb
|
Unstated
|
0.36mm
|
|
25lb
|
23lb
|
Unstated
|
0.40mm
|
Gravitron Braid
|
15lb
|
14.25lb
|
Unstated
|
0.28mm
|
|
25lb
|
21.88lb
|
Unstated
|
0.32mm
|
Explorer
Braid
|
20lb
|
18.63lb
|
Unstated
|
0.38mm
|
|
22lb
|
19.88lb
|
Unstated
|
0.30mm
|
|
34lb
|
27.25lb
|
Unstated
|
0.39mm
|
TFG
Grunt Braid
|
20lb
|
16lb
|
0.20mm
|
0.21mm
|
|
30lb
|
19.75lb
|
0.28mm
|
0.28mm
|
TFG
Banana Braid
|
30lb
|
24lb
|
0.28mm
|
0.24mm
|
|
8lb
|
10.5lb
|
0.13mm
|
0.17mm
|
XDS
Braid
|
17lb
|
20.5lb
|
0.19mm
|
0.22mm
|
|
25lb
|
18.13lb
|
0.23mm
|
0.27mm
|