Although the overall rating for this product is high, I'm noticing that the "top reviews" seem to be decidedly negative. As someone who only started using braided line recently, I think I know why some of those people complain about the product. Because mono is so much thicker, many people grow up learning that you only use as much test strength as you absolutely need. But I think that approach is suboptimal when it comes to braided line. The first SpiderWire I purchased was 10-lb test. Honestly, it was not a great experience. 10-lb SpiderWire feels almost "wispy" when compared to mono or fluoro. On a practical level, this made it very hard for me to tie knots with it. The line doesn't have much "heft" to it (which could be seen as a major factor in its favor), but that insubstantial feel made it extremely difficult to manipulate the narrow line in my meaty hands. Even worse, I had numerous experiences, in my first couple fishing outings, of the line (and my lure) breaking right off and flying into the river. Initially, I didn't quite understand what was happening, but now I'm nearly certain, if you're using one of the very-light strengths (e.g., 10-lb test), that it does not hold up very well to SIDE abrasion. In other words, if you're throwing something with treble hooks on it, there's a good chance that those hooks bump up against your line - and quite quickly, sever it. If you're fishing some place that has hazardous stuff under the surface (especially, oyster shells), it can chew up the braid quickly. You can imagine how disconcerting that can be when you launch a $10 rattle trap into the water. The wispy nature of the line also made it more susceptible to loops and knots developing on the spool. Most of these issues went away when I went to 50-lb test. You might think that 50-lb test is ridiculous for your "normal" fishing. And maybe it is - if you're using mono or fluoro. But the braid is generally thinner, so you can "get away with" using heavier tests. Maybe 50-lb is overkill. I've read of a lotta guys using 20/30-lb braid. I just enjoy the 50-lb because I can still fit a ton of it on my reel and it's sufficient to haul in monsters - or to uproot trees if your line gets stuck. The heavier test is also sooooo much easier to manipulate when tying lures. When I'm casting for distance, even the 50-lb can still get looped and knotted if I'm not careful. You can't let it hang up there in the wind. You also need to avoid "helicoptering" your line if you're casting something like a drop shot or a Carolina rig. I suppose that's true of any type of line. But it's especially true with braid. Braid has no "memory" (which is a huge PLUS), but that lack of memory also means that it gives little resistance (torque) and twisting forces. On a practical level, this means that, if you repeatedly helicopter your rig as your casting out, that constant twisting will eventually manifest itself in line loops/knots. Since I switched to the heavier test, I've had no more occurrences of lures simply breaking off as I cast them. As other have noted, braid is typically dyed. You'll notice this if you spool a large volume of it through your hands, as the dye will eventually rub off on you. I suppose that's not really a great thing. And I've read where others say that the line goes white/pale if you use it for a long time. I tend to change my line more often than most, so maybe that's why this hasn't been a concern of mine. One more note: Braid isn't nearly as "slippery" as mono or fluoro. This means that, when you're tying knots, they have a tendency to cinch up before you get them fully tightened. Initially, I really struggled with this. I'd wrap one end of the line around pliers, wrap the other end around another pair of pliers, and then pull with extreme force just to get the knot snug against the tackle. But the solution to this issue is so simple that I feel silly about how long it took me to realize it. All you need to do is spray a little water on the knot (or, if you're trying something on-the-fly onshore, just put the nascent knot in your mouth for a few second and soak it with your own saliva). That little bit of moisture is all you need to allow the knot to clinch tightly with minimal pulling. Now that I've gotten accustomed to braid, I don't really have any desire to use anything else. It feels insanely strong. I can pack much more of it on my reel. I don't have to worry about what might happen if I manage to hook a fish that's "too big". I strongly prefer it to other options.
