PowerPro Super Slick V2 vs. PowerPro Original [Casting & Strength Comparison]
- By: Luke Simonds
- on
Does more expensive always mean better performance?
Maybe, maybe not…
At Salt Strong, one of our goals is to help you get the best equipment for your money.
PowerPro recently came out with Super Slick 8 V2, an 8-strand braid that is supposed to be the “smoothest, toughest, and longest casting PowerPro yet.”
We’ve been due for a new line experiment, so I figured I’d test the new 8-strand vs. the original 4-strand braid.
8-strand braid has a smoother exterior than the 4-strand braid and is supposed to be stronger, so I assumed the results of this test would be a no-brainer…
However, I was shocked once I started performing these tests!
Check out the results in the videos below.
Note: We do not accept sponsorships from any tackle companies so that we can always give you unbiased tackle recommendations based on true performance of the products (vs. having to tout a company’s products).
PowerPro Super Slick vs. PowerPro Original: Casting Distance [VIDEO]
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Even though the new Super Slick is supposed to cast farther, it didn’t!
Through both rounds of testing, PowerPro Original cast about seven feet farther, which is about 5%.
Here are the results:
Round 1 average casting distance:
PowerPro Original: 139 ft
PowerPro Super Slick 8 V2: 132 ft
Round 2 average casting distance:
PowerPro Original: 137 ft
PowerPro Super Slick 8 V2: 130 ft
And here’s how I constructed the experiment to get the most accurate results possible:
I had two sets of the same exact rod and reel rigged with each version of PowerPro tied to an identical casting weight.
The lines were the same strength and diameter, and, to be even more precise, I switched spools and did a second round of testing just to make sure there wasn’t some strange difference between the rods or reels (even though they were the same model).
So now that we know that PowerPro Original casts farther than Super Slick 8 V2, let’s look into how they compare in strength…
PowerPro Super Slick vs. PowerPro Original: Knot Strength [VIDEO]
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Here’s how to tie the knots in this video:
Super Slick 8 V2 is stronger than Original, but how much stronger it is depends on the knot.
For instance, the FG knot is designed to take tension off of the braid and doesn’t have any hard turns, so there was just a 4% difference in the breaking strength between these two lines.
On the other hand, the uni knot, which does have hard turns, had a much bigger difference in breaking strength at around 20%.
Here are the results of this test:
Uni Knot:
PowerPro Super Slick 8 V2
Round 1: 20.39 lbs.
Round 2: 20.92 lbs.
PowerPro Original
Round 1: 16.99 lbs.
Round 2: 17.52 lbs.
FG Knot:
PowerPro Super Slick 8 V2
Round 1: 22.58 lbs.
PowerPro Original
Round 1: 21.72 lbs.
Conclusion
So far, PowerPro original casts farther, but PowerPro Super Slick 8 V2 is stronger.
I’ll keep using these to see how they perform over time with more use, and I’ll also be doing one final experiment to test how their abrasion resistance compares.
You can get PowerPro original from our shop here.
Have any questions about these two braided lines?
Have you used the new PowerPro?
Let me know in the comments below!
And if you know someone who’s thinking about getting new PowerPro line, please TAG or SHARE this with them!
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Great test
Hello Salty Friends! If I can add my 2 cents worth!
I’ve used both Slick8 V2 and the original PowerPro pretty extensively in both 20lb and 30lb. I discontinued using all slick lines, I’ve used a couple other brands as well. Here’s what I personally found.
The Slick8 actually casts much shorter than the 4 stand original. It’s much more affected by cross and head winds and can cause more dreaded wind knotting than the original 4 strand version. When casting, I could hear and sometimes feel more line to rod slap. I felt this was due to the line being heavier than the original 4 strand. The buoyancy of the coated line is another distinction I really don’t care for, it tends to be more buoyant making it more controlled by water movement from both wind and tide currents. In my experience both lines are fantastic against abrasion and among the strongest I’ve ever used muscling large fish around structure, even when you can feel the line against structure and think the battle is over. More times than not, the line pulls through!! Amazing stuff, that applies to both versions. When it comes to knot strength, I’ve never had either version fail, however I do prefer the original here too. I like the feel when you cinch down knots with the original, you can feel the knot cinch into place firmly compared to where the coated Slick8 feels more like a mono to mono knot. Again, neither have failed, I just like the assurance I get feeling the knot cinch into place firmly. It’s just my preference! A little more about the wieght of the line, I can feel a distinct difference in performance. The original 4 strand flows off the reel nicely, the Slick8 does too, but here’s what I found. The Slick8 tends to sink deeper into the spinning reel while fighting a large fish. When you get that epic battle with the original 4 strand, it may take one or two long casts to get that packed top layer to flow nicely off the reel again. With the slick8, I always found myself casting several times and finally pulling the line back out by hand before I got that same smooth feel while casting. I always felt it was due to the coating and the way it would really sink into the spool and be locked in by the coating. Hope this helps, just my humble opinion based on my experience with both styles. Either line you choose, there’s no going wrong!! ~Tight Lines~
Thanks for sharing your findings! Have you tried the J-Braid 8 Grand line yet? It’s an 8 strand braid that doesn’t have the pesky outer coating. Best of all, it has proven to be noticeably stronger than 4 strand PowerPro while having very similar casting distance on day 1 as well as after a few months of use based on the testing I’ve done on those 2 lines so far.
What about abrasion resistance?
Another excellent comparative, Luke. Annd enjoyed the video, too.
I have wondered with these lines having coatings what happens when you remove those coatings from the line before tying knots. I mean like with a fingernail, not sandpaper or chemically. Also, if not removed then if after some time fishing those coatings wear off then how would that affect the knots. I would think from fishing and setting hooks that that in itself is a form of abrasion that would eventually affect the knots. Lastly, I don’t know why no one has added a fine grain sandpaper to the eye of their rod to see how many casts before fail or weakened to the point that the line strength is below 50%.
Hey Luke. I was wondering, since you are casting on a dry beach, are your test lines dry or wet? I believe if the lines are wet, they will perform differently. Since we cast in water, the lines should wet when testing as well.
Bela from PA
I do these casting contests on beaches with a curve and an offshore wind so that I can make sure the line falls into the water on every cast while landing just barely on land. Plus, I do 3 casts out into the water with a slow retrieve before the test starts to make sure the lines are wet.
Any update on the abrasion test or feedback after using the lines for awhile? Curious to see the results since the main benefit of braid for me, is the long life. I have an ocean, delta, and mountain lakes all within a couple hour drive, along with a wife and daughter that occasionally like to fish. Even trying to keep things simple, I still end up with more spooled reels than I want. Braid saves me time, hassle, and hopefully money by not having to change out spools of mono every year. Makes “going fishing” much simpler if all I have to do is grab a rod and go. On a separate note, I’m under the impression flouro doesn’t degrade while stored indoors like mono. I like to tie up rigs and leaders at home and sometimes they sit for a bit. Any input is appreciated, thank you.
I had an issue come up on this test because a rod I was using had a sharp edge which compromised the lines. But so far, the other 8 strand lines seem to get worse faster and that seemed to have been the case here too… I’ll just need to redo it before I can say for sure.
As for the degradation of lines that sit, I haven’t yet done any testing on that so I’ll add it to the list of tests to perform.
Luke, I might suggest a reason why the slick lines don’t cast quite as far. MAYBE.
The slick lines would be in more or less continuous contact with the rod guides. The line might be slick, but that continuous contact may have a little more friction than just the rougher high spots of the non-slick lines. From a microscopic view, the only points of contact of the rougher line would be of a short interval while the smooth line would be longer, more or less continuous contact. Though the line would be jumping around during a cast, it would still be in longer contact with the guides.
I think it was Scientific Anglers that released a textured fly line a few years ago that was supposed to go through the guiles faster for the same reason.
Thanks for sharing the helpful comment Bill! That’ll be something I make sure to keep in mind in future line tests.
Considering the super8slick v2 lost in casting distance and won in strength test I think it is thicker. If you find an optical device for checking the real size of a braid then you can take into account one more factor, and the competition will be even fairer.
Regards
Leo
P.S. I would check the weight of the “lure” with electronic scales. A small difference in weight can be a reason for a farther cast.
Thanks for making time to leave the helpful comment Leo! I agree that any difference in the weight can throw off the results. So my line tests going forward will use the same weight (and rod) to keep the variables minimized.
Luke, great job testing the lines!
Casting distance is an critical factor when choosing a braided line, but another is sensitivity when bottom jigging in deeper water or heavy current. Unfortunately I can’t think of an objective way to test or prove Brand A is X% more sensitive while using the same rod, reel, and jig