It's time to reload
Spring's finally sprung and it's now time to reload your reels with some fresh (read: strong and clean) mono, and luckily for you, ESP has got a brand new (and it's even 'Terry Hearn' approved) version for you...
Pre-2011, to get ESP consultant and CARPology diarist Terry Hearn to fill his Tournos with anything but GR60 would take something very, VERY special. But the Oxford-based brand’s new line, Syncro XT, was that special and until 11 months ago, it was Terry’s main line of choice. However, for 2015 they claim they’ve got an even better version: Syncro XT Loaded…
The big questions
What was so special about the original Syncro XT then?
Tons of stuff. It ticked all the boxes regarding what’s required from a top performing carp mono: unbeatable knot strength, optimum stretch, superb abrasion resistance without being wiry and this relative suppleness makes it’s a front-runner when it comes to distance casting.
If it’s that good, how the hell have ESP made it even better?
In terms of what we’ve just listed above, they haven’t really. However, what has changed and been improved is the colour and the surface of the main line. The darker olive pigment has been combined with a slight change to the surface finish which gives the line all the classic attributes of the original but now sinks waaaaay quicker.
How quick is quick?
Put it this way, upon casting out it sinks through the surface film virtually unaided until it just hangs from the rod tips. Seriously, they’re not mucking about with this line. And thanks to that new dark olive pigment it means the line disappears against any lakebed and is actually very difficult to see when suspended off the rod tips, even in tap clear water.
Impressive, but who’s tested it and for how long?
The development started way back in 2012 but it’s been fully tested by the likes of (you may have heard of them?!): Terry Hearn, Gaz Fareham, Kev Hewitt, Nick Helleur, Martin Bowler and co. over the last eleven months.
Wowser! Credentials of the highest order then. Does it differ with regards to knot strength?
Just like the original Syncro XT, the new Loaded is underrated and the following knot strengths can be achieved using a carefully tied Five-Turn Grinner (tested on a calibrated digital force meter): Nominal 10lb (0.30mm), possible 15lb; nominal 12lb (0.33mm), possible 17.5lb; nominal 15lb (0.37mm), possible 21lb; and nominal 18lb (0.40mm), possible 26lb.
Bloody hell! Okay, I’m sold, but before I shoot off to get some, have you got any spooling up tips?
We don’t, but ESP’s Brand Manager, Dave Ellyatt does, and there's a link at the end of this piece. What we do know is, although Syncro XT Loaded is limp straight off the spool, ESP does recommend soaking it overnight so that it absorbs water and becomes even suppler as it is loaded onto the reel spool.
Oh, one other thing: what’s the damage?
All 1,000m bulk spools retail for just £19.95
Right, laters!
