Berkley Braided Line Review

Berkley is one of the biggest names in fishing line and is part of Pure Fishing, the US company that also owns PENN. For deep dropping its main braid is X9, a nine-strand braid launched in 2019 and sold in bulk spools of 2,188 yards (2,000 m), enough to fill an electric reel. Its sister line X5 is a five-strand braid built for abrasion resistance around structure. Neither is metered, so most deep droppers pair them with a reel that has a line counter.

This review covers both lines, their sizes and prices, and how they compare with metered braids.

Berkley at a glance

Item	Details
Company	Berkley, a Pure Fishing brand (Columbia, SC)
Deep drop braids	X9 (nine-strand), X5 (five-strand)
Metered colors	None; single colors only
X9 strengths	6–100 lb
Largest spool	2,188 yd (2,000 m)
Website	berkley-fishing.com

X9 braid

X9 adds a ninth strand to the usual eight-strand design while keeping the same diameter, which Berkley says makes it stronger, smoother and more abrasion-resistant, with longer, quieter casts. Dealers market the bulk spool for slow pitch jigging, deep drop and offshore fishing. Colors are Flame Green, Crystal and Low-Vis Green.

Spec	Details
Construction	9 strands of 100% PE
Strengths	6, 8, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 65, 80 and 100 lb
Spool lengths	164, 328 and 2,188 yd; plus 295 yd (80 lb) and 219 yd (100 lb)
Price range	$19.99–319.99 at Pure Fishing
2,000 m bulk example	$219.99 (Johnny Jigs)
Rating	4.8 out of 5 from 50 reviews on Pure Fishing’s site

X9 bulk spool diameters

Strength	Diameter
20 lb	0.17 mm (0.007 in)
30 lb	0.20 mm (0.008 in)
40 lb	0.25 mm (0.010 in)
50 lb	0.30 mm (0.012 in)
65 lb	0.35 mm (0.014 in)
80 lb	0.40 mm (0.016 in)

X5 braid

X5 adds a fifth strand to a four-strand design. Fewer, thicker strands make it tougher against rocks, wrecks and structure, which suits bottom fishing. At launch in 2019 it sold in 8–80 lb, with a 2,188 yd bulk spool at $179.99.

Feature	X9	X5
Strands	9	5
Strengths	6–100 lb	8–80 lb (at launch)
Strong point	Smooth, strong, long casts	Abrasion resistance around structure
Bulk spool	2,188 yd	2,188 yd
Metered	No	No

Latest updates 2025–2026

• X9 and X5 remain Berkley’s main braids; both launched in 2019.
• Pure Fishing’s own store listed X9 as out of stock in October 2026, so check dealers.
• Berkley has not announced a metered braid for deep dropping.

Key features

• Nine-strand X9: round, smooth and strong for its diameter.
• Bulk spools: 2,188 yd fills most electric reels.
• Thin for its strength: 80 lb X9 is about 0.40 mm.
• Wide availability: sold at most US tackle shops.

Pros and cons

Pros	Cons
Good price for a 2,188 yd bulk spool	No metered colors, so you rely on the reel’s line counter
Strong, smooth nine-strand X9	Tops out at 100 lb
Easy to find in the US	Out of stock at Pure Fishing’s store in October 2026
Tough X5 option for structure	Fewer bulk sizes than PowerPro or Sufix

Who it’s for

Angler	Best Berkley line	Suggested strength
Deep dropper with a line-counter electric reel on a budget	X9 bulk spool	50–80 lb
Bottom fishing around wrecks and structure	X5 bulk spool	50–80 lb
Slow pitch jigging	X9	20–40 lb

Where to buy

Berkley braid is sold at most US tackle stores and online, including Pure Fishing’s store, FishUSA and Johnny Jigs, which stocks the 2,000 m X9 bulk spool.

Verdict

Berkley X9 is a strong, affordable braid for filling an electric reel, and X5 is a tougher choice around structure. The trade-off is that neither is metered, so they make most sense on a reel with a line counter. If you want to read depth off the line, look at the metered braids from PowerPro, Daiwa, YGK or Varivas.

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Specs and prices are compiled from manufacturer and dealer listings in October 2026 and can change. Spotted an error? Contact us.