Over the intervening period since the initial launch, we have carried on testing various different mono samples and have yet to find anything better than Syncro, which combined all the attributes required. However, during this testing process, we explored different colours having been asked by some of our sponsored anglers for a darker olive green.

Syncro XT Loaded was born and the anglers that tested it for ESP have been completely sold on it. Upon casting out it sinks through the surface film virtually unaided until it just hangs from the rod tips. And if a slack line approach is required it stays that way, lying tight to the bottom to the extent that you can feel it peeling up off the lake bed when winding in.

The dark olive pigment disappears against any lake bed and is actually very difficult to see when suspended off the rod tips, even in tap clear water.

Regarding 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 calibrated digital force meter):

• Nominal 10lb (0.30mm) - Possible 15lb
• Nominal 12lb (0.33mm) - Possible 17.5lb
• Nominal 15lb (0.37mm) - Possible 21lb
• Nominal 18lb (0.40mm) - Possible 26lb

Although Syncro XT Loaded is limp straight off the spool we recommend soaking it overnight so that it absorbs water and becomes even suppler as it is loaded onto the reel spool.