I can use zs air for like at least a month for like 1-2 hrs a day and they play consistently throughout that time
1 Like
And string tension? What does is that going?
1 Like
I have been running a ZS Air on my St Elmo for almost a year now, played once a twice a week for a half an hour or so. It has held up phenomenally, and has a unique broken in feel to it. It hold torsion well, is not snaggy or shaggy. It’s really a great material whatever it actually is.
I did run doc pop edition on my Plasm, and that got some hardcore daily use in all kinds of environments, the string did show some wear and got very dirty, so I took it off to put in my “wash later” stash.
Overall, it’s a fantastic boutique string with a soft, slick feel, good slackability and nearly unmatched longevity.
3 Likes
Doesn’t twist up super fast like some other nylons I have tried. I have no issues with weird tension stuff later in the life cycle and do a lot of slacks and tricks where neutral tension is important. Usually I change it bc it starts to look dirty eventually like the color fades from super bright. Mine do have some fraying and visible wear but that just shows me they are broken in and I do not correlate visible wear with lifespan usually at all. The fraying is also smooth and even vs clumpy. When fraying is clumpy and uneven I don’t like that. I have some in my pile of strings to wash but haven’t washed any yet so idk how they will play after or if washing them will be worth it or ruin it. Idk I am a string snob and really like these. One thing to note is they are super duper fat but if that doesn’t bother you, then absolutely try them.
1 Like
This my “work” throw with Zipline executive class lite string, using the same string for the last 6 months and several washings… getting a little fuzzy in placrs, but its still performing like a champ…
4 Likes
No body’s ever told me strings could be washed and re-used before. Been told strings were only good for a week or so before they lose tension and aren’t playable anymore lol.
Until of course I read more about it.
Which particular strings aren’t washable though?
1 Like
they’re all cloth fabric so technically any string can be washed. the real question is how much does it benefit from it and is it worth it vs cost. bulk poly, for example, comes out to so cheap per string and it returns very little if any of the freshness to it so it isn’t worth it, at least imo. boutique nylon like zipline’s lineup gets fresh and bouncy again after a wash and they’re roughly $2 per string so you get more mileage out of the effort. i don’t personally use silk string, but it can be washed as well and does benefit from it
5 Likes
No point in washing bulk really like it just makes them play worse and doesn’t add longevity. there is def a difference between bulk and more expensive boutique strings. Nothing wrong w cheaper bulk also for sure like that is what most pros use and win with just yeah gotta change your strings more and get used to the different play experiences. i got some yoyos i play differently and will just leave bulk on them until those strings start popping threads. 
so like not even all yoyos want the same strings and idk lol string preferences are all over the place. Imo ppl gotta try the spectrum of options and decide what makes the most sense for them or just not be particular lol
3 Likes
My speculation is that washability/longevity comes down to spun fiber poly (most bulk) vs. multi continuous filament poly (trilobal).
Spun fiber combines many short fibers into a longer threads. The zillions of fiber ends work their way loose with use, weakening the string, shedding lint, making the string more fuzzy and making it more prone to grabbing itself in ways that alter performance. Washing out dirt and oils may provide some benefit but probably accelerates the fiber degradation.
Continuous filaments run the entire length of the string. Individual filaments in a string can break, but the scale of the degradation is smaller and slower. This means that the string performance is more consistent over time. These strings can be washed without reducing longevity.
The longevity-reducing properties of spun poly also allow more elasticity, softer strings and strings with more variability in other properties (within a certain window of usage). Any of these could be a priority over string works consistently over months or years.
3 Likes
i love the ease of getting a lifetime supply of consistent bulk poly for cheap and just tossing a string when its not working after a week or 2 but i started to prefer nylon in the last couple years because of how it plays for 1a stuff ( bouncy, kinda fast and whippy), much more longevity imo, and it is smoother/softer on average compared to poly. i can definitely get a year out of 1 string with nylon, but i’m only playing an average of 15-20 minutes a day. i have had alot of cuts on my fingers from various poly and cotton, even oldschool slick six or slick 8( cotton with a nylon thread back in the late 90s early 2000’s) and i’m not really experiencing that with modern nylon so far.
2 Likes
depends on what you value most. new people should lean towards any bulk string that they can consistently get, so they dont have to focus on it and can instead focus on learning basic elements. some advanced players have more of a preference towards thicker string or string that’s faster in slack/whip speed, which other brands of string may excel at. some people just want really soft, long-lasting string. again, the answer will vary with every person!
excuse the plug, but i’m making a list of a bunch of different strings and their performance/feel. if you feel like it would help you decide, take a look at it 
6 Likes
I have fallen in love with the Whiteout Alphaline, the colored versions are a step down for me.
May I ask, is the white Canopy string similar in thickness and softness, and in general a huge upgrade?
Thinking of buying it in bulk since I am regulated to ten packs in the whiteout
1 Like
Canopy rope is great!! I was sent a few as a gift and they are quite nice, I would say on par with or better than the alphaline colors. I haven’t played whiteout, however
1 Like
The other day I asked chatpgpt whether washing yoyo strings can rejuvenate them. No spoilers though… Go check yourselves!!!
I gotta day I was so hyped up about ziplines. I got my hands on a pack of orestige white. Feeling is amazing but I am sad to say I found them just 10-20% more durable than bulk poly like kotty or alphaline in terms of tension holding.
I am about to wash them for the first time though. (Despite what chatgpt says). Maybe that will prove to be helpful…
1 Like
The skyline, zs.air and executive class lite are the ones for the washing to my knowledge, that will last forever
2 Likes