The best diabolo string
Sundia, Henrys and Deos diabolo string compared on thickness, grip, feel and price per metre, with how much to buy and how often to change it.
Updated
The best diabolo string for most players is Sundia’s 1.3 mm white string: fast, smooth, and the best value per metre. Henrys string has more grip, which some fixed-axle players prefer; Deos is a humidity-resistant polyester with a feel close to Sundia’s. None of them is “better”: it is feel, and a higher price does not mean better play.
The strings compared
| String | Thickness | Feel | Roll | Price | Per metre |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sundia white | 1.3 mm | Fast, smooth, low friction | 525 m (15 x 35 m) | 86 € | about 0.16 € |
| Sundia gradient | 1.3 mm | Same string, coloured for shows and video | 60 m | 17 € | about 0.28 € |
| Sundia grey or purple | 1.5 mm | Thicker, more grip and faster acceleration | 600 m (10 x 60 m) | 80 € | about 0.13 € |
| Henrys white, yellow, orange | braided core | More grip and friction, keeps its round shape | 10, 25, 70 m | 9, 19, 44 € | about 0.63 to 0.90 € |
| Deos | 1.3 mm | High-tenacity polyester, unaffected by humidity | 10 or 100 m | 7 or 28 € | about 0.28 to 0.70 € |
What the differences mean
- Grip vs speed. A string that grips the axle accelerates a fixed diabolo faster and holds wraps; a slick string slides through knots and slacks faster. Sundia and Deos sit at the fast end, Henrys at the grippy end. On a bearing the difference matters less.
- Thickness. 1.3 mm is the standard. 1.5 mm adds grip and is kinder to cold hands; 1.0 mm and thinner is for yoyo-style play on a Micro.
- Humidity. Nylon strings stiffen and slow in damp air; Deos polyester does not. Sundia string handles a European winter well in our experience.
- Colour. White is fastest and easiest to see on video against dark clothes; the coloured gradients are the same string.
How much to buy
An adult string is about 1.5 m, so a 10 m roll is 6 strings, a 60 m roll about 40, and the 525 m box about 350. Daily players change string every one to three weeks, so the 525 m box is a year or two of playing; a casual player is happy with 60 m.
Change the string when it goes fuzzy, stiff or dark, or when wraps start to catch. Fresh string is the cheapest upgrade in diabolo.
Bottom line
Sundia 1.3 mm white by the box for anyone who plays regularly, a 60 m roll to start, Henrys if you like a grippier string, Deos for humid climates. Sticks are covered in the best diabolo sticks.
Questions
Which diabolo string is best?
Sundia's 1.3 mm white string is what we play ourselves, fast and smooth, and the best value per metre. Henrys string has more grip and friction, which some fixed-axle players prefer. Deos is a humidity-resistant polyester with a similar feel to Sundia. It is a matter of feel, not quality.
How often should I change diabolo string?
When it goes fuzzy, stiff or discoloured, or when wraps start to catch. A daily player changes string every one to three weeks; a casual player every few months. A 60 m roll is about 40 strings.
How long is one diabolo string?
About 1.5 m from stick to stick for an adult, a little less for a child. Cut it so that with the diabolo on the ground and the sticks at your hips the string is just taut.
Does thicker string spin better?
Thicker string (1.5 mm) grips a fixed axle harder and accelerates faster, at the cost of speed on wraps. 1.3 mm is the standard; go to 1.5 mm for cold hands, gloves or a stiff new bearing.
