Braided Ethernet Cable: The Ultimate Guide to It

FACTS CHECKED BY  Jose George​

When buying ethernet cables, it is common for you to hear the term braided or non-braided cables, which may confuse you.

Therefore, the article below will further discuss the braided ethernet cable to help you determine if they’re the right choice.

Table of Contents

What are the Braided Ethernet Cables?

You can describe Braided Ethernet cables as ordinary ethernet cables with protective materials such as nylon, PET, and Polyester, which enhance flexibility, durability, heat resistance, Electromagnetic radiation shielding, and other important requirements.

Compared to the PVC and rubber jackets used in ethernet cables, braided cables are far more flexible and stronger. Braided cables are more resistant to damage caused by corners and wrapping around edges,  some of which could tear an ordinary rubber or PVC cable.

If you’re a live streamer gamer or use your HDMI cable for heavy tasks, getting anything short from braided ethernet cables wastes your money.

Materials Used in Braided Ethernet Cables

The following are some of the main materials to make braided ethernet cables.

  • Nylon

It is the most common type in the making of braided cables. As a result, you can easily find them in online shops and other electrical stores. Its durable material, lightweight design, and flexibility make it a popular choice in today’s industry. 

  • Polyester

According to the stats, it is the second most used material after nylon. Some of the reasons for its use are its flexibility and corrosion-resistant features, which means polyester can cope with high temperatures.

  • PET (Polyethylene terephthalate)

If you are working with ethernet cables in sensitive areas subject to high temperatures, then the PET cables will be your best bet. They are heat resistant, and the material is flexible and solid. 

  • PPS

PPS is a relatively ideal material for braided cables used in high-temperature situations, such as in industries and other major manufacturing sectors. Users can also have it added on as a braided sleeve.

  • Nomex

Nomex is a lightweight material that has thermal stability. It is typically in application close to chemicals and various abrasions. Another thing is that there are minimal direct-use instances for these cables, but they can still get braided as a sleeve. 

Despite numerous other materials used for various purposes regarding ethernet cables, you can still opt for custom-made orders for your company or environment. 

Advantages of Braided Ethernet Cables

Below are some of the primary benefits of using braided ethernet cables:

Durability

Braided ethernet cables have a high tolerance level since they are from materials such as nylon and polyester. Meaning that they can last much longer and assist you in tricky situations.

Flexibility

Another strong point of braided cables is their flexibility since materials such as PET, polyester, and nylon make them. These materials help prevent your cable from stretching unnecessarily.

External EMI Protection

Braided ethernet cables provide users with additional electromagnetic protection from external factors. Although a standard ethernet cable can withstand an outside electromagnetic field, braided cables provide extra protection. 

The additional layers of protection also help to promote more stable connections.

Premium Looks

Braided cables have external features that are pleasing to the eyes. Even though that’s a minor element, it has helped boost its popularity.

Other benefits include heat and chemical resistance to provide the user with a better experience.

Normal Rubber vs. Braided Ethernet Cables: Which One You Should Buy?

Your choice of ethernet cable should be entirely dependent on your intended use. If you are an ordinary user who doesn’t plan on exposing the cables to harsh environments and constant use, then you can buy the normal Ethernet cables.

However, if you are a massive user who plans on frequently streaming videos and playing games, it’s best to go with the braided ethernet cable. With the braided cables, you get a long-lasting cable that will save you money.

Normal Rubber Ethernet Cable

Caption: Normal Rubber Ethernet Cable

Top Braided Ethernet Cables Choices

Below is a list of some of the best-braided ethernet cables.

AmazonBasics RJ45 Cat-7

The cable has the following features:

  • Comes with a  standard CAT 7
  • The plug has a snagless design
  • The contacts are gold plated
  • It has speeds that allow up to 10 gigabits per second.
  • It has a bandwidth of 600 MHz
  • It has protected twisted pairs
  • It has a nylon braid 
  • Has different size options of 3 feet to 50 feet

Ugreen Cat 8 Braided Ethernet Cable

The cable provides the following features:

  • Has a standard CAT 8
  • Comes with protected twisted pairs
  • It has a cotton braid
  • Allows for transmission speeds of 40 Gbps transmission, which is ideal for gaming
  • It has a bandwidth of 200 MHz
  • It is PoE Supported
  • Has various size options of 6 feet to 65 feet
  • It costs between $7 – $33

CableGeeker Cat 7 Braided Ethernet Cable

With such a cable, you get the following features:

  • Has a standard CAT 7
  • Has a transmission speed of 10 gigabits per second
  • Comes with 600 Mhz bandwidth
  • It has a nylon braid
  • Comes with protected twisted pairs
  • It’s a Flat cable, which makes it ideal for installing in tight spaces and under the carpet
  • The contacts are gold plated
  • The cable is ideal for gaming

DanYee’s CAT 7 Ethernet cable

The cable offers the following features:

  • Has a standard CAT 7
  • Has a transmission speed of 10 gigabits per second
  • The contacts are gold plated
  • Comes with 600 Mhz bandwidth
  • Available in lengths between 1.6 feet to 100 feet
  • It has a nylon braid
  • It’s a semi-flat cable, which makes it ideal for mounting under rugs and along baseboards.

Conclusion

There you have it. All there is to know about braided ethernet cable to help you make a more informed decision when deciding on the ethernet cable to buy. Feel free to check out Cloom Tech for all your ethernet cable needs.