Generally, the threads fell into two categories: those that were thermally bonded and braided and those that were not. Although all of the threads are nylon, the thermal bonding gives these threads some unique characteristics.
Wildfire and Fireline are both thermally bonded and braided thread. There is a noticeably rougher texture with these threads. Thermal bonding means that it won’t fray at the cut end and will be more resistant to sharp bead edges. However, any thread will succumb to sharp bead edges or an accidental knick with your scissors. (I personally like to use a pair of Slip-N-Snips since they easily fold into themselves to hide the blades.) Thermally bonded threads also generally feel thicker and more substantial as you work with them.
Both Wildfire and Fireline are available in basic colors including black and white. Wildfire has a few more color options with green, blue, and red available. I’ve found green to be the most versatile. In Fireline, the Crystal seems to be the most versatile since it is not an opaque white, but rather a semi-transparent. The recent addition of the Black Satin color, which touts a smoother surface and permanent color, has made some loyal Fireline users very happy.
The thermally bonded nature of these threads also creates a thread that lacks in stretch. This is neither a good or bad quality, it will depend on your project. It is, however, something to consider when you select a thread. This characteristic, along with its texture, make it my preference for beadweaving projects.
All the other threads I compared fall into this category of Nylon threads. As I mentioned before, all these threads I looked into are Nylon, however these threads are not thermally bonded. A plain nylon thread is smoother and feels lighter. These threads more closely resemble sewing thread than the thermally bonded. These threads have a generally lighter, more delicate feel when you are working with them. If you are a loyal Wildfire or Fireline user, you will be surprised at the delicacy of these non-thermally bonded threads.
These nylon threads have an elasticity that makes them great for projects that require a little elasticity. These threads are not to be confused with elastic or stretch cord, but the extra bounce in these threads is great for some projects. I recently spoke with a fellow beader who thought the stretch was ideal for tassels. As I used the threads, I felt that SoNo was the least elastic and KO, One-G, and Hanna were all very similar and noticeably more bouncy.
Nylon threads also come in a wider variety of colors than Wildfire or Fireline. I was able to find a much wider variety of colors in KO and One -G with almost any color available that you might need. Although available in fewer colors, the Hana thread has a beautiful selection of vibrant colors, as shown below:
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