Senator Combo vs Sufix Defcon: which is safer?
Penn Senator Combo is our pick: better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.
Our pick
Penn
Senator Combo
PFAS grade
A 95/100
Overall grade
A 91/100
Verdict
Buy
Hazard flags
⚑ 1
Material
Fiberglass rod, conventional reel components
Confidence
70%
PossiblePlastic reel handle or seat degradation
Suffix
Sufix Defcon
PFAS grade
C 75/100
Overall grade
F 57/100
Verdict
Buy with care
Hazard flags
⚑ 3
Material
Fishing line, polymer/monofilament composition unclear
Confidence
25%
PossiblePolymer composition uncertainty
PossibleUV and thermal degradation
ReportedEnvironmental persistence and wildlife entanglement
Both products run through the same public rubric: materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls, plus a beyond-PFAS hazard analysis. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests. How grades work →
More fishing gear & equipment: see the full ranking