Berkley · Fishing Line
Berkley Trilene Big Game Braid
Lower concern; braided polyethylene line is not a typical PFAS application, but Berkley provides no public PFAS statement.
Berkley Trilene Big Game Braid is a braided polyethylene fishing line with no known Teflon-family coating or water-repellency treatment typical of PFAS-laden products. The brand makes no public disclosure on PFAS content or sourcing.
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Braided polyethylene fishing line
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
Why this grade
Category baseline
other is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement about PFAS in this product.
Safe base material
Made from a material with no inherent PFAS use (ceramic, mineral, or natural fiber).
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Berkley Trilene Big Game Braid is a braided polyethylene (PE) fishing line, meaning short strands of plastic polymer are woven together rather than extruded as a solid strand. Polyethylene is one of the most inert and chemically stable plastics in consumer use, with no known migration of toxic additives under typical fishing conditions (freshwater or saltwater immersion at ambient temperatures). The braided construction provides strength and flexibility without requiring chemical coatings or resin additives that might leach into water or be handled directly.
The brand's record and disclosure
Berkley (owned by Pure Fishing, a subsidiary of Rapala VMC) has no public PFAS disclosures or certifications for fishing line products. The company does not appear on major transparency databases for chemical safety in sporting goods. No recalls specific to Trilene Big Game Braid for chemical contamination have been documented by CPSC or fishing industry sources. Berkley maintains general safety pages but does not provide component-level material safety data for fishing lines.
How it compares in its category
Braided polyethylene lines like this are chemically comparable to most mass-market braided fishing lines (Shimano, Spiderwire, PowerPro). They are considered lower-hazard than monofilament lines, which may use UV stabilizers, plasticizers, or colorant additives that could leach in very small amounts under extreme heat or UV exposure. Premium or specialty lines sometimes disclose additives; Berkley does not, but polyethylene's stability makes additive leaching unlikely in normal use. This line sits in the mainstream safety profile for its category.
If you buy it
Rinse the line after saltwater use to remove salt deposits and extend lifespan; this is standard care and not a safety measure. Store spools in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to slow UV degradation, which can eventually degrade the polymer mechanically but does not create chemical hazards. Replace line annually or after visible fraying, heavy use, or discoloration; old line has no documented toxicity risk but becomes brittle and unsafe for fishing. Wash hands after extended handling if you have sensitive skin, as braided lines can shed microfibers, though ingestion or inhalation risk is negligible in sport fishing.
Beyond PFAS: other things we checked
Established hazard classes for this product type, assessed from public information. These never change the PFAS grade; a Likely flag caps the Verdict at “Buy with care.”
Polyethylene microfiber shedding
Braided lines naturally fray and shed small plastic fibers during use and storage. No documented health hazard from fishing line microfiber exposure in available literature, but fibers can enter water and are not biodegradable; this is an environmental rather than consumer toxicity concern.
UV degradation and brittle fracture
Polyethylene degrades mechanically under sunlight, becoming brittle rather than releasing chemical compounds. This creates a functional safety issue (line breaking unexpectedly) but no chemical toxicity hazard.
Colorant or UV stabilizer additives
Berkley does not disclose additives in Trilene Big Game Braid. Standard polyethylene fishing line may contain carbon black or proprietary colorants, but polyethylene's chemical stability means leaching into freshwater or saltwater under normal conditions is not established as a documented hazard.
Heavy metal contamination in pigments
No recalls or test results on record for lead, cadmium, or other heavy metals in this fishing line. Polyethylene colorants are typically organic dyes or carbon-based; regulatory exposure for fishing line colorants is minimal.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 72% confidence. It is not a lab result.
No independent PFAS lab test is on record for this exact product. A lab test could move the score in either direction.
The brand has not made a specific, verifiable PFAS-free statement, so part of this score reflects that missing disclosure rather than a confirmed material.
Formulations and coatings change between production runs. Always check the current label before buying.
Safer alternatives in Fishing Line
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⚠Risky category by default
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Seaguar
Blue Label
Fluorocarbon fishing line (monofilament)
Fluorocarbon fishing line may contain PFAS; insufficient public data to grade definitively.
⚠Risky category by default
More fishing line grades
How we score: every product runs through the same public 0–100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.