Berkley · Fishing Line & Fishing Tackle
Berkley Trilene Big Game, Clear, 50lb
Fishing line carries minimal PFAS risk. No brand disclosure available.
Berkley Trilene is monofilament nylon fishing line with no known PFAS coatings. Brand makes no PFAS claims, but material itself poses lower concern than treated textiles or coated products.
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Monofilament nylon fishing line
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
Why this grade
Safe base material
Made from a material with no inherent PFAS use (ceramic, mineral, or natural fiber).
Category baseline
other is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement about PFAS in this product.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Berkley Trilene Big Game is extruded monofilament nylon (typically nylon 6 or nylon 6.6), a synthetic polymer formed by heating and drawing raw nylon resin into a single continuous strand. This material is chemically inert once fully polymerized and does not leach plasticizers or other additives under normal fishing conditions (room temperature, saltwater, freshwater). The 'clear' designation indicates minimal or no colorant addition, further reducing exposure to potential pigment-based heavy metals that might appear in dyed or fluorescent variants.
The brand's record and disclosure
Berkley (owned by Pure Fishing, a subsidiary of Newell Brands) is a longstanding, mainstream fishing tackle manufacturer with no documented recalls or safety controversies related to monofilament lines. The brand does not publicly disclose material sourcing or PFAS content testing for fishing lines, which is typical across the industry; fishing line is not a regulated food-contact or consumer product requiring formal safety certification in most jurisdictions. No third-party testing or certifications specific to this product line are publicly available.
How it compares in its category
Monofilament nylon lines like this occupy the standard market baseline and carry no inherent advantage or disadvantage over other nylon competitors (Stren, Maxima, Seaguar) in terms of chemical safety. Braided or fluorocarbon alternatives present different material profiles but do not address consumer chemical hazards. This product's 50lb breaking strength and clear visibility are functional benchmarks, not safety differentiators.
If you buy it
Monofilament line is mechanically safe and does not degrade into microplastics under normal fishing use; degradation occurs over years of UV exposure and mechanical stress, not during casting or normal handling. Store spools in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight to slow photodegradation. No special care is needed; rinse with fresh water after saltwater use to extend lifespan. Replace when line becomes visibly brittle, discolored, or shows reduced strength, typically every 1-2 seasons depending on frequency of use.
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.”
Nylon polymer degradation and microplastic shedding
Over extended storage or years of outdoor UV exposure, monofilament nylon can become brittle and shed small fragments. This is a long-term durability issue rather than an acute chemical hazard, and occurs primarily after the line leaves your hands (in water or landfill), not during use or storage in your tackle box.
Photodegradation byproducts
Nylon 6/6.6 monofilament does not release established volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or hazardous monomers when degrading under sunlight. No published testing or consumer complaints document off-gassing or chemical leaching from this product category.
Dye or colorant residue (clear variant)
Clear monofilament typically contains no added colorants or only minimal optical brighteners (non-toxic). Pigmented or fluorescent fishing lines carry slightly higher theoretical risk of trace heavy metals in synthetic dyes, but no recalls or safety data exist for mainstream brands like Berkley.
Additive leaching into water
Fully polymerized nylon monofilament does not leach plasticizers, stabilizers, or antioxidants under freshwater or saltwater conditions at ambient temperatures. Manufacturing residues are negligible in commercial fishing line.
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.
More fishing line & fishing tackle 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.