85/ 100
B
OverallC77/100
Berkley Trilene Big Game Mono Leader Coil

Berkley · Fishing Line & Fishing Tackle

Berkley Trilene Big Game Mono Leader Coil

B · Low PFAS

Fishing monofilament lower concern; nylon typically PFAS-free unless coated.

Verdict: BuyMonofilament nylon leader shows no established hazards beyond normal use; PFAS status unclear but typical nylon formulations are PFAS-free.

Berkley Trilene Big Game is standard monofilament nylon fishing line. No Teflon-family coating coatings or water-repellent treatments typical for this product category, though Berkley discloses nothing about PFAS.

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Material

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).

Helps the grade

Category baseline

other is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.

Hurts the grade

No PFAS disclosure

No public statement about PFAS in this product.

Hurts the grade

The full breakdown

What it's made of and why it matters

Berkley Trilene Big Game Mono is extruded nylon monofilament, a single-strand polymer without coating or layering. Nylon as a base resin is chemically stable and does not leach monomers into water under normal conditions. The material is not heated during use and presents minimal chemical release risk in its intended application as a fishing leader.

The brand's record and disclosure

Berkley (owned by Pure Fishing) does not publicly disclose PFAS testing or formulation details for monofilament products. The brand has no documented recalls or safety controversies specific to monofilament lines. No independent testing of this product line for heavy metals, colorants, or additives appears on public record.

How it compares in its category

Monofilament leaders are lower-risk fishing tackle compared to fluorocarbon lines (which sometimes contain or are coated with fluorinated compounds) or braided lines with unknown resin binders. Nylon monofilament is a conventional, mature material class with no category-wide safety scandals. Performance differences among brands relate to strength and visibility, not safety.

If you buy it

Inspect the line regularly for UV degradation and brittleness, particularly if stored in direct sunlight; replace if fraying or strength loss is visible. Nylon is safe for fresh and saltwater use without special handling. Dispose of spent line responsibly in trash (not water); monofilament does not biodegrade and poses entanglement risk to wildlife.

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.”

Possible

PFAS in nylon resin or coatings

Nylon monofilament is typically PFAS-free, but fluorinated additives for water repellency or slip are not ruled out. Berkley provides no formulation disclosure; status remains unverified.

None known

Heavy metal contaminants in pigment or stabilizers

No public testing or recalls document lead, cadmium, or antimony in monofilament. Risk is low for a simple polymer resin with minimal additives.

None known

Leaching into water during use

Nylon monofilament is chemically inert in water at ambient temperature. No monomers or plasticizers are known to leach under normal fishing conditions.

Possible

Microplastic shedding or fragmentation

Over time, UV exposure and mechanical stress cause nylon lines to degrade and shed microplastics into water. This is an inherent material-class concern, not brand-specific.

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.