Berkley · Fishing Line & Fishing Tackle
Berkley Trilene XL
Fishing line with no PFAS transparency; inherent risk unclear.
Berkley Trilene XL is monofilament nylon line with no disclosed PFAS information. Unknown if processing or treatments involve fluorochemicals.
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Nylon monofilament 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 XL is a nylon monofilament (single-strand polymer fiber) fishing line, meaning it is extruded from polyamide resin into a single continuous strand. Nylon monofilament does not typically leach toxic monomers or additives into water under normal fishing conditions, as the material is chemically stable and hydrophobic (water-resistant). The primary concern with nylon fishing line is environmental persistence and wildlife entanglement rather than chemical toxicity during use.
The brand's record and disclosure
Berkley (owned by Pure Fishing, a Rapala subsidiary) does not publicly disclose PFAS content, processing aids, or Teflon-family coating coatings in their monofilament product line. The company has not published transparency reports on PFAS use or committed to phase-out timelines. No major product recalls or chemical safety controversies specific to Trilene XL are on record, but silence on PFAS in a fishing line product (where fluorocarbon lines are common alternatives) suggests potential risk that is not being communicated.
How it compares in its category
Nylon monofilament is the baseline fishing line category; it is cheaper and less likely to contain intentional PFAS than premium fluorocarbon lines (which are inherently PFAS-heavy). However, nylon lines may include Teflon-family coating slip agents or coatings during manufacture. Berkley does not distinguish Trilene XL's additives from competitors, making direct safety comparison difficult. The category itself poses minimal chemical hazard during water use once cast.
If you buy it
Store the spool indoors away from direct sunlight to slow UV degradation and embrittlement. Replace the line annually or after heavy use, as nylon loses tensile strength and becomes brittle over time, increasing breakage and environmental release. Do not incinerate old line; dispose in solid waste. Avoid exposing opened spools to prolonged heat (above 60°C / 140°F), as this can degrade the material and release volatile compounds.
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.”
UV and thermal degradation of nylon
Nylon monofilament degrades under sunlight and heat, becoming brittle and prone to breaking. Degraded fragments persist in aquatic environments for years, posing entanglement risk to wildlife; no chemical toxicity directly linked, but environmental hazard is established.
Unknown additives (slip agents, UV stabilizers, colorants)
Berkley does not disclose what processing aids or additives are incorporated into Trilene XL during extrusion. Standard nylon monofilaments may contain Teflon-family coating slip agents, heavy metal stabilizers, or dye components; presence and levels are not publicly confirmed for this product.
Microplastic generation via fragmentation
Nylon fishing line fragments into microplastics when broken or degraded in water. While not a direct chemical hazard to the user, the product is a documented source of aquatic microplastic pollution and wildlife ingestion risk over its lifetime.
Heavy metal stabilizers in polymer formulation
No specific reports of cadmium, lead, or other heavy metal heat stabilizers in Berkley Trilene XL. Industry standard nylon monofilaments typically use calcium or tin-based stabilizers, but Berkley does not publicly specify their stabilizer chemistry.
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.