Berkley FireLine · Fishing Line & Fishing Tackle
Berkley Fireline Fused Original Braided Fishing Line
Skip. Coating composition undisclosed, PFAS risk unclear.
FireLine uses proprietary fusion coating on braided polyethylene but does not disclose whether PFAS compounds are used. No third-party PFAS testing available.
The safe swap
Shakespeare
Shakespeare Sportfisher Fishing Mono filament Line
85/100 safety
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Fused braided polyethylene with unspecified coating
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
Why this grade
Unknown / proprietary coating
Proprietary coating with no disclosed chemistry.
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 FireLine Fused Original is braided polyethylene (PE) with an undisclosed coating applied during manufacturing. The coating is proprietary and not detailed on packaging or Berkley's public materials; it is intended to improve abrasion resistance and handling. Since the coating composition remains opaque, assessment of chemical additives (including potential PFAS, flame retardants, or plasticizers) relies on indirect inference from product behavior and industry norms rather than disclosed ingredients.
The brand's record and disclosure
Berkley (owned by Pure Fishing, a Rapala subsidiary) does not publish material safety data sheets, chemical composition details, or PFAS statements for fishing line products. No major recalls of FireLine for chemical contamination are on record. The company provides performance specs (tensile strength, color retention) but maintains silence on manufacturing chemistry and chemical safety certifications. This opacity is typical in the fishing tackle industry but limits independent hazard verification.
How it compares in its category
Braided PE fishing lines are chemically simpler than monofilament nylon (which uses plasticizers like diisononyl cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate) and avoid the thermal degradation risks of nylon under UV or heat. However, the unknown coating on FireLine introduces uncertainty absent in uncoated or minimally treated alternatives. Most fishing lines (braided, monofilament, fluorocarbon) do not undergo third-party chemical safety testing, making FireLine typical in this regard.
If you buy it
Fishing line is non-ingested and contacts skin only briefly during casting and handling, limiting direct exposure routes. Store spools in cool, dry conditions away from sunlight to prevent UV-induced polymer breakdown and potential coating degradation. Replace line annually or after visible fraying, discoloration, or reduced strength; old line degrades chemically over time. Wash hands after extended handling if skin sensitivity occurs, though reactions are rare.
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.”
Coating composition leachate (unknown additives)
The proprietary coating is not disclosed by Berkley. While polyethylene itself is chemically stable in aqueous environments, coatings may include PFAS, UV absorbers, or other additives that could leach into water under prolonged contact or degradation, though risk is minimal in typical catch-and-release fishing.
Teflon-type coating or Teflon-family coating fume risk
No evidence that FireLine's coating is Teflon-type coating-based or releases volatile Teflon-family coating under normal use. However, Berkley does not confirm the absence of fluorinated compounds, leaving theoretical risk unquantified.
Polyethylene microparticle shedding
Braided PE lines fray and shed fine fibers during casting, retrieval, and storage, especially as they age. These microparticles may enter waterways and are not biodegradable, though accumulation per fishing session is negligible compared to other microplastic sources.
Heavy metal pigments in color coating
FireLine is produced in multiple colors (moss green, red, yellow). No recalls or reports document heavy metal contamination in the dye or pigment, and modern fishing lines typically avoid banned colorants; this remains unverified for FireLine specifically.
UV and thermal polymer degradation products
Stored or used in sunlight, PE and its coating degrade over months to years, releasing volatile compounds and weakening mechanical properties. No test data is available on what volatiles are released or their toxicity, though exposure during fishing is brief and largely outdoors.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 35% 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 & Fishing Tackle
Shakespeare
Sportfisher Fishing Mono filament Line
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Lower concern. Nylon monofilament unlikely to contain PFAS.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
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Lower concern. Nylon monofilament unlikely to contain PFAS.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
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Sealed Shakespeare Monofilament Nylon Fishing Line 700 Yds K-mart
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Lower concern. Bare nylon monofilament unlikely to contain PFAS.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
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.