Maxima · Fishing Line
Maxima Clear Fishing Line
Lower PFAS concern for a basic nylon monofilament line, but Maxima's silence on treatment chemistry leaves room for doubt.
Maxima Clear Fishing Line is a standard monofilament nylon product with no publicly disclosed PFAS or Teflon-family coating coatings. Fishing lines typically do not require water-repellent or stain-resistant treatments that commonly contain PFAS, making untreated nylon a lower-risk material.
Shop Maxima on Amazon →Material
Monofilament nylon (primary)
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
Maxima Clear is extruded nylon monofilament, a single continuous polymer strand without coatings, colorants, or additives visible in product literature. Nylon monofilament fishing line does not involve the ceramic glazes, enamels, or non-stick coatings that introduce lead, cadmium, or Teflon-type coating fume risks in cookware. The primary chemistry concern in this material class is historical: whether the nylon extrusion process or post-manufacture treatment involved PFAS-based surfactants or water repellents, a practice once common but increasingly phased out.
The brand's record and disclosure
Maxima is a long-established fishing line manufacturer (founded 1973, USA-based) with no documented product recalls, legal safety actions, or public controversies on file. The brand does not publicly disclose manufacturing chemistry, PFAS treatment protocols, or third-party certifications for material safety. This silence is typical for the fishing tackle industry but leaves consumers without verification that PFAS-free or low-PFAS processes were used in monofilament production.
How it compares in its category
Monofilament fishing line is one of the lowest-risk consumer product categories for chemical hazards because it is inert nylon with minimal processing, no direct food contact in normal use, and no heating or fragrance exposure. Competitors like Berkley, Trilene, and Seaguar operate under similar disclosure standards and material profiles. The main differentiation in this category is durability and UV resistance, not chemical safety.
If you buy it
Store Maxima Clear out of direct sunlight to slow UV degradation of the nylon polymer, which can cause brittleness and breakage over 1-3 years depending on storage conditions. Do not expose to sustained temperatures above 80-90°C (176-194°F), as nylon will soften and lose strength. Replace spools after visible cloudiness, stiffness, or knot failure; degraded line can fragment in water. No special handling or care beyond typical fishing practices is needed.
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.”
PFAS in extrusion/treatment chemistry
Maxima does not disclose whether PFAS-based surfactants or water repellents were used in nylon extrusion or post-processing. Monofilament lines produced before 2015-2018 had higher probability of PFAS exposure, but no testing or recall data is public for this brand.
Nylon polymer degradation and microplastics
UV and mechanical stress degrade monofilament nylon into microplastics over time, particularly when line breaks or is cut in water. This is a known environmental fate of all fishing line but does not pose acute toxicity to the user. Replacement of worn spools is the primary mitigation.
Lead or cadmium in polymer or colorants
Clear monofilament typically contains no intentional colorants or heavy metal stabilizers; modern nylon extrusion does not require lead or cadmium additives. No recalls or test evidence suggests contamination in Maxima products.
Antimony or brominated flame retardants
Fishing line is not a textiles or apparel product and does not require flame retardant treatment. Nylon monofilament is inherently flame-resistant and no industry standard calls for additional flame retardant additives.
Leaching into food or water during use
Fishing line does not contact food or drinking water in normal use; it is exposed only to freshwater or saltwater in an outdoor setting. Nylon is chemically stable in water at ambient temperatures and does not significantly leach monomers or additives.
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
Stren
Original
Monofilament nylon fishing line
Lower PFAS concern for a fishing line product; no coating or treatment typical of PFAS carriers.
⚠Risky category by default
Maxima
Ultragreen One Shot
Lubricant/chain oil (mineral or synthetic base)
Lower PFAS concern for a chain lubricant; minimal Teflon-family coating/waterproofing risk profile.
⚠Risky category by default
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.