50/ 100
F
OverallF42/100
Piscifun Alijoz 400 Baitcaster Fishing Reel 38Lbs Max Drag Baitcasting Reel

Piscifun · Fishing Line & Tackle

Piscifun Alijoz 400 Baitcaster Fishing Reel 38Lbs Max Drag Baitcasting Reel

F · High PFAS

Unknown coating composition; fishing reel PFAS risk unclear without disclosure.

Verdict: SkipMetal fishing reel with undisclosed lubricants and coatings; no major recalls on record, but PFAS risk unquantified and maintenance-dependent safety.

Piscifun provides no material or coating details for this baitcaster reel. Gear lubricants and internal coatings are undisclosed, making PFAS exposure assessment impossible without independent testing.

The safe swap

PowerPro Braid

PowerPro

PowerPro Braid

100/100 safety

A

Same rubric that flunked this product. The swap earned its A.

Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.

Material

Metal gears, body, and unspecified lubricants/coatings

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.

Hurts 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

The Piscifun Alijoz 400 is a metal baitcaster with brass gears, aluminum or aluminum-alloy body components, and stainless-steel bearings. The manufacturer does not publicly disclose the composition of internal lubricants or any protective coatings applied to metal surfaces. Metal-to-metal friction in reels requires lubricants that may contain additives not listed on product documentation, and corrosion inhibitors on aluminum bodies are often proprietary formulations.

The brand's record and disclosure

Piscifun maintains no publicly documented certifications (ISO, NSF, or equivalent) for material safety or chemical disclosure. The brand has not issued statements on PFAS use, heavy-metal coatings, or lubricant composition. No major recalls affecting this specific model appear in FDA or CPSC databases. The company's silence on chemical inputs is typical for low-cost fishing-equipment manufacturers and does not indicate non-compliance, only lack of transparency.

How it compares in its category

Entry-level metal baitcasters from Piscifun, Shimano, Abu Garcia, and others follow similar material patterns: metal gears and bodies with undisclosed lubricants. Premium reels sometimes specify synthetic or food-grade lubricants; budget models almost never do. This reel's construction is standard for its price point and poses no known elevated risk relative to comparable competitors, though none in this segment voluntarily disclose full chemical profiles.

If you buy it

Rinse the reel with fresh water after saltwater use to prevent corrosion and lubricant breakdown, which can expose bare metal and increase leaching risk. Store in a dry location; moisture can degrade coatings and accelerate aluminum oxidation. Do not submerge or expose to extreme heat (above 40C/104F) for prolonged periods, as thermal stress may compromise internal coatings. Replace or service the reel if seals crack or metal begins to show visible pitting, as this indicates loss of protective barriers.

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

Undisclosed lubricant additives and potential heavy metals

Metal gears require lubricants; Piscifun does not publish formulations. Some low-cost reels use mineral oils with zinc or lead-based anti-wear agents, though no recall evidence exists for this model. Ingestion risk is minimal (contact with hands during use and subsequent hand-to-mouth transfer is the primary exposure route).

Possible

Aluminum body corrosion and leaching

Aluminum alloy bodies may leach aluminum ions if protective coatings degrade or are scratched, especially in saltwater or acidic environments. Piscifun does not specify anodizing type or coating durability. This poses minimal food-contamination risk for a fishing tool but can indicate accelerated material degradation if visible pitting develops.

None known

Stainless-steel bearing contaminants

Stainless bearings are generally low-risk; Piscifun does not specify alloy type (300 vs 400 series). No evidence of nickel-leaching or corrosion problems specific to this model exists in public records.

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 & Tackle

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A
A
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Naturally PFAS-free material

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Zephyr Spinning Reel

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C
PFASAll
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Brand says nothing about PFAS

More fishing line & 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.