Cortland Review, Is Cortland Non-Toxic?
PFAS Authority is a scoring system, not a laboratory. We do not test products ourselves. Grades are model-based, built from published ingredients, materials, certifications, brand disclosures and third-party lab results where they exist. See the rubric.
Across 3 graded products, Cortland averages Good (55/100). On disclosure, the brand says nothing publicly about PFAS. 1 of its products grade Good or better. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab results.
Worth buying from Cortland Good or better, safest first
Cortland
Silent Flip Braided Fishing Line
Braided nylon/polyester fishing line
Microfiber/microplastic shedding
Braided nylon and polyester can shed fine fibers during casting and when line breaks or…
Low concern; standard braided line has no inherent PFAS trigger.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
Graded and flagged Poor and Bad, we’d swap these
Cortland
Fairplay Floating Fly Fishing Line
Floating fly line with unspecified waterproof/buoyancy coating
PFAS
The waterproof coating on floating fly lines may contain plasticizers, stabilizers, or…
Microplastic shedding from degraded coating
As the outer coating degrades from UV, temperature cycling, or age, fragments may…
Skin and eye contact with coating during handling
Repeated handling of fly line, especially if the coating is tacky or flaking, may expose…
Skip until Cortland reveals coating chemistry; floaters typically need PFAS-based water-repellent.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Cortland
444 Peach Fly Line
PVC-based fly line with proprietary coating
Coating degradation and microplastic release
PVC fly line coatings degrade under UV and thermal stress, shedding microparticles into…
Undisclosed plasticizer or surfactant leaching
Proprietary fly line coatings typically contain phthalates, adipates, or other…
Thermal instability of PVC core
PVC can release hydrogen chloride and other volatile compounds under sustained heat above…
Aquatic bioaccumulation of coating compounds
Fluorochemicals, plasticizers, and other coating additives can accumulate in aquatic…
Skip until Cortland discloses coating chemistry or provides third-party testing.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Every grade uses the same public rubric. How grades work →