Stainless Steel Fishing Gear & Equipment, ranked by PFAS safety
All 7 bare stainless steel picks in our fishing gear & equipment database, graded Bad to Excellent and ranked safest first. 7 earn a buy-worthy grade.
Penn
Spinfisher VII Spinning Reel
aluminum spool, stainless steel, graphite composite body
Bearing lubricant composition
Limited concern
Fishing reel with no disclosed PFAS risk and typical for its category.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
Penn
Fierce IV Live Liner Spinning Combo
Graphite composite rod, aluminum reel spool, stainless steel components
Aluminum corrosion and oxidation
Limited concern
Fishing rod combo with lower concern and no known PFAS-prone materials.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
Penn
Battle IV LE Spinning Combo
Aluminum spool, graphite composite rod, stainless steel guides
Aluminum corrosion and leaching
Limited concern
Fishing combo with lower PFAS concern and no known high-risk coatings.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
Penn
Fathom Lever Drag 2-Speed Reel
Aluminum spool, stainless steel frame, plastic handle
Coating degradation and microparticle release
Limited concern
Bacterial biofilm in drag and bearing seals
Limited concern
Fishing reel with lower concern for PFAS exposure.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
Pflueger
President Spinning Reel
Aluminum spool, stainless steel bail and body, plastic drag system
Plastic drag system degradation
Limited concern
Lower concern since spinning reel uses standard fishing materials without known PFAS coatings.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
Pflueger
PRESIDENT XT SPINNING REEL
Aluminum, stainless steel, graphite composite components
Aluminum corrosion and oxidation
Limited concern
Stainless steel fastener corrosion
Limited concern
Handle grip material degradation
Limited concern
Fishing reel with no known PFAS use and brand silent on PFAS.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
Pflueger
President LE Spinning Reel
Aluminum alloy body, stainless steel internals, graphite lubrication
Stainless steel nickel release
Limited concern
Fishing reel with lower PFAS concern and brand makes no PFAS claims.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
See every material: all fishing gear & equipment grades →