PowerPro Braid
Polyethylene braid unlikely to contain PFAS, but brand offers no disclosure.
PowerPro Braid is made from polyethylene, a material not inherently linked to PFAS contamination. No public PFAS claims or certifications are available.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
braided polyethylene fishing line
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What’s concerning
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
Category baseline
The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
Microplastics
Braided polyethylene line may shed fine fibers during casting, retrieval, or abrasion against guides and water. The amount and fate of these fibers in aquatic environments is not quantified for this product, but shedding is a known property of braided line materials. This is an environmental concern rather than a direct consumer health hazard.
Source, EPA ↗UV degradation and polymer breakdown
Polyethylene degrades under prolonged UV exposure, becoming brittle and discolored. While this affects performance, it does not result in migration of toxic breakdown products into skin or water under typical use; it is primarily a functional failure mode.
What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
Dye or colorant contamination
PowerPro Braid is available in multiple colors (green, yellow, red, white). No publicly available information documents the identity or safety of these colorants. Polyethylene-compatible dyes are typically low-toxicity azo or reactive dyes, but specific formulation data is not disclosed by the manufacturer.
Heavy metals
Colored braided lines sometimes use cadmium or lead-based pigments in lower-cost products, though most modern manufacturers have phased these out. No recall, safety alert, or test result has identified this hazard in PowerPro Braid specifically, and Berkley's size and market position suggest use of compliant colorants.
Source, FDA ↗Biofouling and microbial growth (storage)
Braided polyethylene does not support bacterial or fungal growth in the way that natural fibers do. Risk is absent under normal dry storage; wet storage or saltwater exposure may cause corrosion of metal components (spool) rather than polymer degradation.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
PowerPro Braid is made from braided polyethylene fibers, a thermoplastic polymer commonly used in fishing line because of its low stretch, high strength-to-diameter ratio, and water resistance. Polyethylene is not a material linked to PFAS leaching under normal use conditions. The braiding structure means the line is not heated during manufacturing or use in ways that would break down the polymer or release volatile compounds. Unlike some fishing lines with adhesive coatings or dyes, polyethylene braids rely on the inherent properties of the polymer.
The brand's record and disclosure
PowerPro is owned by Berkley (Pure Fishing) and has no public record of product recalls, safety violations, or hazardous chemical controversies in fishing line. The brand provides no explicit PFAS disclosure or certification statement, which is standard across most fishing line manufacturers and reflects the general lack of regulatory pressure in this category. No independent testing results or third-party certifications are widely available for PowerPro Braid specifically. The brand's silence on PFAS does not constitute evidence of its presence, only an absence of transparency.
How it compares in its category
Braided polyethylene lines like PowerPro Braid sit at the middle-to-upper tier of fishing line safety because they avoid coatings, adhesives, and dyes that introduce leaching risk. Monofilament lines and fluorocarbon lines may carry slightly higher uncertainty due to additives and processing aids, while braids generally have simpler chemical profiles. PowerPro Braid is comparable in material safety to other established braided PE brands (Spiderwire, Cortland, Suffix) with no distinguishing advantage or disadvantage on non-PFAS hazards. The category overall has not been a focus of consumer product safety testing.
If you buy it
PowerPro Braid requires no special handling to avoid chemical leaching; standard fishing practice (keep dry, avoid prolonged sun exposure to prevent UV degradation, store spooled at room temperature) is sufficient. Do not expose fishing line to temperatures above 80-90 degrees Celsius, though this is unlikely in normal use. Inspect regularly for wear and replace if frayed, cracked, or discolored, as degradation does not release hazardous breakdown products but reduces performance. No special disposal protocols are required beyond standard trash, though recycling is not practical for small diameter line.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 72% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- PowerPro has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
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.