Rapala · Fishing Tackle & Gear
Rapala Clipper Combo
Lower risk fishing clipper, no coatings detected.
This stainless steel fishing tool with plastic handle shows no fluorinated coatings or water-repellent treatments. No PFAS disclosure from Rapala, but no high-risk materials identified.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
Stainless steel and plastic handle
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What’s concerning
Category baseline
The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
Plastic handle degradation
The handle material composition is unspecified. UV exposure and saltwater immersion may cause brittleness or cracking over time, though this is a durability rather than chemical toxicity issue.
Bacterial growth or contamination
If used on fish and not rinsed promptly, bacterial biofilm can accumulate in the blade hinge and crevices, though this is a hygiene rather than chemical hazard concern.
What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
Stainless steel corrosion byproducts
Stainless steel in this product does not leach meaningful quantities of nickel, chromium, or iron under normal fishing use conditions. No reported incidents or testing data exists for this specific model.
Plastic off-gassing
The handle does not contact food or drinking water, and is not heated during use, so VOC or formaldehyde off-gassing poses negligible practical exposure risk.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
The Rapala Clipper Combo consists of stainless steel blades and cutting mechanisms paired with a plastic handle. Stainless steel in fishing tools is chemically inert and does not leach into food or water under normal use. The plastic handle material is not specified in available product information, but for a non-food-contact tool used intermittently, standard plastic handles pose minimal exposure risk compared to food storage or frequent-contact applications.
The brand's record and disclosure
Rapala is a Finnish fishing equipment manufacturer with decades of market presence and no publicly documented safety recalls or chemical disclosure controversies specific to this product line. The brand does not publish detailed material safety documentation for fishing tools, which is typical for the category but limits transparency. No independent certifications or third-party testing results are available for this specific clipper model.
How it compares in its category
Fishing clippers and tackle tools are low-risk consumer products compared to cookware, food storage, or textiles because they do not contact food, skin, or heat sources during normal use. Most competitors in this category (stainless steel clippers from brands like Berkley or Abu Garcia) use similar materials and carry no established safety warnings. The Rapala clipper's stainless construction and simple design place it in the mainstream safety tier for fishing tackle.
If you buy it
Rinse the clipper after saltwater use to prevent corrosion and maintain cutting performance. Inspect the plastic handle periodically for cracks or degradation, especially if exposed to prolonged sunlight or heat. No special storage precautions are needed beyond keeping it dry. Replace if the blade dulls significantly or the handle becomes brittle, though the stainless steel construction typically outlasts casual angler use.
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
- Rapala has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
More fishing tackle & gear 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.