Shakespeare · Fishing Tackle & Gear
Shakespeare Alpha Spinning Reel
No identified PFAS risk factors present.
Metal alloy components including aluminum spool and stainless steel bearings without typical PFAS coatings. Shakespeare discloses no water-resistant treatments.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
Metal alloy (aluminum spool, stainless steel bearings, bail)
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Shakespeare Alpha Spinning Reel is made of, ingredients and materials
The Shakespeare Alpha uses an aluminum spool paired with stainless steel bearings and a metal bail. Aluminum in fishing reels is not typically a leaching concern because the reel does not contact food or drinking water, and the material is stable in saltwater or freshwater environments. Stainless steel bearings are corrosion-resistant and do not shed heavy metals under normal fishing use.
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.
What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
Aluminum corrosion and particulate shedding
Aluminum spools in saltwater environments can pit over time, but shed particles remain external to the reel mechanism and do not enter food or water systems. No health concern identified in normal fishing use.
Lubricant or grease residues
Factory grease and bearing oils used in spinning reels are not documented to contain hazardous chemicals of concern (e.g., PFAS, phthalates, or heavy metals) based on public information. User-applied lubricants are the responsibility of the owner and outside product control.
Paint or coating degradation
Cosmetic paint on the reel housing may chip or fade with use, but no lead, cadmium, or toxic pigments have been reported in Shakespeare Alpha finishes. Inspection of peeling paint is advisable; ingestion risk is negligible for an adult-used tool.
Bearing or spool manufacturing residues
Stainless steel and aluminum components are typically finished without heavy metal plating or toxic surfactants in modern mass manufacture. No credible reports of contaminated bearings or spools from this product line.
How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Shakespeare is a long-established fishing equipment manufacturer (owned by Pure Fishing) with no documented safety recalls or hazardous material disclosures specific to the Alpha reel line. The brand has not published formal PFAS or chemical disclosure statements for this product category. No independent testing or regulatory warnings have been issued against Shakespeare spinning reels.
How it compares in its category
Spinning reels across the market use similar aluminum and stainless steel construction; the Alpha is a mid-range entry-level option with comparable material safety to competitors. Unlike food-contact cookware or textiles, fishing reels face no regulatory chemical restrictions. Material choices in this category are driven by durability and corrosion resistance rather than health hazard profiles.
If you buy it
Rinse the reel with fresh water after saltwater use to prevent corrosion and material degradation. Store in a dry location to avoid rust on metal components. Periodically inspect the bail and spool for pitting or spalling; replace if structural integrity is compromised. Standard maintenance (oiling drag system, checking drag washers) does not involve exposure to chemical hazards.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 72% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Shakespeare 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.