SpiderWire Stealth
Skip; fishing line coating unknown, PFAS risk unclear without disclosure.
This braided line with undisclosed coating offers durability and stealth performance, but SpiderWire provides no information on PFAS presence or absence. Fishing line coatings historically may contain Teflon-family coating.
The safe swap
Shimano
PowerPro Power Pro Braided Line
85/100 safety
Same rubric that flunked this product. The swap earned Excellent.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Braided fishing line (polymer blend, coating unspecified)
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What’s concerning
Unknown / proprietary coating
Has a special coating but the exact formula is secret.
Category baseline
PFAS exposure happens more often with clothing products.
No PFAS disclosure
The company has not publicly discussed PFAS in this product.
Coating leachates (unspecified polymer additives)
The undisclosed coating on SpiderWire Stealth may contain plasticizers, UV stabilizers, or other additives; without manufacturer transparency, additive safety cannot be assessed. Water contact during use could promote slow leaching of these compounds.
Microplastic shedding
Braided line with deteriorating or abraded coating can shed microfibers and coating particles into water; environmental impact is established for fishing line, though direct consumer health risk is low during normal handling.
What’s reassuring
Skin/eye irritation from coating or polymer particles
No specific incidents on record for SpiderWire Stealth, but fine polymer particles or coating dust generated during spooling or casting could theoretically irritate sensitive skin or eyes; risk is minimal under normal use.
Entanglement and physical injury
This is a product-inherent hazard unrelated to chemistry. Braided line can wrap around fingers, limbs, or propellers with high force; proper handling and education are essential, not a chemical safety issue.
Heavy metals
No public recalls or reports of lead, cadmium, or other heavy metals in SpiderWire Stealth. Fishing line is not regulated as a food-contact material, so testing for heavy metals is not required and is not disclosed.
Source: FDA ↗The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
SpiderWire Stealth is a braided fishing line composed of multiple synthetic polymer strands (typically polyethylene or nylon blends) woven together and coated with an undisclosed finish to reduce visibility and friction. The coating composition is not publicly detailed by the brand, which is the primary safety concern since fishing line coatings historically have been a potential vector for PFAS and other polymer additives. Braided construction offers strength and reduced stretch compared to monofilament, but also creates more surface area for coating contact with water and skin.
The brand's record and disclosure
SpiderWire (owned by Berkley, a legacy fishing tackle manufacturer) maintains no publicly available material disclosure statements, third-party certifications, or PFAS commitment regarding their line products. The brand has not responded to industry pressure for transparency on fluorinated coatings commonly used in fishing line to enhance low-visibility and low-friction properties. This silence on ingredient composition is the norm in the fishing tackle industry but represents a significant gap in consumer information.
How it compares in its category
SpiderWire Stealth is a mid-to-premium product in the braided fishing line market; most competitors (Berkley PowerPro, Daiwa J-Braid, Sufix) similarly withhold coating chemistry. Uncoated braided lines (pure polyethylene) exist as alternatives but sacrifice the low-visibility advantage that Stealth markets. No fishing line manufacturer in this segment currently publishes PFAS test data or commits to PFAS-free coatings, making category-wide comparison impossible.
If you buy it
Use the line as directed and store spools in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to prevent UV degradation and coating breakdown. Wash your hands after handling; while ingestion risk is negligible during normal use, coating particles could migrate into cuts or accumulate on skin over heavy use days. Replace the line annually or after visible fraying, cracking, or loss of coating integrity. If you have concerns about PFAS exposure, consider requesting material safety data sheets directly from the manufacturer or switching to an uncoated polyethylene alternative.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 35% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Spiderwire has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
Safer alternatives in Fishing Line
Berkley
TRILENE BIG GAME
monofilament nylon fishing line
UV degradation and embrittlement
High concern
Microplastic release during use
Limited concern
Low concern for standard monofilament with no coating triggers.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
Berkley
Trilene Big Game Braid
Braided polyethylene fishing line
Polyethylene microfiber shedding
Limited concern
Low concern; braided polyethylene is not a typical PFAS application.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
Berkley
Trilene XT Monofilament Fishing Line
Nylon monofilament (extruded polymer)
Nylon polymer degradation and microplastic release
Limited concern
UV stabilizer additives in polymer matrix
Limited concern
Skin irritation or eye contact from monofilament filament
Moderate concern
Low concern for basic nylon line without water-repellent coating or special coatings.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
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.