SpiderWire Stealth Braid Fishing Line
Skip or find transparent alternative; Teflon-family coating braid likely contains PFAS.
This Teflon-family coating-coated braid uses Teflon-family coating for low visibility and strength, materials commonly containing PFAS. SpiderWire provides no public disclosure, testing data, or PFAS-free claim.
The safe swap
Shimano
shimano Exage Monofilament Fishing 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 synthetic fiber with Teflon-family coating
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What’s concerning
Fluoropolymer detected
Testing found a Teflon-family coating on this item.
Category baseline
PFAS exposure happens more often with clothing products.
No PFAS disclosure
The company has not publicly discussed PFAS in this product.
PFAS
Teflon-family coating-coated fishing lines are commonly formulated with PFAS to achieve water and oil repellence. SpiderWire has not disclosed chemistry or testing; absence of evidence is not evidence of absence in this material class.
Source: ATSDR ↗Microfiber shedding and aquatic persistence
Braided fishing line degrades in water and sheds microfibers over time, particularly as coatings degrade. These fibers enter aquatic food webs; environmental persistence of Teflon-family coating-coated microfibers is substantial.
Coating degradation toxicants
As the Teflon-family coating breaks down under UV and mechanical stress, additional breakdown products may leach or shed. Specific breakdown product profiles for SpiderWire are not publicly documented.
PFAS
If the Teflon-family coating contains PFAS, microfibers released into water can be ingested by fish and accumulate in tissue; PFAS bioaccumulates in aquatic organisms.
Source: ATSDR ↗Lack of chemical transparency
The fishing line industry typically does not disclose full chemical formulations. This absence of transparency prevents end-user assessment of actual hazards and hampers environmental accountability.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
SpiderWire Stealth Braid uses braided synthetic fibers (typically polyethylene) with a Teflon-family coating to reduce visibility and friction in water. Teflon-family coating coatings are commonly applied to fishing line to enhance durability and castability, but this class of coatings frequently contains PFAS (PFAS "forever chemicals") as processing aids or water-repellent agents. The coating degrades over time with UV exposure and mechanical stress, creating potential for microfiber release into aquatic environments.
The brand's record and disclosure
SpiderWire (owned by Pure Fishing) does not publicly disclose the chemical composition of its Teflon-family coating or confirm PFAS absence. No independent third-party certifications (such as Bluesign or similar) are evident for this product line. The brand has not issued statements addressing PFAS content or environmental practices specific to braided fishing line, despite industry-wide concern about PFAS persistence in aquatic ecosystems.
How it compares in its category
Most braided fishing lines rely on Teflon-family coating coatings for performance; Stealth Braid is typical in this regard rather than exceptional. Uncoated braided alternatives (pure polyethylene or nylon) exist but sacrifice castability and visibility reduction. Some smaller manufacturers have begun disclosing PFAS status or offering PFAS-free alternatives, but SpiderWire has not adopted this transparency standard.
If you buy it
If you choose to use this product, minimize environmental release by avoiding loss of line in water and retrieving any broken segments. Inspect regularly for coating degradation (whitening, fraying, loss of sheen) and replace when visible wear occurs, as degraded coating may release microfibers more readily. Do not burn or incinerate spent line; dispose in solid waste. Store in cool, dry conditions to slow UV degradation.
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
- 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.