Spiderwire Ultracast Braid
Skip or contact brand; fishing line coatings often hide PFAS without disclosure.
Braided polyethylene marketed for durability and castability, but SpiderWire discloses nothing about PFAS in coatings or treatments. Braided synthetics often use Teflon-family coating coatings containing PFAS.
The safe swap
Cortland
Cortland Silent Flip Braided 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 polyethylene fishing line with undisclosed coating
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.
Microplastic shedding from braided structure
Braided construction sheds tiny PE fibers during casting, retrieval, and knot tying. These microplastics accumulate in waterways and can be ingested by fish and wildlife; no data on whether degraded coating fragments add chemical burden to shed fibers.
Undisclosed coating additives with potential leaching
The proprietary Ultracast coating likely contains slip agents, wetting additives, or fluorochemicals to reduce friction. Without disclosure, chemical identity is unknown; coating breakdown over time, especially in saltwater or UV, may release these additives into the aquatic environment.
UV degradation and polymer fragmentation
Polyethylene braids inherently degrade under UV and mechanical stress, fragmenting into smaller particles over months of use. Accumulated evidence from oceanography studies shows braided fishing line is a major source of microplastics in marine environments; coating breakdown accelerates particle generation.
Dermal or ingestion risk from handled coating residue
Frequent anglers handling Ultracast line without gloves may absorb coating chemicals through skin or ingest particles via hand-to-mouth contact. Risk is low but unquantified given the lack of coating safety data; no reported cases of acute toxicity from fishing line contact.
What’s reassuring
Heavy metals
Spiderwire Ultracast Braid is typically dyed green, moss, or yellow using azo or anthraquinone dyes. No recalls or reports of cadmium or lead in fishing line dyes, but dye composition is not routinely tested or disclosed by manufacturers.
Source: FDA ↗The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Spiderwire Ultracast Braid is extruded braided polyethylene (PE), a synthetic polymer chosen for strength-to-diameter ratio and low stretch. The "Ultracast" designation signals a proprietary surface coating applied post-extrusion to reduce friction and improve castability, but Spiderwire has not publicly disclosed the coating chemistry. Braided construction means multiple thin PE strands are woven together, creating microscopic gaps where coating materials can lodge and degrade over time with UV, saltwater, or mechanical abrasion.
The brand's record and disclosure
Spiderwire (owned by Pure Fishing/Newell Brands) does not publicly disclose coating composition, fluorochemistry, or third-party safety certifications for this line. No major recalls or safety warnings on record for Ultracast Braid specifically. The company's silence on PFAS and coating additives is typical across the fishing line industry, where trade secret protection often prevents end-user scrutiny of proprietary surface treatments.
How it compares in its category
Braided PE lines dominate tournament and saltwater fishing due to sensitivity and strength; Spiderwire is a mainstream mid-to-premium option. Compared to monofilament (single nylon strand), braided lines expose more surface area for coatings and shed microfibers more readily during use. Compared to high-end branded braids (PowerPro, Suffix), Spiderwire offers similar material but equal opacity on coating safety; no brand in this category voluntarily discloses fluorochemical content.
If you buy it
Store spools in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to slow UV-driven coating breakdown and leaching. Inspect line every 2-3 months for visible whitening, fraying, or slime-like residue on the braid, signs the coating is degrading. Replace line annually if used frequently in saltwater; freshwater use can extend life to 18-24 months. Wash hands after extended handling, especially before eating, as abraded coating particles and residual chemicals can transfer to food.
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.