Sufix Performance Braid Fishing Line
Skip until brand clarifies coating composition or provides testing.
Braided fishing line typically uses water-resistant coatings that may contain PFAS. Sufix discloses nothing about their formula and no third-party verification is available.
The better-graded swap
West Marine
West Marine Catch More Fish Surf Pier Spinning Combo
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 with unspecified water-resistant coating
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.
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
PFAS
Water-resistant coating is proprietary and undisclosed; fluorinated compounds are industry-standard but Sufix has not confirmed or ruled out PFAS use. Coating degradation under UV or physical abrasion could mobilize additives over extended storage or use.
Source, ATSDR ↗Microplastics
Braided PE lines are subject to abrasion against guides, rocks, and teeth during use; flaking or peeling of the coating could shed microparticles into water ecosystems. No controlled study of Sufix Performance Braid specifically, but common to all coated braid products.
Source, EPA ↗What’s reassuring
Thermal instability of coating under storage stress
PE core is thermally stable, but proprietary coatings may migrate or degrade in hot vehicles or direct sunlight. No reported incidents for Sufix Performance Braid, but typical of synthetic polymer fishing gear.
Heavy metals
Braided fishing lines are often dyed (green, yellow, pink, etc.) using industrial colorants; regulatory oversight is minimal for recreational tackle. No specific testing or recalls on record for Sufix Performance Braid color additives.
Source, FDA ↗The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Sufix Performance Braid is a braided polyethylene (PE) core, which is chemically inert and does not leach monomers or plasticizers into water under normal fishing use. The hazard lies in the unspecified water-resistant coating applied to the braid; manufacturers typically use Teflon-family coating or silicone-based coatings to improve abrasion resistance and casting distance. Without disclosure of the coating formulation, it is impossible to rule out PFAS-based repellents or other chemical additives that could degrade under UV exposure or mechanical stress over months of use.
The brand's record and disclosure
Sufix (part of the Rapala-VMC conglomerate) does not publicly disclose coating chemistry or provide PFAS testing results for Performance Braid or other braided lines. The brand has not faced major recalls specific to chemical hazards in braided fishing line, but the silence on water-resistant treatment composition is a red flag in an industry where fluorinated additives are common. Competitors including Berkley and Spiderwire similarly avoid detailed coating disclosure.
How it compares in its category
Most premium braided fishing lines (PE-core) from major manufacturers use proprietary coatings that are rarely disclosed; Sufix Performance Braid is typical of this opacity rather than an outlier. Monofilament and fluorocarbon alternatives avoid the coating ambiguity but sacrifice the low-stretch and durability advantages of braid. No major fishing line brand has achieved third-party PFAS certification or published independent coating analysis.
If you buy it
Store the spool indoors away from direct sunlight to slow UV degradation of the coating, which could release trapped additives over years. Avoid heating or melting the line (e.g., in hot car storage); PE itself is stable but coatings may become mobile at elevated temperatures. Replace the line every 1-2 seasons of regular use as a precaution, particularly if you notice flaking, discoloration, or loss of water repellency. Do not assume the line is suitable for food-contact or water supply applications; it is a recreational product only.
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
- Sufix has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
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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.