Chuck 70 HI GTX vs Chuck Taylor All Star Cx Exp2 4.5 Men A07199C: which is safer?

Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Cx Exp2 4.5 Men A07199C is our pick: better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.

Converse Chuck 70 HI GTX

Converse

Chuck 70 HI GTX

PFAS grade

Bad 20/100

Overall grade

Bad 0/100

Verdict

Skip

Hazard flags

⚑ 5

Material

Canvas/textile with GTX waterproof membrane

Confidence

45%

PossibleFormaldehyde resins in textile finishing

PossibleAzo dyes in canvas or rubber coloring

PossibleMembrane adhesive or coating leachates

Our pick

Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Cx Exp2 4.5 Men A07199C

Converse

Chuck Taylor All Star Cx Exp2 4.5 Men A07199C

PFAS grade

Good 65/100

Overall grade

Good 57/100

Verdict

Skip

Hazard flags

⚑ 2

Material

Canvas upper, rubber sole

Confidence

72%

PossibleAzo dyes in canvas

PossibleFormaldehyde resin finishing on canvas

Where these two actually differ

  • We flag Formaldehyde resins in textile finishing, Azo dyes in canvas or rubber coloring, Membrane adhesive or coating leachates and Microplastic shedding from synthetic fibers and rubber on the Converse and not on the Converse.
  • We flag Azo dyes in canvas and Formaldehyde resin finishing on canvas on the Converse and not on the Converse.
  • The Converse is Canvas/textile with GTX waterproof membrane where the Converse is Canvas upper, rubber sole, which is most of the difference in these two grades.
  • The gap is 45 points, wide enough that this is not a close call, and the Converse is the one to buy.
  • We are less certain about the Converse grade, at 45% confidence against 72%, because it discloses less.

Both products run through the same public rubric: materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls, plus a beyond-PFAS hazard analysis. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests. How grades work →

More running & athletic shoes: see the full ranking