Chuck Taylor All Star Cx Exp2 4.5 Men A07199C vs Men's Clifton 9 GTX: 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.
Our pick
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
HOKA
Men's Clifton 9 GTX
PFAS grade
Bad 20/100
Overall grade
Bad 0/100
Verdict
Skip
Hazard flags
⚑ 4
Material
Mesh/knit upper, GTX waterproof membrane, rubber outsole
Confidence
45%
LikelyPFAS in waterproof membranes
PossibleAzo dyes and synthetic colorants in mesh/knit
PossibleFormaldehyde resins in finishing agents
Where these two actually differ
- We flag Azo dyes in canvas and Formaldehyde resin finishing on canvas on the Converse and not on the HOKA.
- We flag PFAS in waterproof membranes, Azo dyes and synthetic colorants in mesh/knit, Formaldehyde resins in finishing agents and Microplastics from outsole wear on the HOKA and not on the Converse.
- The Converse is Canvas upper, rubber sole where the HOKA is Mesh/knit upper, GTX waterproof membrane, rubber outsole, 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 HOKA grade, at 45% confidence against 72%, because it discloses less.
Both products run through the same public rubric, which covers 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 →
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