Chuck Taylor All Star Cx Exp2 4.5 Men A07199C vs Men's Merrell Agility Trail: 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

Converse

Chuck Taylor All Star Cx Exp2 4.5 Men A07199C

PFAS grade

Good 65/100

Overall grade

Good 57/100

Verdict

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Hazard flags

⚑ 2

Material

Canvas upper, rubber sole

Confidence

72%

PossibleAzo dyes in canvas

PossibleFormaldehyde resin finishing on canvas

Men's Merrell Agility Trail

Merrell

Men's Merrell Agility Trail

PFAS grade

Bad 20/100

Overall grade

Bad 0/100

Verdict

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Hazard flags

⚑ 4

Material

Mesh, synthetic leather, polyester with water-repellent treatment

Confidence

35%

PossibleAzo dyes in colored mesh and synthetic leather

PossibleAntimony in polyester components

ReportedMicroplastic shedding from mesh and polyester during wear and washing

Where these two actually differ

  • We flag Azo dyes in canvas and Formaldehyde resin finishing on canvas on the Converse and not on the Merrell.
  • We flag Azo dyes in colored mesh and synthetic leather, Antimony in polyester components, Microplastic shedding from mesh and polyester during wear and washing and Water-repellent treatment composition (non-PFAS hazards assumed) on the Merrell and not on the Converse.
  • The Converse is Canvas upper, rubber sole where the Merrell is Mesh, synthetic leather, polyester with water-repellent treatment, 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 Merrell grade, at 35% 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 →

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