Chuck Taylor All Star Cx Exp2 4.5 Men A07199C vs Men's DynaSoft Nitrel v6 Gore Tex: 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

New Balance Men's DynaSoft Nitrel v6 Gore Tex

New Balance

Men's DynaSoft Nitrel v6 Gore Tex

PFAS grade

Bad 20/100

Overall grade

Bad 0/100

Verdict

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Hazard flags

⚑ 5

Material

Textile with Gore-Tex waterproof membrane

Confidence

55%

PossibleAzo dyes in textile colorants

PossibleFormaldehyde-releasing resins in fabric finishes and adhesives

PossibleHeavy metals in synthetic pigments (antimony, cadmium in colorants)

Where these two actually differ

  • We flag Azo dyes in canvas and Formaldehyde resin finishing on canvas on the Converse and not on the New Balance.
  • We flag Azo dyes in textile colorants, Formaldehyde-releasing resins in fabric finishes and adhesives, Heavy metals in synthetic pigments (antimony, cadmium in colorants) and Microplastics and fiber shedding on the New Balance and not on the Converse.
  • The Converse is Canvas upper, rubber sole where the New Balance is Textile with Gore-Tex waterproof membrane, 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.

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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