Chuck Taylor All Star Cx Exp2 4.5 Men A07199C vs Men's Fresh Foam X Hierro v9: 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
New Balance
Men's Fresh Foam X Hierro v9
PFAS grade
Good 65/100
Overall grade
Good 53/100
Verdict
Skip
Hazard flags
⚑ 3
Material
Knit textile upper, foam midsole, rubber outsole
Confidence
45%
PossibleAzo dyes and textile colorants
PossibleFoam off-gassing (midsole)
PossibleAntimony in polyester components
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 and textile colorants, Foam off-gassing (midsole) and Antimony in polyester components on the New Balance and not on the Converse.
- The Converse is Canvas upper, rubber sole where the New Balance is Knit textile upper, foam midsole, rubber outsole, which is most of the difference in these two grades.
- These two are level, close enough that price and fit should decide it rather than our grade.
- We are less certain about the New Balance 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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