Chuck Taylor All Star Cx Exp2 4.5 Men A07199C vs Women's Fresh Foam Arishi v4 Shoes: which is safer?

These two grade almost identically. Pick on price and preference; neither has a PFAS edge.

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

New Balance Women's Fresh Foam Arishi v4 Shoes

New Balance

Women's Fresh Foam Arishi v4 Shoes

PFAS grade

Good 65/100

Overall grade

Good 57/100

Verdict

Skip

Hazard flags

⚑ 2

Material

Mesh upper, Fresh Foam midsole, rubber outsole

Confidence

72%

PossibleAzo dyes and color-based toxins

PossibleAntimony in polyester

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 color-based toxins and Antimony in polyester on the New Balance and not on the Converse.
  • The Converse is Canvas upper, rubber sole where the New Balance is Mesh upper, Fresh 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.

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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