Chuck Taylor All Star Cx Exp2 4.5 Men A07199C vs Men's Pegasus 42 GORE-TEX Running Shoes: 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

Skip

Hazard flags

⚑ 2

Material

Canvas upper, rubber sole

Confidence

72%

PossibleAzo dyes in canvas

PossibleFormaldehyde resin finishing on canvas

Nike Men's Pegasus 42 GORE-TEX Running Shoes

Nike

Men's Pegasus 42 GORE-TEX Running Shoes

PFAS grade

Bad 20/100

Overall grade

Bad 0/100

Verdict

Skip

Hazard flags

⚑ 4

Material

textile upper with GORE-TEX waterproof membrane

Confidence

45%

LikelyPFAS in waterproof membrane and water-repellent coating finish

PossibleFormaldehyde resins in textile finishes

PossibleAzo dyes or reactive dyes in colored fabric

Where these two actually differ

  • We flag Azo dyes in canvas and Formaldehyde resin finishing on canvas on the Converse and not on the Nike.
  • We flag PFAS in waterproof membrane and DWR finish, Formaldehyde resins in textile finishes, Azo dyes or reactive dyes in colored fabric and Degradation of bonded membrane on the Nike and not on the Converse.
  • The Converse is Canvas upper, rubber sole where the Nike is textile upper 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.
  • We are less certain about the Nike 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 →

More running & athletic shoes, see the full ranking