Chuck Taylor All Star Cx Exp2 4.5 Men A07199C vs Fast-Trac Nitro 4 Gore-tex Men's Waterproof Trail 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
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleAzo dyes in canvas
PossibleFormaldehyde resin finishing on canvas
Puma
Fast-Trac Nitro 4 Gore-tex Men's Waterproof Trail Running Shoes
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
LikelyPFAS in Gore-tex membrane and water-repellent coating
PossibleAzo dyes in synthetic textiles
PossibleFormaldehyde resins in textile finishing
Where these two actually differ
- We flag Azo dyes in canvas and Formaldehyde resin finishing on canvas on the Converse and not on the Puma.
- We flag PFAS in Gore-tex membrane and DWR coating, Azo dyes in synthetic textiles, Formaldehyde resins in textile finishing and Antimony in polyester on the Puma and not on the Converse.
- The Converse is Canvas upper, rubber sole where the Puma is Gore-tex membrane with textile upper, unspecified DWR 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 Puma 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