Chuck Taylor All Star Cx Exp2 4.5 Men A07199C vs Men's Velocity Nitro 4 GTX: 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
Men's Velocity Nitro 4 GTX
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
LikelyPFAS in Gore-Tex waterproof membrane
PossibleAdhesive and glue off-gassing
ReportedMicroplastic shedding from sole and upper degradation
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 waterproof membrane, Adhesive and glue off-gassing and Microplastic shedding from sole and upper degradation on the Puma and not on the Converse.
- The Converse is Canvas upper, rubber sole where the Puma 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.
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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