Chuck Taylor All Star Cx Exp2 4.5 Men A07199C vs Men's Viva Speed 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

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Hazard flags

⚑ 2

Material

Canvas upper, rubber sole

Confidence

72%

PossibleAzo dyes in canvas

PossibleFormaldehyde resin finishing on canvas

Reebok Men's Viva Speed Shoes

Reebok

Men's Viva Speed Shoes

PFAS grade

Good 65/100

Overall grade

Poor 49/100

Verdict

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Hazard flags

⚑ 4

Material

textile upper, rubber sole, synthetic overlays

Confidence

62%

PossibleFormaldehyde resins in textile finishing

PossibleAzo dyes in synthetic textile

PossibleVolatile organic compounds (VOCs) from rubber sole and adhesives

Where these two actually differ

  • We flag Azo dyes in canvas and Formaldehyde resin finishing on canvas on the Converse and not on the Reebok.
  • We flag Formaldehyde resins in textile finishing, Azo dyes in synthetic textile, Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from rubber sole and adhesives and Microplastics from synthetic textile degradation on the Reebok and not on the Converse.
  • The Converse is Canvas upper, rubber sole where the Reebok is textile upper, rubber sole, synthetic overlays, 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: 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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