Chuck Taylor All Star Cx Exp2 4.5 Men A07199C vs Men's Waterproof Track Woosher Sneaker: 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
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
Skechers
Men's Waterproof Track Woosher Sneaker
PFAS grade
Bad 20/100
Overall grade
Bad 6/100
Verdict
Skip
Hazard flags
⚑ 2
Material
Synthetic leather upper, polyurethane/rubber sole, waterproof treatment (unspecified chemistry)
Confidence
35%
PossiblePolyurethane sole off-gassing (volatile organics)
ReportedWaterproof treatment chemistry undisclosed (PFAS or alternative)
Where these two actually differ
- We flag Azo dyes in canvas and Formaldehyde resin finishing on canvas on the Converse and not on the Skechers.
- We flag Polyurethane sole off-gassing (volatile organics) and Waterproof treatment chemistry undisclosed (PFAS or alternative) on the Skechers and not on the Converse.
- The Converse is Canvas upper, rubber sole where the Skechers is Synthetic leather upper, polyurethane/rubber sole, waterproof treatment (unspecified chemistry), 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 Skechers grade, at 35% confidence against 72%, because it discloses less.
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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