Converse · Running & Athletic Shoes
Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Cx Exp2 4.5 Men A07199C
Casual canvas shoe, lower concern for PFAS; no water treatment typical.
Chuck Taylors are primarily canvas and rubber with no reported water-resistant coating. No PFAS disclosure from Converse, but standard casual sneakers rarely use fluorinated treatments.
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Material
Canvas upper, rubber sole
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Cx Exp2 is made of, ingredients and materials
Chuck Taylor All Star shoes use cotton canvas uppers, typically treated with sizing and finishing agents to improve durability and water resistance. The rubber sole is synthetic rubber, usually vulcanized and may contain trace heavy metals or accelerators from manufacturing. Canvas itself is a natural fiber with low inherent toxicity, but finishing processes and dyes applied during production are the main chemical exposure points.
What’s concerning
Category baseline
The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
Azo dyes in canvas
Canvas uppers are typically dyed with synthetic dyes; restricted azo compounds (those that cleave to release carcinogenic amines) are regulated in EU but not comprehensively in US footwear. Converse does not specify azo restrictions for this model, so exposure risk exists but is low during normal wear since dyes are bonded to fiber.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Canvas sizing and wrinkle-resistant finishes sometimes use formaldehyde-based resins. Off-gassing is typically minimal in finished footwear compared to treated textiles, and any fumes dissipate within the first few days of wear.
Source, ATSDR ↗What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
Heavy metals
Vulcanized rubber soles may contain trace zinc, manganese, or cobalt as process accelerators. No recalls or testing data specific to Chuck Taylor All Stars indicate unsafe levels; leaching during normal contact is minimal.
Source, FDA ↗Adhesive and glue breakdown
Shoe adhesives (typically polyurethane or rubber-based) used to bond sole to upper can degrade with repeated heat or moisture exposure, but this is a durability issue, not an acute chemical hazard for this product.
The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
Converse (owned by Nike) does not publish detailed chemical disclosure reports or third-party certifications for most shoe lines, including this model. The brand has not faced major product safety recalls for this shoe line based on publicly available records. Nike parent company has faced PFAS and environmental sourcing scrutiny, but Converse itself maintains minimal public communication on restricted substance policies specific to canvas footwear.
How it compares in its category
Canvas athletic shoes as a category carry lower chemical risk than synthetic leather or heavily treated technical footwear. Chuck Taylors are a baseline comfort/casual shoe without specialized coatings, flame retardants, or antimicrobial treatments that would raise hazard profiles. Competitor canvas shoes (Vans, ASICS canvas models) operate under similar material frameworks and disclosure gaps.
If you buy it
Canvas will soften and mold to your foot over time, which is normal and not a safety concern. Avoid machine washing at high temperatures, as heat can degrade glues in the sole and weaken stitching. Replace when sole tread flattens or upper stitching separates, typically after 1-2 years of regular wear. Store in a cool, dry place to prevent mold growth on the canvas, especially in humid climates.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 72% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Converse has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
More running & athletic shoes grades
How we score, every product runs through the same public 0-100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.