Under Armour · Running & Athletic Shoes
Under Armour Charged Edge Men's Training Shoes
Unknown water-repellent coating treatment; no PFAS disclosure from Under Armour.
Training shoes likely include a water-repellent finish on the textile upper, which may contain PFAS. Under Armour does not publicly disclose PFAS use or avoidance in footwear.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Synthetic textile upper with water-repellent coating, rubber sole
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Under Armour Charged Edge Training Shoes is made of, ingredients and materials
The Charged Edge upper is synthetic textile (likely polyester or nylon blend) treated with a water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) coating to shed moisture. The sole is rubber compound. The water-repellent coating finish is the primary concern, Under Armour has not publicly disclosed whether this coating contains PFAS (fluorochemicals), which are common in water-repellent treatments and linked to bioaccumulation. Synthetic textiles themselves carry lower chemical risk than natural fibers during manufacture, but the applied coating chemistry is the variable factor here.
What’s concerning
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
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.
water-repellent coating (fluorochemical content unknown)
Synthetic textiles commonly receive PFAS-based water-repellent coating treatments. Under Armour has not disclosed the chemistry of the coating on this model, so presence or absence cannot be confirmed from public information. PFAS accumulates in the body and environment and is graded separately at 20/100.
Microplastics
Rubber soles shed microparticles during wear. This is inherent to synthetic-soled footwear and not specific to Under Armour, but prolonged wear and high-friction surfaces increase shedding. No mitigation available to the user beyond normal replacement cycles.
Source, EPA ↗What’s reassuring
Azo dyes in synthetic textiles
No recalls or warnings on record for azo dyes in Under Armour Charged Edge shoes. Synthetic textile dyeing in major brands is typically subject to standard testing, though independent verification is not always public.
Antimony in polyester
Antimony trioxide is a catalyst used in polyester production. The Charged Edge upper material composition is not specified in detail, so presence of polyester versus alternative synthetics cannot be confirmed. Standard athletic footwear uses conventional polyester with antimony levels generally below regulatory concern, but transparency on this product is absent.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
No established records of formaldehyde concerns in Under Armour training shoes. Synthetic shoes typically use formaldehyde-free adhesives in modern manufacture, but brand does not publicly state this for the Charged Edge line.
Source, ATSDR ↗How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Under Armour has not published transparent information on PFAS use in its footwear or apparel lines, nor does it appear in public chemical safety pledges or certification databases at the level of peers like Nike or Adidas. The company has faced no major product recalls tied to chemical hazards in training shoes. However, absence of disclosure is not absence of risk. Without third-party testing or brand statements, the water-repellent coating treatment origin and composition remain unknown.
How it compares in its category
Most major athletic brands use water-repellent coating coatings on training shoes; few disclose PFAS status. Under Armour sits in the mid-range for transparency versus premium athletic brands. Some alternatives (e.g., ASICS, Brooks) offer PFAS-free or fluorocarbon-free product lines with clear labeling. The Charged Edge occupies a standard synthetic-textile shoe category with no distinguishing safety certification or reduced-chemical claim.
If you buy it
Wash shoes in cool water and mild detergent; avoid machine drying or heat, which may accelerate coating degradation. Store in a dry, ventilated space to prevent mold and bacterial growth inside. Replace the shoes when the sole shows significant wear (reduced cushioning) or the upper seams begin to separate, typically 300-500 miles of use. Do not attempt to re-waterproof with additional water-repellent coating spray unless the product explicitly states it is PFAS-free.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 35% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Under Armour has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
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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.