Under Armour · Running & Athletic Shoes
Under Armour Men's Charged Gemini Running Shoes
Skip until Under Armour discloses water-repellent coating chemistry.
Running shoes with water-repellent treatment but no public PFAS disclosure from Under Armour. Waterproofing coatings often contain PFAS; brand provides no transparency or testing data.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Synthetic textile upper with unspecified water-repellent treatment
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
You may also be interested in
Top-graded picks in the categories readers replace first, every one scored on the same rubric.
- polypropylene filter housing, carbon/sediment cartridge
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Bacterial growth in spent cartridges
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Aquasure
Premier Series 75 GPD Under Sink Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System
- RO membrane, carbon filters, stainless steel housing
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Bacterial and microbial growth in housing and filters
4 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Avocado
Vegan Mattress
- organic cotton, natural latex, coconut coir, recycled steel coils
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Heavy metals
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
What Under Armour Men's Charged Running Shoes is made of, ingredients and materials
The Charged Gemini upper is synthetic textile (polyester/nylon blend typical for this shoe class) treated with an unspecified water-repellent finish. Under Armour has not disclosed whether this water-repellent coating treatment contains legacy or GenX PFAS compounds, fluorocarbon-free alternatives, or other chemistry. Synthetic textile uppers do not inherently leach chemicals into skin, but the durability and composition of the water-repellent coating directly affect how long that protection holds and what compounds may break down over the shoe's life.
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.
PFAS
Unspecified water-repellent finish on synthetic upper is a standard location for legacy PFAS (PFOA, PFOS) or emerging PFAS alternatives. Under Armour's silence on chemistry leaves this as an assumed hazard in the product class unless proven otherwise.
Source, ATSDR ↗Formaldehyde / VOCs
Polyester and nylon textiles may be finished with formaldehyde-based resins for wrinkle resistance or shape retention. No formaldehyde recall or disclosure exists on record for this specific shoe, but the hazard is possible in budget synthetic textiles.
Source, ATSDR ↗Microplastic shedding from synthetic upper
Synthetic textile uppers shed microfibers through wear and washing. This is an environmental hazard more than a direct consumer health hazard, but microplastic fibers in runoff and soil are a documented concern with synthetic textiles.
Coating degradation and leachable breakdown products
As the water-repellent coating ages and wears, the breakdown products of the underlying chemical treatment are unknown without disclosure of the original chemistry. Unspecified coatings cannot be assessed for safe degradation profiles.
What’s reassuring
Azo dyes in synthetic upper and lining
No specific report of restricted azo dyes (those releasing carcinogenic amines) in Charged Gemini. Under Armour does not publicly report azo dye screening, but no recalls or complaints have surfaced for this product line.
How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Under Armour has not published a public PFAS policy, preferred water-repellent coating chemistries, or transition timeline to fluorocarbon-free water repellents as of the latest available information. The brand has faced no widely documented recalls or lawsuits tied to PFAS in footwear, but the absence of disclosure is itself a red flag in an industry where major competitors (Nike, Adidas, Salomon) have begun phasing PFAS or committing to alternatives. This silence makes it impossible to verify whether the Charged Gemini uses safer chemistry or legacy PFAS.
How it compares in its category
Most running shoes in this price range use some form of synthetic water-repellent coating; the Charged Gemini is representative, not exceptional. Competitor brands including ASICS, Brooks, and New Balance have begun labeling water-repellent coating-free options or committing to PFAS elimination on select models, making transparency increasingly available in the category. Under Armour's silence on this product places it in a weaker disclosure position than leading alternatives, though the actual chemical risk cannot be quantified without brand data.
If you buy it
Wash the shoe upper gently in cool water with mild soap; avoid machine washing, which may accelerate coating breakdown and potential leaching. Do not expose to heat sources or dry in direct sunlight for extended periods, as synthetic textile coatings can degrade faster at high temperatures. Replace the shoes when the upper seams fray, cushioning compresses significantly, or visible coating loss occurs, typically 300-500 miles of use. Monitor fit and support closely; worn cushioning increases injury risk more than coating degradation affects chemical exposure.
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.
What are the PFAS-free alternatives to Under Armour Men's Charged Gemini Running Shoes?
- Canvas upper, rubber sole
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Azo dyes in canvas
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Find an alternative on Amazon
- Canvas, rubber sole
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Azo dyes and synthetic dyes
4 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Find an alternative on Amazon
- Mesh upper, Fresh Foam midsole, rubber outsole
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Azo dyes and color-based toxins
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Find an alternative on AmazonMore 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.