Chrome Tobruk Shoes

Chrome’s second foray into the shoe market was met with a warm reception, and their subsequent trade-in promotion put their kicks into the limelight. The latest release from Chrome are the Tobruk slip-ons, which I had to have as soon as I saw them. I’ve been so happy with the suede-leather Arnhem model, that a set of slip-on’s just made sense.

The Tobruk’s feature the same red sole as all Chrome shoes, which involves a multi-layer construction with fiber reinforcements. Chrome really hit the nail on the head with their design, as the sole is stiff beneath the pedal, but flexible enough to walk around on all day long.

Like their messenger bags and most of the Chrome shoes, the uppers are made from 1000 denier Cordura. Obviously, it’s some tough stuff. The only sign of wear after two months of use are little spots on the tongue where the rivets from my toe clips did a little damage. It’s barely noticeable however, as you can see from the photo. It’s not to say Chrome shoes are indestructible, though. A friend of mine took a tumble and tore his Saipan’s up pretty badly. He contacted Chrome and a new pair showed up a few days later. Now that’s customer service!

Unlike the messenger bags, the shoes are manufactured in China. Guangzhou province, specifically, which surrounds the special administrative region Hong Kong. Politics aside, the fact of the matter is, the Chinese know how to make good athletic shoes.

One small nit to pick with Chrome shoes is that they don’t seem to have the same anti-bacterial treatment as the other shoes I wear without socks. The smell isn’t really noticeable while I’m wearing them, but when I when I go to change after a sweaty commute, well… On the bright side, they dry quickly, which makes washing them quite feasible, not to mention a boon for times when you get caught riding in the rain.

The Tobruk shoes retail for $70.

Check out www.chromebagsstore.com

Ilumenox