irwin7638

I posted this on my blog and just wonder what experience others had had with Chrome shoes.
I'm not much for buying bike specific clothing but recently decided to try a pair of Chrome shoes. My son has one of their messenger bags and the whole "guaranteed period, built to last forever" sales pitch attracted me. I've got to admit, I like them, they fit well right out of the box, are made of a really sturdy canvas type material and the bike specific features are all in the sole. The arch support is pretty rigid, not like a regular bike shoe, but obviously more for riding than walking and the insole feels softer and more substantial right on the ball of the foot where we need the extra comfort. The material is dense enough to provide a little better wind protection than your normal slipon and keeps your toes a little warmer on the cold days.

CCrew

Most of us here don't buy into the fixie hipster mold

I have one of their messenger bags and love it, but I ride clipless so they have nothing for me in shoes.

buffalo_cody

I got a pair free when they were doing a promotion a while back, and I've grown to like them. Someone asked about them on here probably a month after I had them, and gave them a mediocre/negative review. I was using them with power grips, and they just weren't comfortable riding. The edges of the sole where the siding is glued on had some canvas (string?) begin to fray too. I've since switched to toe clips + straps, and that made a world of difference. The problem was with the power grips, not the shoes. I expected the fraying to continue, and sides to unglue but they haven't frayed anymore in the six months I've had them. They've actually been holding up quite well.
As far as the overall stiffness, walkability, and support goes, I think Chrome did a great job finding a happy medium. I don't find them uncomfortable to walk in (as some folks do). Just a little awkward, but you get used to it. I know some people have had problems with the back of the shoe being too stiff, and rubbing their Achilles tendon area. I ended up the Chrome Midways (midway between low top, and high top), and I never experienced the rubbing. Overall I'm happy with them, though I don't know if I'd personally spend $100 on them.

rustybrown

Aye, I also landed one of the free pairs of shoes.

Holding up rather well, after several months of use. A little bit of fraying and wear around the sole, same as buffalo_cody, but nothing structural dismissive.

The thick cordura/suede combo dries quickly with the newspaper trick, and is warm enough for winter in de Souf.

Very solid shoe, the more that I think about it.

10 Wheels

I got a free pair.
Very nice shoe.

Size 13

flyingWeez

I have a pair of midways (paid for mine though). I've been wearing mine since the beginning of October probably three days a week. I normally wear a size 13 in most shoes and I first ordered a pair of 13 Dresdens and they were huge on me. I returned them for size 12 Midways, they can be a bit tight at times (12.5s would be spot on). They are great shoes for commuting to school and walking around a bit and then riding home. Extended amounts of walking can be kind of uncomfortable.

monsterpile

After reading this thread I feel better about not buying the pair I saw that were supposed to be new and in my size on Craiglsist for $20. I bet they are great shoes, but based on what people have said and what I am now looking for in shoes they wouldn't be for me. I am sure whoever got them are pretty excited. They looked really awesome in the pic. I need to stop going for cheap or just what looks nifty that is my size and get quality and comfort. Thats so hard for me because I like shoes (my wife barely has more than me) and I am cheap. =)

CB HI

You should pay closer attention.

First, several of us got free Chrome Kursk shoes when they did their 48 hour promotional swap for old pairs of shoes. I really like my free Chrome Kursk shoes.

Second, you can ride clipless in Chromes:

https://www.chromebagsstore.com/shoes/kursk-pro.html

coquearaujo

I have no experience with them, but read several reviews where they say that their clipless shoes where a pain, literaly, since the sole is too soft and you end feeling the cleat giving you some pain in your feet...

I wanted to buy a pair and thos reviews got me away from them.

Coque.

CB HI

I suspect that those reviews were by people either new to clipless or people who normally wear the very stiff soles for riding clipless.

I use the Kursk (not Kursk-Pro) with Shimano PD-M647 Pedal when going to lift weights or just to the store



I would think that the Kursk-Pro would be more comfortable on these pedals. But even the regular Kursk feel better than using tennis shoes but not as confortable as my hard sole clipless shoes that I commute in.

So, yea, propably a trade off, but works fine for me.

CCrew

They weren't released when I posted in December.

martianone

I've had a pair of Krusk shoes for about a year. Worn them extensively on and off the bike.
Played soccer with my kid, mowed the lawn, commuted to work, wore them on a week long tour. They have been great. Have flat pedals on most of my bikes - the sole and padding is a good balance of stiffness and flex. After a few months sort of a string appeared on the edge of the sole, which i trimmed off with scissors - otherwise they show little wear. They were a little warm on the hottest summer days.

irwin7638

I'm not surprised at the warmth. I've only ridden them in cold weather. The canvas is very dense and keeps wind-chill down very well. A ride partner the other day commented that I must be freezing while I wa sss perfectly comfortable. He as wearing Bontrager "booties" and felt cold.

modernjess

I got a free pair in the "turds for gold" promo they did last year, so did my son, the low ones that look like hipster Chuck Taylors. Kudo's to Chrome, I loved the idea and the spirit behind the promotion. Honestly, though they are the single most uncomfortable pair of shoes I have ever owned. My son also shares this sentiment.

They see only very occasional duty as one of a few pairs of shoes I keep at the office for commute days. They are well built I think and I'm sure they will last forever because they mainly collect dust.

Sorry Chrome, but I give them 2 thumbs down.

CB HI

I guess I was giving you too much credit as a Psychic.