Coverage brought to you by
Salomon – Designed for Freedom
Urban hipster 'Work Boots' launched by Chrome
March 14, 2013, 1:09 pm / Categories: Footwear
Put away your fixed-gear bike. Jump on a skateboard? Chrome is a bike brand, but this week the company unveiled a boot made for skateboarders, the moto crowd, and flat-pedal cyclists.
The 415 Urban Work Boot is waterproof and sold as having a “sneaker-like” fit.
A steel toe is not included, but there is a padded ankle collar and Cordura or leather upper options. For insulation, the company uses a neoprene membrane that’s breathable and adds warmth.
We got a pair to test. They are good-looking and versatile for everyday wear with a slight punk/bike-messenger aesthetic. For a late-winter day on a bike — slushy, wet, mid-30s — our tester found the boots perfect for a flat-pedal city ride.
The midsole is very flexible — they bend in the hand like a shoe, not a boot. Watch out on ice and muddy terrain, the outsole has no lugs and is almost slick. Our tester spilled on an icy sidewalk in the boots.
Lightweight they are not. But at 18.4 ounces in a men’s size 10 the leather Urban Work Boot is not heavy for what it is (a high-top, durable shoe/boot).
Chrome sells the boots for $120 and up ($150 for the leather version). They come with a 365-day warranty against defects in materials and workmanship.
—Amy Oberbroeckling
Shop the GearJunkie Store
- Weekly E-Newsletter
Sign up for our e-news for a weekly update on new gear, adventure travel, and prize giveaways.
- Latest Articles
- Winners! 'Ragnar Trail' Sweepstakes with Salomon
- 'Pro-Level' Air Attack Helmet Put to Test
- Stomping Grounds: Photo Shoot and Shoe Test in 'Urban Outdoors'
- 'Golden Axe' award at GoPro Mountain Games
- Video: Three Weeks of Pristine Climbing in Greenland (in three minutes)
- Glacier Trek, Waterfalls, 'Blue Lagoon' highlights of Iceland Trip
- Seeking 'Mountain Bike Action' in photo contest with The North Face
- Up and Down the World's Highest Mountain in 36 Hours (that's the goal)
- 12yr.-old Kids kayak off waterfalls, Beat Adults in Comps
- Call from Anywhere. SPOT launches Satellite Phone for Outdoors
- Popular Articles
- 'Ragnar Trail' Sweepstakes Winners
- Giro 'Pro-Level' Air Attack Helmet Put to Test
- Stomping Grounds: Photo Shoot and Shoe Test in 'Urban Outdoors'
- 'Pro-Level' Air Attack Helmet Put to Test
- Workout Wear
- 'Fat Bike' Trend: Overrated or For Real?
- World's 10 Most Dangerous Mountains
- Survival Gear: 10 Items To Survive
- Fat Bike trend Dead? Walmart sells 'Beast' bike for $199
- Video: Three Weeks of Pristine Climbing in Greenland (in three minutes)
- Call from Anywhere. SPOT launches Satellite Phone for Outdoors
- Climber makes couch out of old rope (and 9 other odd uses)
- Glacier Trek, Waterfalls, 'Blue Lagoon' highlights of Iceland Trip
- First Look: Suunto 'Ambit 2' for multisport market
- Camping Gear Reviews | Gear Reviews
- Chimney Stove: Boil Water with Sticks and Grass
- SylvanSport GO Camper Trailer Review
- 50 Miles in Flip-Flops? Luna sells sandals to ultra-running market
- First Look: Bear Grylls unveils line of Camping gear
- Speed Racer: Giro Bike Helmet Reduces Drag, Slices through Air
- Friends of Gear Junkie
- Monopoint Media
- The Goat
- Alpinist
- Adventure Blog
- YogaSlackers
- Checkpoint Tracker
- Outdoorzy
- Get Outdoors
- Gear Flogger
- Feed The Habit
- Gear.com
- Adventure Journal
- SuperTopo
- Trailspace
- Outside Online
- iRunFar.com
- UpADowna
- About Adventure Travel
- Cold Splinters
- UpNorthica
- Sender Films
- Venture There
- Wend Magazine
- No Boundaries
- Breathe Magazine
- Elevation Outdoors
- Rock and Ice Magazine
- Trail Runner Magazine
- REI Blog
















check out the Keen NoPo and utility series. Made in america – which these are not- waterproof, and comes in at $160