Chrome introduced a shoe lineup in 2010 and sent over a pair of the Dresden for review on Bike198. Chrome is known for supplying incredible bags and accessories for the commuter biking industry, so we were excited to get these shoes on an out on the street.
Dresden Shoe Specs from Chrome
We wanted a good-looking but tough shoe we could wear every day from bike, to work, to bar. Don’t let its suede exterior fool you. The Dresden is packed with all of the durable technology and riding details you can expect from us, like a board lasted sole, a fiberglass shank, a lace garage, and a reflective hit on the back heel.
Fit: Narrow fit is true to size. Order the same size as other vulcanized shoes, like your Cons.
Weight: 2.0 lb.
Fabric: 100% Suede upper
Features:
- Suede upper
- 100% vulcanized construction
- Low profile design for easy toe cage integration
- Re-enforced nylon/glass fiber shank for midsole support
- Board lasted sole to eliminate pedal hot spot
- Skid resistant contact rubber on the sole
- Polyurethane contoured crash pad insole
- Durable rubber heel cup with reflective safety hit
- Lace garage so laces don’t get caught in your chain
- Steel aglets to prevent lace fray
- MSRP: $80.00
- Click here to purchase
From the Bike198 shopIs My Bike Ok?$26Shop Review: Chrome Dresden Commuter Shoe
The Dresden shoe from Chrome features a simplistic design without a bunch of logos or flare. The soft suede outer covering and red accents flow nicely throughout the shoe without attracting a whole lot of attention to your feet. I personally like the overall design of the shoe but that is typically personal preference.
The first thing I noticed when I put the Dresden’s on for the first time was how comfortable they were. Even for a rather flat profile, the soles feel cushy and were comfortable for all day wearing on cement and other hard surfaces. Around the house, they almost felt like slippers. On the bike, the soles gripped the pedals very well via the red soles and the low profile front left plenty of room for toe clips. Even with a lot of use, the grippy soles didn’t wear prematurely which was a nice surprise.
Overall durability was pretty good considering the amount of abuse a commuter shoe will take. The steel ends on the laces was a nice touch to prevent fraying when in contact with the elements and the suede covering held up against concrete hits and pedal strikes. However, if you want them to keep that “like new” look, there will be some added conditioning with suede protectors and brushes.
Overall, we were really happy with the Dresden from Chrome. The simple design matched with a solid, gripping sole and all day comfort make for a great shoe for bike commuting. Whether or not you like the look of them is completely up to you (two other colors are available as well), but we liked the overall look as well.
Positive: Chrome Dresden Shoes
- Simplistic design perfect for bike commuting.
- Grippy sole that doesn’t wear out quickly.
- Durable structure including steel tipped laces.
- Comfortable for all day use.
Negative: Chrome Dresden Shoes
- Suede exterior does require more maintenance to keep looking new.
Click here to purchase a pair of Chrome Dresden’s
I founded Bike198 back in 2008 and started riding bikes seriously in 1994. A lot has changed since that time and one of the greatest releases is still getting out on the bike and shredding trail or tearing up the road.