Any time I have a chance to review a Chrome Industries collection, I never turn it down. It is the one brand that has impressed me every time, season after season. Known for their great collection of well designed bags, their clothing and shoes are (in my opinion) equally as impressive. I still wear the Forged Rubber Peshka 50/50 that I reviewed three years ago (I sport them around at least three times a week) and I’m just now starting to notice a little wear in the upper fabric where the laces cross over and tighten. This years collection seems even more well constructed and just as comfortable and stylish as you would expect from Chrome. So here is what we are working with…

SHORT SLEEVE MERINO HENLEY

chrome-shirt-busted-wallet-reviewKey Features:

  • Chest pocket with pencil slot
  • Three-button Henley neck
  • 65% Merino wool
  • 35% polyester
  • 100% Cotton chambray trim
  • Athletic cut
  • Extra length in the sleeves and tail

A simple yet classic t-shirt look, but with performance material that won’t hold the sweat and oder after a bike ride around town. The first time I tried this shirt on, I was immediately impressed by the way it felt. It seemed light, but ultra durable. It didn’t clean to my body, but hung like a t-shirt is supposed to. This is due to their “long tradition of blending athletic performance and style”. You can definitely feel the performance fabrics while still sporting a leisurely yet stylish look. 

Buy Now: $63.99

WOVEN WORKSHIRT

chrome-workshirt-busted-wallet-reviewKey Features:

  • Classic fit
  • Soft, durable, lightweight fabric
  • Triple-needle stitching and bartack details
  • Workwear chest pocket and pencil slot
  • US made Melamine buttons
  • Cut, sewn embellished in San Francisco

Just what you would expect in a workshirt (but with a touch of Chrome style).  You can definitely feel how well constructed this shirt is when you put it on. The Triple-needle stitching gives it a solid feel and the Melamine buttons are “virtually unbreakable” (although we haven’t actually tried to hulk-smash them). What I love about both shirts I’ve reviewed in this collection is that there is minimal shrinkage after washing. So when you order the perfect fit, it stays the perfect fit.

Buy Now: $89.99 

PACKABLE WIND COBRA JACKET

chrome-wind-jacket-busted-walletKey Features:

  • Wrinkle resistant
  • Water and wind resistant polyester shell
  • Internal front tech pocket
  • Three panel adjustable hood
  • 100% 50D polyester treated with DWR for water repellency
  • Designed for extra mobility
  • Hidden reflective material for visibility

Packable indeed! This thing rolls up small enough to shove in your large pocket or any bag. Perfect for the rainy and windy days. I found this to be the perfect jacket to bring along on those questionable golf days where the weather could take a turn at any minute. I love how lightweight this jacket is and the range of mobility. There was no restriction on range of motion while swinging my clubs on the course or riding my bike around town. Stashing it away in my golf bag was a great idea since it did rain off and on throughout our outing. Packing it into my smaller pocket in my golf bag didn’t create any wrinkles and kept me dry throughout the day. Love this jacket!

Buy Now: $79.99

BRANNAN PANT

chrome-pants-busted-walletKey Features:

  • Two rear patch pockets
  • Two front pockets
  • Zippered front passport pocket
  • Reflective inseam for cuff visibility
  • Ventilated, reinforced crotch gusset
  • Articulated knees for extra flexibility on the bike
  • Water-resistant, 4-way stretch Everest Fabric
  • 94% nylon, 6% spandex

If there were a pair of pants to complement the Packable Wind Cobra Jacket, it would be the Brannan Pant! Like the Cobra Jacket, these pants are water-resistant and light weight. Since they typically fit a little snug, the flexible 4-way stretch Everest Fabric material make for a super comfy fit. There is a ventilated, reinforced crotch gusset for airing out the boys as well as reflective inseam for cuff visibility. I also wear these on those brisk morning bike rides to work and also found these to be great golfing pants as well. The flexibility I got with the articulated knees and resistant to water made these my go-to golf pants!

Buy Now: $150.00

DIMA 2.0 SNEAKER

chrome-shoes-busted-wallet-reviewKey Features:

  • Contoured impact-resistant PU footbed
  • Chrome PowerPlate propulsion shank
  • Signature reflective heel for night visibility
  • Antimicrobial sock liner for odor resistance
  • 100% vulcanized rubber construction
  • Skid-resistant contact rubber sole
  • 100d military-grade nylon upper with back-padding

New look and improved construction from the original Dima sneaker. The Dima 2.0 has a sleeker look compared to the original (I wasn’t a fan of the toe line on the Dima 1.0) and I’m glad they re-designed the look a bit. Besides the more streamlined look, the comfort is still there, but unfortunately there is a size difference. Not sure why these are sized different from their predecessors, but they run a half to whole size bigger. They fit just fine with a pair of socks on, but are a tad loose without socks. So depending how you plan to wear these sneakers, you’ll want to order knowing that they do run big. The main idea of a “performance-focused slip-on” shoe is still there, but they did add the “Chrome PowerPlate™ shank” for some added power on the pedals and “vulcanized rubber soles” to stand up against walking the tough streets. Overall, I feel like there is an improvement from the Dima 1.0, but wish the size would stay true to what I would normally order.

Buy Now: $75.00

BRIGADE BACKPACK

chrome-bagKey Features:

  • Interior laptop compartment (fits 15″ Macbook Pro)
  • Magnetic buckle helmet leash carry system
  • Front overflow pocket
  • Hook and loop lash down straps
  • Ergonomic shoulder strap design
  • EVA foam back panel for comfort and breathability
  • Load-stabilizing sternum strap
  • 1050d nylon outer
  • 400d tarpaulin liner
  • 1680d nylon bottom

The Brigade backpack has all the great features I’ve seen in the majority of Chrome bags. I guess that’s why they call it the “Swiss Army Knife of bags”.  It’s rated as an all-season bike commuter pack with its waterproof zippers and tough nylon exterior. It has the foam back panel with breathability on those warm days as well as some comfy ergonomic shoulder straps and sternum strap to help for a more stabilized load when peddling hard. There is ample room inside as well as a padded sleeve that will fit any tablet or laptop up to 15″. There’s also a front pocket that’ll fit a pair of shoes or other similar sized items and messenger-style straps that’ll secure a skateboard, camera tripod, or whatever else you need to carry with you. I dig the side pocket for a water bottle, but wish they were a little deeper for those tall bottles. All in all, the Brigade backpack is one of my favorites from Chrome for style, storage space, versatility, durability, and practicality.

Buy Now: $135.99 or to learn more, check out: ChromeIndustries.com

Chrome Industries Spring/Summer '18 Collection
Chrome does it again with their 2018 Collection. Style -> Check, Comfort -> Check, Durability -> Check. Can't go wrong with any of these items.
SHORT SLEEVE MERINO HENLEY9.4
WOVEN WORKSHIRT9.5
PACKABLE WIND COBRA JACKET10
BRANNAN PANT9.3
BRIGADE BACKPACK9.7
9.6Overall Score
Reader Rating: (4 Votes)
6.6

About The Author

Digital Editor

Media specialist, fitness junky, and adventure seeker. Geno has a variety of skills that make him a product testing Ninja when it comes to Busted Wallet. Not only is he a black belt in karate, but he kick’s ass when it comes to reviewing and putting these products to their limits to make sure they are a great buy for our readers. His career as a Director, Producer, Camera Op, Editor, Animator, VFX artist, and Web Developer have enhanced his keen eye and thirst for quality. There’s no better way to showcase his passion for the latest and greatest adventure and high quality tech products than through Busted Wallet.

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