Life In The Saddle

The Chrome Industries Mini Kadet Sling might look like a little like a miniature satchel to the uneducated eye; but in fact, this sling bag is far from begin a masculine handbag. Rather, it is a robust and incredibly useful everyday carry—based on Chrome's prestigious heritage producing some of the best urban cycle courier bags in the world. When you travel regularly, for work or pleasure, you find that juggling a water bottle, wallet, notebook, jacket and other small essentials becomes a tricky task; to the extent that you become rather envious of the practical handbag that your (normally female) travelling companion safely stashes all such belongings in. Enter a solution—the Chrome Mini Kadet Sling Bag. Based on the iconic Kadet Sling Bag that has been popular with bicycle couriers, commuters and travellers for many years, the Mini Kadet is the super compact sibling—offering five litres of storage capacity in a robust and durable design. This is the perfect way to carry your ...

Chrome Industries make some of the best cycling backpacks in the world; keeping your kit safe and dry as you ride through the urban landscape day after day. The new Chrome Bravo 3.0 Urban Cycling Backpack is presented as ‘the ultimate urban rolltop’: featuring a roll-top waterproof compartment, quick-access laptop pocket and an additional cargo carrying strap system. The Bravo 3.0 is a 35-litre backpack made from super durable 1050D water-resistant nylon, with a recycled polyester lining. Inside the main compartment there is also a removable taped-seam waterproof tote bag that provides further weather protection for the contents and a further versatile kit carrying option. The front pocket offers an organisation area, with room for pens and small valuables, as well as a padded laptop sleeve that will accommodate up to a 15-inch laptop. On both sides of the cross-vented moulded back panel there are hidden phone/wallet pockets that allow you to stow these personal belonging safely but...

A handlebar bag is an undeniably useful addition to any adventure bike; allowing you to carry valuables and long ride essentials safe and close to hand. The new Chrome Industries Doubletrack Handlebar Sling Bag takes the concept of a handlebar bag and makes it even more useful and versatile; by allowing it to also be adapted into a sling shoulder bag or hip pack. The Doubletrack Handlebar Sling Bag has a vintage look and feel to it. The hard-wearing water-resistant canvas construction, with the leather logo patch and roll-top closure, instantly appeals for its retro heritage style. Chrome's signature styling is the start of the Doubletrack handlebar, but the real merit in this design lies in the practical details… Storage comes in the form of the main compartment with its roll-top closure and magnetic fid-lock clasp—though the brand does not claim this compartment to be waterproof, it has proven to be very weatherproof. There are then two mesh pockets on the side of the bag fo...

Caps and hats are back… I seem to be wearing some sort of headwear year-round these days: snapbacks and baseball caps to shield from the sun in the summer; beanies and wide brims to keep the chill and downpours off in the winter months. The Chrome 5 Panel Cap is a smart baseball style cap, with a 360-degree reflective profile—making it the perfect choice for darker days. I got the Chrome 5 Panel Cap thinking it would be perfect for night-time running; with its well-ventilated design and reflective profile, it looked to be the ideal solution to keep winter downpours off my head while also increasing my road presence in low light conditions. It definitely ticks that box, while also acting as an absorbent headband—keeping sweat out of your eyes. As well as acting like a beacon on top of your head when you are running, the Chrome 5 Panel Cap has also proven to be a great accessory for cycling; it can be worn underneath a helmet to keep rain and windchill off your head. A great piece of mu...

With the arrival of the wet months of autumn and winter, a waterproof cycling jacket is an indispensable layer. The new Chrome Industries Candlestick Coaches Jacket is a cycling inspired development on the classic coach jacket worn by team directors at sports fixtures around the world. The USA brand has taken the timeless style and produced a jacket with waterproof stretch fabric, taped seams, and other great cycling specific features. Much like other Chrome items I have tested in the past, this is a winner… The Colorado based Chrome Industries team produce apparel and luggage made to deal with decades of hard riding on the city streets. I have previously reviewed their bags, shorts, and boots on the blog; all of which continue to do me great service ( see my earlier Chrome reviews here ). The new Chrome Candlestick Coaches Jacket is a waterproof layer that looks at home both chilling at the bar or blasting down the bike path. Whereas a classic coach jacket is designed for ins...

Chrome Industries are an icon in the world of bicycle courier luggage. More than twenty years ago, in the city of Boulder (Colorado) the brand created the sling messenger bag out of seatbelt buckles and straps, five bar webbing, and a double-lined waterproof truck tarpaulin interior. Their tag-line reads ' Building Indestructible Gear Since 1995 '—a claim they reliably hold true to. The Chrome Barrage Cargo Backpack is a new leading light in their indestructible messenger bag waterproof backpack line-up—created to be the ultimate roll-top bike messenger rucksack. Capable of carry your daily cycle commute load or your weekend adventure kit—this backpack is as versatile and hardcore as they come. The Barrage Cargo is made from abrasion resistant 1050D Nylon, with a welded waterproof truck tarpaulin liner, and a classic waterproof roll-top closure. The design makes it a watertight load carrier—with the cavernous main compartment safely accommodating 22 litres of gear, includi...

When I reviewed the Chrome Industries Summoner Backpack earlier this year I was impressed by the quality, durability, and attention to detail in the Boulder brand's product — it has since become my go-to travel bag. With this in mind, their range of workboots also got me interested… could the Chrome Storm 415 Workboot be the ideal waterproof and comfortable casual boot for cycling errands and adventures? This is my review… Chrome Industries were the pioneers behind the original sling bike messenger bag. More than 20 years ago in the city of Boulder – Colorado the brand created the now famous bag out of seatbelt buckles and straps, five-bar webbing, and double-lined bombproof interiors. Their strapline now reads 'Building Indestructible Gear Since 1995' — a claim that they reliably hold true to. Work boots need to be indestructible, and the Chrome Workboots were designed for the factory workers in the Chrome headquarters; demanding constant daily use, for those often...

Intercity travel should not mean heavy rigid cases that swallow up your belongings like the kitchen sink. The Modal collection from Chrome Industries is a range of versatile and durable bags that will allow you to stay organised and flexible on your travels—both on and off the bike. The Chrome Summoner Backpack is the mid-sized 32 litre rucksack from the brand, and it has proven to be a superbly designed travel bag. Chrome Industries were the pioneers behind the original sling bike messenger bag. More than 20 years ago in the city of Boulder–Colorado the brand created the now famous bag out of seatbelt buckles and straps, five bar webbing, and double-lined bombproof interiors. Their strapline now reads 'Building Indestructible Gear Since 1995'—a claim that they reliably hold true to. Chrome Industries bags are not just built to last in the urban jungle though, they are also designed to be practical, lightweight, and stylish. The Modal collection is all about fulfilling th...

Spring is here. Summer is soon on the horizon. Shorts are the way forward, and the new Folsom Short 2.0 from Chrome Industries has become one of my go-to options for casual wear and casual riding. On a recent trip to Berlin—the city that oozes urban cool—I spotted a definite trend… Chrome. Chrome Industries messenger bags adorned more shoulders that I could count, and if a guy or girl riding a flat bar fixie pulled up alongside the tram, then it could be almost guaranteed that they were rocking some piece of apparel or luggage from the distinctive American brand. One of the brand's straplines is 'Building Indestructible Gear Since 1995', and damn is that right. This is the brand that first invented the swing-over messenger bag; using seatbelt buckles and straps, five bar webbing, and double-lined bombproof interiors. From the outset, the brand was built for the urban jungle. More than 20 years on, with the days of garage floor sewing machine production well in the...