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Forged Rubber Sneakers is a new line of footwear by the San Francisco-based cycling accessory company Chrome Industries. With the help of 70-year-old machines from Slovakia, the sneakers are handmade one at a time, just like vintage army boots. The military-grade shoes are made of Chrome Industries’ 12-ounce canvas and rubber harvested and manufactured in Thailand. In production, the canvas upper and rubber sole are fused at 300 degrees Fahrenheit so that the material bond won’t ever break, not even at flex point. The durable designs promise to pedal, walk, and kick through the streets for years to come.
The Forged Rubber Sneaker family includes the three versions: the Mirka, the Dima, and the Timur. The Mirka and the Timur have easy-tie laces, while the Dima is a classic slip-on. The Mirka offers added eyelet ventilation, and the Timur goes for bold with a contrasting side stripe. Each style is available in three or more versatile colorways, and all are priced at $85. After a quick weekend test, we can say that the hard canvas shoes feel solid and the anti-microbial sole actually fights odor quite well. As is to be expected, both designs feel more comfortable against a pedal than on the ground. The hard canvas tennis shoes collect dirt quickly but rock the scruffy look and will likely age well with time and wear.
