Chrome Folsom Short 2.0 Brindle

The Chrome Folsom Short 2.0 is a pair of cycling shorts for anyone who wants to ride far through the city without looking like they’re heading to a workout. We commute by bike ourselves on fixed gear and single speed bikes in the Folsom, and it’s a model that continues to deliver year after year. They look and work like a regular pair of shorts when you get off the bike, but the construction is made to withstand significantly more time in the saddle.

Chrome’s Everest material is durable, water-repellent and has four-way stretch for good freedom of movement while pedaling. The crotch has a seamless, double layer of material to reduce wear where the shorts sit against the saddle, and the reinforced 3-needle flat-felled seams are made to withstand many miles and plenty of everyday use. These are the kinds of details that make the Folsom proper cycling shorts rather than ordinary shorts made from stretchy fabric.

The Folsom has a six-panel construction and four pockets. The back pockets are so-called floating pockets with flat seams, which reduces the amount of material between you and the saddle. At the waist is Chrome’s distinctive U-lock holder in sturdy webbing, so you can carry a U-lock directly on the shorts. Reinforced belt loops, matte black details and a reflective patch at the back complete the construction without making the shorts overly technical.

With an 11" inseam and athletic fit, the Folsom sits closer to the body and is shorter than the Chrome Union 2.0, which has a 14" inseam and a roomier fit. The Folsom is therefore our pick when you want more streamlined cycling shorts for commuting, fixed gear, single speed and other days when cycling is a big part of everyday life but not the whole day.

Brindle gives the model a more understated, earthy look than the black version and is easy to pair with the rest of your wardrobe. It’s still hard to find better shorts than Chrome Folsom if you want a pair that’s actually built for cycling but that you’ll still want to wear after you get off your bike.

Quick Specs

• Model: Chrome Industries Folsom Short 2.0
• Type: Cycling shorts for commuting and urban cycling
• Color: Brindle
• Fit: Athletic fit
• Inseam: 11" / approximately 28 cm
• Material: Durable Everest 4-way stretch
• Stretch: Four-way stretch
• Weather protection: Water-repellent
• Construction: 6 panels
• Pockets: 4
• Crotch: Seamless construction with a double layer of material
• Seams: Reinforced 3-needle flat-felled seams
• Back pockets: Floating pockets with flat seams
• U-lock holder: 5-bar webbing holder at the waist
• Reflective detail: Reflective patch at the back
• Belt loops: Reinforced
• Hardware: Matte black
• Padding: No built-in padding
• Use: Bike commuting, fixed gear, single speed and urban cycling