Giro Chamber MTB Shoe

The Giro Chamber shoe is part of Giro’s quest to build the ultimate downhill shoe. It has led to the Chamber™ Mid. Based on the original Chamber™ developed in collaboration with Aaron Gwin this version offers a supportive mid-top design combined with acclaimed Vibram® Megagrip outsole for aggressive riders who need pedaling stiffness grip and durability. Mud and debris are kept out thanks to the internal bootie construction and the EVA midsole with Poron® XRD™ heel cushioning helps protect against shock and impact.

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On the surface the shoe certainly looks the part. It’s cool, the roots of skate inspiration can be seen, but it’s a shoe that can really handle the downhill abuse needed. It retails at £109.99 and is currently selling on Cyclestore.co.uk at £87.99. This places it right in the middle of market, an affordable shoe for the majority of riders. But don’t be fooled by the skate-inspired, street shoe look – the Chamber™ is a pure performance race shoe packed with technical features.

What’s New:

Aside from the evidently improved aesthetics, the Chamber features Giro’s Internal bootie retention system. This system holds the foot in place while keeping mud, rocks and debris on from penetrating the shoe. The Aegis Single Density Footbed supports the foot inside the shoe and keeps it extremely comfortable.

A dual density Vibram rubber outsole keeps the shoe firm whilst maintaining the highest possible durability. It hugs the pedals perfectly and adds to the greatly improved aesthetic. The underneath of the shoe features a molded SPD compatible shank. All together these shoes tip the scales at 536 grams (size 42). There is plenty of adjustment in the slots letting you slide the cleat right back. A dropped heel gives you extra control over the bike whilst descending.

Giro have also added a Poron XRD bumper. This little extra is an open cell material that can absorb up to 90% of energy in a high speed impact. If you’re a gravity rider this comes in very handy indeed.

ENDURA WATERPROOF MTB JACKETS.

Out of the Box:

The first thing that surprised us about this shoe was the extreme comfort. We already loved the aesthetic but the way this shoe just hugs the foot was incredible. The base was amazingly comfortable and stable both on and off the bike. We’d happily wear this shoe for a whole day without any discomfort. The Chamber shoe didn’t give you the aches and pains of other shoes. Rare for many MTB shoes fresh from the box.

The shoe is available in two colours although we much prefer the black/gum version of the shoe. Despite the material being very durable & holding up well in gritty conditions, white is just never quite made to hold out. The black does what it says on the tin and takes a real hammering. The laces are held in place above the tongue with a thick keeper strap.

The material used through the Chamber’s is as breathable as it is durable. At the end of the shoe there’s a protective buffer around the toe box. There’s a plethora of perforations around the upper of the shoe, meaning moisture retention is kept to a minimum.

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Onto the Bike:

The Vibram rubber outside was extremely grippy, ideal for hike-a-bike situations when it’s slung over your shoulder. It allows you to settle in and out of clipped pedals smoothly. Not all skate-style clipped shoes have previously been able to do.

These shoes perform well in all kinds of riding, despite the design focusing on the needs of a pure downhill racer. They’re well built and crafted from a good range of high quality materials. Designed to take an all round beating through the day, it’s compatible for any rider. The sole is stiff and the power transfer through the pedals is efficient. Although we wouldn’t quite recommend the shoe for a full, all out, cross-country race.

There are plenty of perforations to increase breathability but the upper will still shun off all but the biggest water soakings; not holding onto moisture as much as many shoes. The laces are held in check with a chunky keeper strap.

The Chamber’s upper is constructed from a microfibre providing  a smooth wipe-down finish. The shoes are easy to clean after a long, dirty day on the saddle, and the black option didn’t come back with any permanent marks. Maybe that means we weren’t riding hard enough. In terms of water resistance the Chamber wasn’t top of the list. Maybe not the best winter selection, although great for the summer season. For just over £80 it’s never going to tick all the boxes.

Verdict:

In the Chamber Giro have created a fantastic, durable, downhill shoe. It lets in a bit of water but is resilient, aesthetically pleasing and does what it sets out to do. At just over £80 the shoe is well priced. An affordable solution to a lot of other high end shoes. Giro have worked well with Aaron Gwin and clearly taken the advice on board. We’d definitely recommend this shoe for DH, enduro or trail, if you use a platform clipless pedal.

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