Share

Apparel

GIRO CHAMBER SPD SHOE

The Giro Chambers have become true favourites here at Dirt and another year on sees them in our Dirt 100 listings AGAIN. These skate-style shoes are bang on for the clipped-in downhill rider but work very well for trail riding too.

Truly versatile footwear, the Chambers have not let us down with durability that seems to run through many of Giro’s designs. There are plenty of options from other brands, (with Giro’s new Terraduro Mid looking like a promising trail riding alternative) but none as yet have knocked these off the top spot for SPD pedal use.

The Giro Chamber is a fully supportive SPD shoe developed in conjunction with (and worn by) DH racer Aaron Gwin. So what makes them a true long term favourite for us and a clipped in option to their Jacket flat pedal shoe?

‘Like most Giro shoes we’ve tested, the Chambers are incredibly well built from top quality materials and seem to outlast most others’

Let’s start with the outsole where there is plenty of tech going on. Here Giro use a Vibram dual density rubber for good off the bike grip and durability with a dual-injected SPD compatible shank that adds extra stability and the right amount of stiffness when pedalling. A flexible forefoot allows the shoe to bend naturally with your walking action when off the bike and pushing back up. There is plenty of adjustment with the cleat slots letting you to slam your cleats right back allowing you to drop your heels for descending control, a feature we are now seeing on shoes from competing brands.

The Chamber’s uppers are a durable, breathable, and high quality microfibre material with a smooth wipe-down finish and a protective buffer around the toe box. There are plenty of small 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. Laces are still a reliable and lightweight way of adjusting shoes and work well with an additional chunky strap keeping them out of your transmission. Mud and filth is the only thing which really compromised this style of retention – a mud flap cover would help with this.

An internal bootie sleeve keeps the grit and crap out of the Chambers and also secures the foot within, aiding stability, fit and security; a plus point for the clipped-in rider. More technology comes in the midsole heel area. Here Giro has added a Poron XRD bumper, an open cell material that can absorb up to 90% of energy in a high speed impact. A great touch for the gravity rider.

We’ve found the Giro Chambers, along with their flat-soled Jacket stable-mates to be incredibly well built. At over 500g for each shoe they are not the lightest, but this build quality lends itself to the fact that they last much longer than most.

Whether riding DH, enduro or trail, if you use a platform clipless pedal then these are well worth a look. We’re also big fans of Giro’s gloves.

PRICE: £99.99 – £109.99

giro.com

zyrofisher.co.uk

Share

Share

Selected for Dirt 100 2017

View the full 100
Newsletter Terms & Conditions

Please enter your email so we can keep you updated with news, features and the latest offers. If you are not interested you can unsubscribe at any time. We will never sell your data and you'll only get messages from us and our partners whose products and services we think you'll enjoy.

Read our full Privacy Policy as well as Terms & Conditions.

production