The Giro Chamber mountain bike shoe has been part of the Giro Shoe lineup for some time, with the latest model dubbed the Chamber III Shoe. The Chamber has been a clipless compatible performance downhill racing shoe, with the new iteration featuring a slimmer profile and lighter weight.
Features & Specs
- Velcro hook-and-loop heel lockdown strap
- 7 eyelet lace closure with tubular knit lace
- Rock Print details for enhanced durability
- Rubber toe and heel reinforcement
- Low-bulk fully-wrapping Ariaprene tongue
- Water-resistant upper
- Molded DH EVA footbed
- Giro Sensor rubber is formulated to balance grip + durability
- Tri-molded DH shank with 10mm cleat setback (versus standard Giro MTB shoe)
- Listed Weight: 480 grams (per shoe, size 43)
- 2-bolt cleat compatible
- List price $199
While this is the second iteration of the Giro Chamber Shoe, I had the opportunity to review the first iteration over a decade ago when I was writing freelance web content with Richard Cunningham for Mountain Bike Action. At one point, they rebuilt their website and the old reviews were scrubbed, so I republished and archived it on Bermstyle.
Contemporary Shoe Manufacturing
Shoe technology has advanced significantly since 2013. In the latest iteration of the Chamber III, the shoe vamp and tip are no longer sewn together, but fused. Intrigued, I dug into modern shoe manufacturing to learn more.
By eliminating the stitching on the shoe upper and fusing the pieces, the shoe is streamlined, and it feels like a better fit. Seams are eliminated as the eyestay, the quarter, the vamp, and the tip (for the record, I had to look up the names of the parts of the shoe– here’s my reference) are fused, resulting in fewer lines on the shoe, which adds to the comfort factor.
Hopefully, it also results in improved long-term durability. Over the years, I’ve had several pairs of mountain bike shoes — mostly FiveTens — separate at the sole. I’ve kept a few in service using ShoeGoo, while retiring the shoes with SPD inserts. I did have one set of Giros separate, but to their credit, they acknowledged the issue and replaced them under warranty. The fused construction is reportedly stronger, as it utilizes heat and pressure to create a mechanical bond during construction.
On the Trail
Compared to the original Chamber, at first glance, the design is not significantly different, aside from the modern construction techniques. It’s a lace-up skate-style shoe featuring a hook and loop strap to eliminate or minimize heel lift. Like the original model, the Chamber keeps things simple with a traditional, albeit more streamlined profile and reduces bulk and feels more streamlined. It also feels lighter than the older designs. I don’t have the older shoe around anymore, so I weighed one compared to an older FiveTen shoe – interestingly enough, the Chamber III feels lighter and less bulky, but they were about the same weight. It turns out the difference I felt was more in my perception.
With so many other XC and trail mountain bike shoes featuring fancy bolo adjusters, I initially was a bit disappointed, but the reality is that not only does this shoe not need it, but it might be better without it.
One aspect of the Chamber III I like is how the tongue is connected – there are elastic bits along each side that keep things snug and contribute to the comfortable fit.
But how does it feel on rides? I had to put my favorite Shimano DX M647 SPD (for the record, I also have a set of the Saint M821 too, but the DX is still my personal favorite) pedals back on my enduro bike to put these to the test. And how better to test DH shoes than downhill shuttle runs?
On the trail, the Chamber shoes feel a bit more solid than my lighter-weight XC and trail shoes. This style of shoe is my preferred go-to thanks to the comfort and protective feel on the foot.
On rides, the shoes performed without fail, providing excellent pedal feel while feeling stiff when I wanted to transfer power to the pedals. They feel relatively light while offering a bit more protection for my toes. Clipping out and back is easily performed. I’ve worn the Chambers on eMTB rides, DH shuttles, at the bike park, and even wore them at a downhill race at the Northwest Cup. They are a bit heavier than XC and trail shoes, so for longer rides, I’ll choose the lighter shoes. There’s no issue with the weight penalty for eMTBs though.
It’s been a while since I’ve run my clip-in pedals on downhill terrain; for the last few seasons, I’ve been running platforms and only running clip-in pedals on my endurance trail bikes and hardtails. Wearing the Chamber shoes allowed me to attack the trail a bit more aggressively without having to worry about foot slip, and as I was able to get in and out of the pedals quickly, my platform pedals and shoes have been set on the backburner, coming out dirt jump session.
If you’re looking for a DH and park capable clip-in shoe, the Chamber is worth adding to your consideration list. For more info, check out Giro.com.
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