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Giro Chamber II Review

On the heavier side but with excellent power transfer and foot protection for enduro and gravity oriented riders
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Giro Chamber II Review
Credit: Giro
Price:  $150 List
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Manufacturer:   Giro
By Jeremy Benson ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Jun 27, 2018
77
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#16 of 20
  • Comfort - 25% 8.0
  • Traction and Walkability - 25% 8.0
  • Power Transfer - 20% 7.0
  • Weight - 15% 5.0
  • Durability - 15% 10.0

Our Verdict

There's a reason that many of the top professional Enduro and Downhill racers wear the Giro Chamber II shoes. This beefy clipless mountain bike shoe provides impressive power transfer and excellent foot protection in a comfortable and highly durable package. Don't let the skate shoe inspired looks fool you, the Chamber II has a stiff sole designed to optimize power transfer when climbing or sprinting, while a little flex through the toe makes them great for walking. A full-coverage Vibram sole offers plenty of grip on the pedals and the ground during those hike-a-bikes. The lace closure is simple but effective, with a wide velcro strap across the top to keep them snug. A rubber rand around the toe, durable microfiber uppers, and padding around the ankle, heel, and tongue provide loads of protection for the feet.
REASONS TO BUY
Reasonably priced
Comfortable
Stiff
Good foot protection
REASONS TO AVOID
Heavy
Wide forefoot

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giro chamber ii
This Product
Giro Chamber II
Awards  Best Buy Award
Best Bang for the Buck Cross Country Shoe
Top Pick Award
Best for Adventure Riding
Best Buy Award
Best Bang for Your Buck All-Mountain/Trail Shoe
Best Buy Award
Best on a Tight Budget
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$170 List
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Overall Score Sort Icon
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Star Rating
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Bottom Line A great option for gravity riders with solid power transfer and great foot protectionAn XC/trail riding shoe that combines high performance with affordabilityFantastic shoes for adventurous rides and bikepacking thanks to moderate sole stiffness and great walkability/tractionLightweight with good power transfer and walkability, these are a reasonably priced trail riding shoe with casual stylingThese shoes offer a good blend of on and off-the-bike performance for casual trail riding or bikepacking
Rating Categories Giro Chamber II Scott MTB Team Boa Pearl Izumi X-Alp S... Specialized 2FO Roo... Giro Gauge
Comfort (25%)
8.0
9.0
8.0
7.0
8.0
Traction and Walkability (25%)
8.0
6.0
10.0
9.0
10.0
Power Transfer (20%)
7.0
9.0
6.0
7.0
6.0
Weight (15%)
5.0
10.0
8.0
10.0
7.0
Durability (15%)
10.0
7.0
8.0
7.0
7.0
Specs Giro Chamber II Scott MTB Team Boa Pearl Izumi X-Alp S... Specialized 2FO Roo... Giro Gauge
Closure Laces plus power strap Boa iP-1 dial, plus velcro strap Boa L6 dial Laces Laces
Measured Weight (per shoe) 525 grams 359 grams 435 grams 375 grams 452 grams
Size Tested 44 44 46 43.5 45
Width Options Regular Regular Regular Regular Regular
Upper Material Water resistant microfiber Synthetic Polyurethane, 3D Airmesh Seamless perforated synthic upper Synthetic Leather and Textile Synchwire on-piece composite
Footbed Molded DH EVA ErgoLogic EVA heel support Specialized Body Geometry Die-cut EVA
Midsole Tri-molded SPD compatible shank Nylon/Glass Fiber Composite EVA heel cushioning Stiff Lollipop nylon composite plate Injected nylon shank
Outsole Vibram megagrip StickiRubber Vibram ECOSTEP SlipNot FG Rubber outsole

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Chamber II is the redesigned version of Giro's popular Chamber clipless mountain bike shoe. The primary changes to the EWS and World Cup DH winning Chamber shoe are 10mm of cleat setback, a new Tri-Mold internal shank to optimize the rigidity and flex through the sole, and a little refresh of the shoe's styling. The Chamber II is intended to be an aggressive enduro and downhill riding and racing shoe, and testers found it best suited to those disciplines. Testers loved the comfort, power transfer, walkability, and durability of this beefy shoe.

Performance Comparison


giro chamber ii - if you live for the descent, then the chamber ii is a great option...
If you live for the descent, then the Chamber II is a great option that is ready to rumble.
Credit: Heather Benson

Power Transfer


If you've ever watched Richie Rude during an EWS race run, then you've seen the Chamber II in action, and you know what kind of power these shoes can transfer to the pedals. While they are by no means carbon sole, XC race stiff, they are much stiffer than you'd assume just by looking at them. The Tri-Mold internal shank design allows for toe flex in front of the cleat but provides a very solid platform from the cleat back, which does an excellent job delivering power from your legs to your drivetrain.


Sure, expensive carbon-soled XC race shoes like the Giro Empire VR90 have uncompromisingly stiff soles. They outperform the Chamber II in the power transfer department, but they're designed with a different purpose in mind. Surprisingly though, shoes like the Chamber II and the new breed of all-mountain/trail shoes do still provide excellent power transfer while offering excellent walkability, enhanced foot protection, and comfort.

The Chamber II has virtually no flex underfoot, and scored highly in this rating metric. When pedaling, even during hard sprinting efforts, there is no noticeable flex in the sole. This power transfer is on par with the other similar shoes like the Five Ten Kestrel Lace and Ride Concepts Transition. All of these shoes offer a very similar style of sole that has flex through the toe with a stiff shank underfoot.

giro chamber ii - xc racers will definitely look elsewhere, but the power transfer of...
XC racers will definitely look elsewhere, but the power transfer of the Chamber II is impressive.
Credit: Jeremy Benson

Comfort


Comfort is one of the Chamber II's strong suits. Not only do they have skate/casual shoe styling, but they also fit kind of like them too. Giro makes a lot of different mountain bike shoes, and they seem to have figured out how to make them all quite comfortable. The uppers are made from a water-repellent microfiber material that feels extremely durable yet conforms to the feet nicely after the first few hours of use. The footbed is simple and relatively minimal, but testers found it to have a good shape and offer decent arch support.

One of the first things you notice when you put them on is the generous amount of padding around the ankle, heel, and on the tongue, this aids in the overall comfort of the shoe as well as the protection of the feet. Testers also like the peace of mind that the full coverage Vibram sole and rubber rand around the toe gave them, as it deflected small rocks and trail debris encountered while riding.

The Chamber II uses traditional shoelaces and a large velcro strap to secure them to your feet. While they lack the on the fly adjustment convenience of shoes with Boa style closures like those found on the Specialized 2FO Cliplite, testers found the laces to be very comfortable and secure. The large velcro strap at the top of the tongue can be as tight or loose as you like and can be adjusted quickly on the fly.

This closure system is similar to those found on the Five Ten Kestrel Lace and the Ride Concepts Transition, although the laces on the Chamber II come down a little further towards the toe and provide a more even tension over the foot. The uppers of the Chamber II are perforated with hundreds of small ventilation holes. We didn't notice that these shoes felt especially well ventilated, but we think they do a better job of keeping the air flowing than either of the Five Ten Kestrel models we tested.

giro chamber ii - the simple lace up and velcro strap closure of the chamber ii.
The simple lace up and velcro strap closure of the Chamber II.
Credit: Jeremy Benson

Traction Walkability


The Chamber II got very high marks in the traction walkability rating metric. The full coverage Vibram Megagrip outsole has a raised hexagonal dot pattern that is grippy on virtually all surfaces. The Vibram rubber used in the outsole is a medium density, slightly firmer than the stealth rubber found on the Five Ten Kestrel Lace.

giro chamber ii - a flexible toe helps you walk comfortably in the chamber ii.
A flexible toe helps you walk comfortably in the Chamber II.
Credit: Jeremy Benson

Like the other similar enduro and all-mountain shoes in our test selection, the Chamber II's walkability is enhanced by a small amount of flex through the toe that allows the user to walk more or less regularly. This is in stark contrast to the thoroughbred race shoes that have no flex and make for awkward walking.

giro chamber ii - the chamber ii has flex in the toe and full coverage vibram megagrip...
The Chamber II has flex in the toe and full coverage Vibram Megagrip sole that makes them easy and confidence inspiring to walk in.
Credit: Heather Benson

Weight


At 525g or 18.51oz per shoe in the size 44 we tested, the Chamber II's weight is the least impressive thing about them. That said, this is a full 40g lighter than the Five Ten Hellcat Pro, which weighs 565g per shoe. In general, shoes made with aggressive enduro or downhill riding in mind tend to weigh a bit more than the super-light models you are likely to find on the feet of XC racers like the Giro Empire VR90.

The reason the Chamber II shoes weigh more than most of the other shoes in our test selection is obvious. The full coverage Vibram sole, beefy, durable construction, and foot protection features all contribute to the heft of these shoes. Interestingly, the Chamber II doesn't feel unusually heavy on the feet when walking or while riding, especially compared to the other heavier weight shoes in our test like the Five Ten Hellcat Pro or the Five Ten Kestrel Lace.

giro chamber ii - at 525g, the chamber ii is the second heaviest shoe we tested.
At 525g, the Chamber II is the second heaviest shoe we tested.
Credit: Jeremy Benson

Durability


After several weeks of testing, we found the Chamber II shoes to be highly durable. In fact, we haven't exposed a single weakness in their construction whatsoever. Despite lots of high-speed encounters with trailside obstacles, the uppers appear in virtually the same condition as when we took them out of the box, minus a little mud and dirt of course. All of the stitching remains intact with loose threads or loose ends to speak of.

Even after hundreds of miles of riding and quite a few dismounts and hike-a-bikes, the Vibram soles of the Chamber II look barely used. In contrast, the softer stealth rubber used on the soles of the Five Ten Kestrel Lace is beginning to show signs of wear after similar amounts of use and abuse. We believe the Chamber II is one of the most durable shoes in our test selection.

giro chamber ii - sharp rocks are no match for the durable and well made chamber ii.
Sharp rocks are no match for the durable and well made Chamber II.
Credit: Jeremy Benson

Value


With excellent power transfer, comfort, walkability, and durability, we feel the Chamber II is a great value to the right consumer. These shoes are offered at a reasonable price and gravity-oriented riders who don't mind a little heavier shoe need look no further.

giro chamber ii - they aren't the lightest shoes out there, but if you're a gravity...
They aren't the lightest shoes out there, but if you're a gravity oriented rider the Chamber II is a great shoe at a good price.
Credit: Heather Benson

Conclusion


Our testers were thoroughly impressed with the comfort, fit, power transfer, and durability of the Chamber II. Sure it's a little heavier than most shoes in our test selection, and we wouldn't recommend it for XC racers or especially weight-conscious riders. The stiff soles provide excellent transfer of power, while the flex in the toe and full coverage Vibram soles give them great traction and walkability off the bike. The tough microfiber uppers, rubber toe rand, and generous padding provide excellent foot protection in an incredibly durable package at a reasonable price. If you're a descent focused rider looking for a shoe for enduro or downhill, this is an excellent option to consider.

Jeremy Benson