Giro Chamber II Review
Compare prices at 2 resellers Pros: Reasonably priced, comfortable, stiff, good foot protection
Cons: Heavy, wide forefoot
Manufacturer: Giro
Our Verdict
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Giro Chamber II | |||||
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Awards | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |
Price | $109.95 at Competitive Cyclist Compare at 2 sellers | $180.00 at Competitive Cyclist | $180.00 at Competitive Cyclist Compare at 2 sellers | $160.00 at Competitive Cyclist | $104.99 at Competitive Cyclist Compare at 3 sellers |
Overall Score ![]() |
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Star Rating | |||||
Pros | Reasonably priced, comfortable, stiff, good foot protection | Lightweight, comfortable, versatile, Boa closures, styling, reasonable price | comfortable, versatile, great traction while hiking, boa closures, good style | Lugged //Vibram// sole, versatile fit, stiff but walkable | Versatile, robust construction, easy adjustment, casual style |
Cons | Heavy, wide forefoot | Roomy toe-box, slip-not rubber could be more grippy | Sometimes too grippy for a clipless focused shoe, heavy | Limited on-the-go adjustments | Single boa closure, limited traction in wet conditions |
Bottom Line | The Giro Chamber II is a great option for gravity riders with solid power transfer and great foot protection | This uniquely styled shoe is packed with features and performance and is one of the best in the test | Stiff, comfortable, and protective, this shoe is a great choice for the demands of enduro-style riding | A lightweight and sturdy shoe to take on the backcountry | Comfortable fit, casual style, and great on-trail performance make this a versatile option for trail riders |
Rating Categories | Giro Chamber II | Specialized 2FO Cliplite | Five Ten Kestrel Pro Boa | Specialized Rime 2.0 | Pearl Izumi X-Alp Launch SPD |
Power Transfer (20%) | |||||
Comfort (25%) | |||||
Traction Walkability (25%) | |||||
Weight (15%) | |||||
Durability (15%) | |||||
Specs | Giro Chamber II | Specialized 2FO... | Five Ten Kestrel... | Specialized Rime 2.0 | Pearl Izumi X-Alp... |
Closure | Laces plus power strap | 2 Boa S2-Snap dials, velcro strap over the forefoot | Boa dial plus velcro at toe box | L6 Boa and Laces | L6 Boa |
Measured Weight | 525 grams | 426 grams | 511 grams | 419 grams | 436 grams |
Width Options | Regular | Regular | Regular | Regular | Regular |
Upper Material | Water resistant microfiber | Thermobonded upper | Synthetic | XPEL Hydrophobic Mesh | Recycled Cordura fabric |
Footbed | Molded DH EVA | Specialized Body Geometry | OrthoLite | Specialized Body Geometry | Pearl Izumi Insole |
Sole | Tri-molded SPD compatible shank | Lollipop Nylon Composite | Carbon-infused nylon shank | Lollipop Nylon Composite | Composite shank |
Outsole | Vibram megagrip | SlipNot rubber sole | Steatlh C4 rubber | Vibram | Vibra, ECOSTEP |
Size Tested | 44 | 43.5 | 10.5 | 44.5 | 45 |
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
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 and the Shimano S-Phyre XC-9 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, Specialized 2FO Cliplite, 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.
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 models we tested.
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 softer than that used on the Specialized 2FO Cliplite, but slightly firmer than the stealth rubber found on the Five Ten Kestrel Lace.
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. Other high scoring competitors like the Shimano ME7 and the Specialized 2FO Cliplite have a very similar style of sole that performs well on and off the bike. This is in stark contrast to the thoroughbred race shoes like the Shimano S-Phyre XC9 that has no flex and makes for awkward walking.
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 or the Shimano S-Phyre XC9, both of which weigh about 175g less.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Other Versions and Accessories
The Chamber II is offered in two colors, Dark Shadow/Black(tested), and Blue Jewel/Midnight.
Giro also makes a full line of mountain bike shoes including the Cylinder and Empire VR90, which also appear in our mountain bike shoe test.
— Jeremy Benson