Earlier this year, Giro quietly launched the 3rd generation of the Chamber clipless mountain bike shoes. Now known as the Chamber III, the latest version builds on the EWS and World Cup-winning foundation of its predecessor, with several updates, a lighter weight, and a notably slimmer profile. It doesn’t stray far from the aesthetics of the Chamber II, and more importantly, the performance that made that shoe a go-to pick for many aggressive downhill, enduro, and trail riders and racers.
I’ve been testing the new Chamber III shoes since the beginning of the summer. I’ve been switching out between these shoes, the Ride Concepts Hellion Clip BOA, and the Crankbrothers Mallet Trail BOA on just about every mountain bike ride I’ve been on for the past four months. While it isn’t a wild departure from the previous version, Giro made numerous changes and updates that I feel make it better than its predecessor.
- MSRP: $200
- Intended use: Gravity, enduro, aggressive trail
- Weight: 481 g/shoe, 962 g/pair (size 43.5)
- Uppers: Microfiber
- Outsole: Sensor rubber
- Sizes: Whole; 36 – 48 EU, half: 42.5 – 45.5
- Colors: Black, white
Pros
- Lighter and less bulky than previous version
- Balanced sole stiffness
- Now available in half sizes
- Agreeable, average width/volume
- Comfortable
Cons
- Still kinda heavy
- Some ankle protection would be nice
Giro Chamber III Details
Before I go into my review of the Chamber III shoes, let’s take a quick look at the specs, features, and details. First, the Chamber III is Giro’s top-tier gravity-oriented clipless mountain bike shoe. More accurately, it’s actually the only gravity-oriented clipless shoe in the brand’s lineup. It replaces the much-loved Chamber II, which had been raced to numerous EWS victories on the feet of Richie Rude and others — and I tested waaayyyyy back in 2018.
The Chamber III maintains roughly the same silhouette and overall style as the Chamber II, but it looks and feels like it has been put on a diet. Giro slimmed the shoe down by removing most of the pillowy cushioning throughout the uppers and the tongue. The new “low-bulk tongue” fully wraps over the foot and is stretchy with a much lower volume than the outgoing model, yet still provides a bit of cushion for the top of the foot. Weight has also come down a bit, with the 43.5 that I’m testing at 481 grams/shoe, versus the 525 grams/shoe (size 44) of the previous version.
The microfiber uppers are mostly seamless except for the overlays stitched on both sides for the Velcro Powerstrap and one seam down the heel. Giro’s RockPrint reinforcement wraps all the way around the toe box to add a little extra protection and durability for the high-wear area. Ventilation features include perforations above the toes and on both sides of the midfoot, along with a breathable construction of the stretchy, low-bulk tongue. The closure consists of traditional laces along with a Velcro Powerstrap up at the top.
Underfoot, Giro has incorporated a “custom DH shank with +10mm of cleat setback.” This is intended to allow riders to position their cleats farther back than on the brand’s other clipless shoes. Giro also states that this DH shank strikes the perfect balance of stiffness and walkability. Other than the cleat box, the sole is fully covered in Giro’s Sensor rubber with its gamma tread pattern. While it looks similar, this rubber compound is quite a bit firmer than the Tack rubber used on Giro’s Latch flat pedal shoes.
Fit and Comfort
When the Chamber III came out, I was happy to see that Giro added some half sizes to the size run. I wear a 43.5, and was forced to size up or down in the previous version. With the new shoes, I get a more precise fit straight out of the box. As such, I found the length to be spot on for my feet. Otherwise, the fit strikes me as nearly identical to the Chamber II. Both the width and volume feel like they are on the roomier side of average. I have very average feet that work in most shoes, and while these aren’t the snuggest fitting, I found it easy to get them tight enough for my needs.
Laces are slowly but surely being overtaken by BOA closures, but they still work great, even if they are a little slower to put on and take off the feet. I had no issues getting these shoes tight enough with the laces, and the Powerstrap really worked well to lock my heel down. I think an elastic lace retainer would be nice, but it’s easy enough to pin the laces down under the strap as well. The footbed is relatively thin and basic, but it’s nicely contoured and relatively comfortable. That said, those with specific support demands will likely want to upgrade to an aftermarket option.
On the Trail
I think Giro nailed the sweet spot of pedaling efficiency and support with the previous version of this shoe, and the Chamber III feels nearly identical on the trail. For how they look, these shoes are surprisingly stiff underfoot, and there’s no noticeable flex under pedaling power. When you get on the gas out of a corner or you’re grinding up a long climb, it definitely feels like all your effort is going straight into the drivetrain. Thankfully, they aren’t carbon-sole stiff, so they don’t punish your feet on long and rough descents — there’s just enough forgiveness and cushioning in the midsole.
The soles are also torsionally stiff, providing excellent lateral support, especially when paired with supportive pedals. I rode these with the new OneUp Clip pedals as well as the Shimano XT Trail pedals, and the soles had a very positive interface with both. In fact, the cleat box is a tad deeper than some of my other shoes, so I added a small shim under my SPD cleats to make clipping in and out easier than it was initially. That cleat mount area is quite long with sloped leading and trailing edges and plenty of room to slam cleats way back if that’s your preference.
With a little rocker in the sole from the cleat box forward and decently grippy rubber soles, the Chamber III is easy enough to walk around in. There is a little flex in the toe, but not quite as much as the previous version, and these shoes feel a little blocky when walking. They feel similar to the Fox Union BOA, for example, when you’re forced to hike-a-bike. Which is to say they work just fine, but there are better options if adventure riding is your thing. These shoes are made for riding bikes and shouldn’t be confused with a biking and hiking crossover-type shoe.
The microfiber uppers have a tough, durable feel to them, and they have shrugged off all of the abuse that I’ve given them so far. The white color of my test pair gets dirty, of course, but they clean up relatively well with a wipe from a damp cloth. Thankfully, they also come in black. While there are fewer ventilation holes than the previous version, it seems like the reduced bulk of the uppers has prevented them from being too hot on my feet. They aren’t super-breezy by any means, but the thinner and more air-permeable tongue allows noticeably more air to pass through it.
For the vast majority of my riding, my feet feel well protected in the Chamber III. The reinforced toebox and stiff heel cup easily fend off most of the threats to my feet. That said, the overall level of protection seems a wee bit less than some similar shoes with thicker, harder toe bumpers or extended medial ankle protection.
Giro Chamber III: My Takeaway
It’s been seven years since Giro updated its clipless gravity shoes because the second version was pretty darn good. The Chamber III carries that torch and runs with it, with numerous updates and improvements that build on that legacy. With similar on-bike performance, slightly lighter weight, less bulk, and more sizes to choose from, the new Giro Chamber is the best its ever been.
At $200, the Chamber III is also the most expensive it has ever been, but that’s not too surprising given the rising cost of just about everything bike-related — and everything else, for that matter. Still, they are less expensive than most similar shoes equipped with BOA closures, and competitive with other burly, high-performance lace-up clipless shoes.
If you liked the Chamber II, then I can almost guarantee you’ll like the 3rd iteration. It’s almost the same thing, just a little bit better. Otherwise, I think it’s a solid option for any aggressive riders seeking a shoe that’s comfortable, efficient, durable, and doesn’t have BOA. Check them out on the Giro website or your local Giro retailer.
