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Giro has drawn on its popular Chamber shoe line-up with a lighter TR (trail) version, which feels better suited to longer days in the hills rather than all-out gravity riding.
At £184.99 / $219.95 / €209.99, they're not cheap MTB shoes, so they really need to impress on the trail.
On paper, they have some neat features, including an ankle gaiter, plenty of ventilation panels and a stiff, efficient sole.
They are suited to long rides in the hills and are even adept at some big-mountain epics thanks to a comfortable, light feel and easy off-the-bike walking performance.
Heading down the hill
There are some gravity-friendly features, of course, from Giro. The cleat channel is nicely set back in the shoe, enabling a very rearward cleat position – as long as your cleats and pedals play ball.
That's because the cleat channels taper in towards the rear, which doesn’t work that well with some Shimano-mechanism pedals. However, it was problem-free with my Crankbrothers test pedals.
While I needed to run a Shimano cleat a little further forward in the cleat channel, it was still far enough rearward on my foot to feel stable through rough terrain.
This is the only shoe of the group I tested with a proper ankle gaiter, which bolsters defences in keeping out grit and dirt.
Granted, it makes getting the shoes on and off a little trickier – you need to use the pull-tab at the heel to prevent the gaiter being pulled into the shoe – but that’s a price worth paying for on-trail performance.
With mesh panels at either side of the shoe and ventilation holes over the toe box, I expected a slightly draftier experience than the sweat build-up I experienced on long, hot climbs.
The upper is low-profile and flexible, meaning the Boa Li2 dial does some heavy lifting to ensure a stable and secure fit. It does the job well, though, helped by the relatively low volume of the upper.
A snug fit’s on the cards, as long as the plastic guides for the Boa wire are kept clean and running smoothly.
Protect the toes
Toe protection isn’t overly sturdy, although this helps keep the weight of the shoes in check. While trail riders won’t mind, those who are more gravity-focused might prefer a little more protection for the sides of their feet – Giro’s Chamber III might be a better option here.
The front portion, under the toes, has a nice rock to it when walking, which keeps your gait nice and natural, and while the tread blocks are fairly low-profile, I didn’t have issues walking off the bike.
Engagement between sole and pedal pins caused no issues – the shape of the sole prevented pins digging in too deep and hampering exits from the pedal.
While the fairly stiff sole meant there was proficient power transfer on offer, and no hotspots when riding on smaller XC-style pedals, the offset is pedal feel is a little compromised.
Given the price, the fairly basic insole and internal masking tape holding the shank’s cover over the cleat plate, they’re a little disappointing from a value point of view.
How we tested | trail shoes
Key to the performance of trail shoes is how they feel on the bike, and so these shoes have been in rotation for months, often with different shoes on either foot to dig into the differences between them.
While it may not be obvious, shoes interact with different pedals in a range of ways, so every shoe has been tested with small- and large-platform pedals – some with pins, some without, and with both Crankbrothers and Shimano-style mechanisms.
Finally, all the shoes have been taken into the workshop for a full set of measurements.
Shoes tested
Giro Chamber TR bottom line
While the Chamber TR might not be my first pick for enduro racing, their lower profile, comfortable fit and efficient sole makes for a great trail-riding, all-day epic shoe.
They aren't the best value in my eyes, although they feature some nice touches, such as the ankle gaiter, which boosts performance.
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