Aaron Gwin knows a thing or two about riding – and crashing – hard and he’s had a big hand in the design of Giro’s new Chamber and Jacket downhill shoes. That explains the cushioned EVA midsole and the Poron XRD padding under the heels to absorb big hits from drops and crashes.
Elsewhere, the new kicks have all the features you’d expect – a grippy Vibram sole (stickier on the flat-pedal Jacket than the clipless Chamber), stiff shank for pedalling power, durable materials and comfy fit. Plus the samples on show at Eurobike felt a fair bit lighter than the benchmark Shimano AM45 and Five Ten Impact. The Chambers are US$140 and the Jackets $90.
More info on the Giro Chamber:
Source: Giro
The clipless Chamber has an internal ‘bootie’ to keep trail debris and water at bay. Picture by Dan Milner
More info on the Giro Jacket:
Source: Giro
The flat-pedal Jacket has a more causal look and a more flexible sole. Picture by Dan Milner
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