All Arround MTB

Giro have overhauled their MTB footwear range for 2018, doing away with their old Jacket flat-pedal shoe and replacing it with the new Riddance (left). The uppers may not look too dissimilar, but underneath is a Vibram‘Megagrip ISR’ sole, which, Giro say, is the stickiest they’ve ever made. There’s good news for clipless riders too, in the form of a second-generation Chamber shoe (right) with a more rearward cleat pocket (10mm further back than on Giro’s other MTB shoes), a revised tread pattern and a new internal shank designed to give a better balance of comfort and stiffness. Hopefully these shoes build on the feel and supportive fit we liked so much on the originals. Price $165 (R)/$192 (CII)

These are the tallest goggles on test and they offer an unobstructed field of view. The fit is comfy and roomy, and the double silicone strip on the strap means you don’t need to crank it up tight to make them stay in place on your lid. Clear and tinted lenses are included. The tall frame fouls some helmets (such as Troy Lee’s A2). Replacement clear lenses cost a hefty $45, and we found the tinted version too dark for most UK conditions. They fog up more easily than others here, and the optics aren’t great – we could see the nose guard reflected in the lens. Price $105

Not only is it styled on their flagship Montaro, but Giro have transferred a lot of their top-end lid’s features to the Chronicle. The lower price hasn’t compromised protection, with MIPS as standard and class-leading extensive coverage over the temples and towards the rear. The fit is glove-like, with small but plush padding that extends all the way from the front to the back, instilling a sense that your head is sitting deep within the helmet. We didn’t experience any pinch points or discomfort, and the wide range of sizes mean you should find one to fit you perfectly. Ventilation isn’t an issue despite the relatively small intakes, although it’s by no means the coolest helmet on test. While the low-lying retention system feels super-secure, it’s a struggle to slide some glasses underneath. The chin strap is easily adjusted below the ears, with Giro’s ‘Roc-Loc’ system keeping the straps flush against your cheeks, although the small buckle can be fiddly to do up when wearing glo...

This new mid-top version of Giro’s Terraduro trail shoe adds more ankle protection and weatherproofing. Unlike the original shoe, which has three straps to secure your foot in place, the Mid uses laces. These are covered by a tough, water-resistant Velcro flap, which does an admirable job of keeping out puddle splashes and grime. We had to cinch the laces up tight in a bid to minimise heel lift both on and, especially, off of the bike. Because the laces finish a little lower down the foot than some and there’s no strap close to the ankle to anchor your foot in place, there’s more movement than in the regular Terraduro. Aside from that, things feel comfy enough. The sole balances stiffness and pedal feel well. There’s enough room around the cleat pocket to stop mud building up, and the long cleat slots allow a nicely rearward position. Some testers found they needed to use cleat spacers to ensure a smooth entry/exit to/from certain pedals, and, due to the shaping of the sole, if y...

If you’re after clipless shoes that offer protection from the trail and the elements yet don’t sacrifice too much pedalling efficiency, then Giro may have the answer. They’ve taken the reinforced upper and hike-a-bike-friendly Vibram sole of their popular Terraduro shoe and created this taller mid-top version. A neoprene cuff supports your ankle and keeps out the slop, and raised asymmetric padding gives you protection from the cranks. Giro have also swapped the ratchet closure for laces and a Velcro cover, which should stop your feet getting too soggy. Despite the taller cut and chunky build of these kicks, they weigh a fairly reasonable 938g Price $240

These deceptively simple and understated shorts deliver big time on the details that matter. The first of these is the fit, which is impeccable, with a high-backed waist and spot-on rise measurement paired with long legs that manage to be roomy but not overly baggy.

Not to be confused with the more expensive Terraduro, the Herraduro is giro’s entry level XC/Trail shoe. At 755g a pair in size 46, these are the lightest shoes on test - an encouraging start. The simple trio of Velcro straps help drop the weight (and cost), but they work surprisingly well for securing the foot too.

The stubby visor might be a nod towards off-road styling, but underneath the Fathom is effectively a road helmet – lightweight and well ventilated. The visor is removable if you fancy matching your mates out on a road ride, and although it wasn't adjustable as advertised, we also didn't find that it mattered, given its small size.

You won’t find any padding on this minimalistic mitt, but that doesn’t mean it is devoid of valuable improvements. To start, Giro incorporates a Pittards leather palm. Pittards has been specializing in leather–mainly for gloves and footwear, for damn near 200 years.

SO GOOD When the mercury freezes in the thermometer, these are the gloves you want to have on. They're the warmest on test and the soft leather palm stays stuck to your grips.

THE PHASE punches well above its weight offering good value for money and looks good enough to create helmet envy out on the trails.

THE ALL-NEWCIPHER maintains the characteristic Giro full-face ‘look’ around the mouthpiece but has a clean new design that we think looks great.

GIRO’S ALL-NEW enduro shoe goes straight in at the top of our ratings with a great mix of performance characteristics for all-round technical riding. The thing all our testers noticed straight away was that the very low sole height gives you a really ‘connected to the bike’ feel even with smaller, uncaged pedals.

THE CHAMBER ISN’T cheap but it’s so versatile it’s a great investment for all sorts of riding. As you’d expect from a DH shoe designed with Aaron Gwin, it syncs brilliantly with platform clipless pedals, with plenty of grip and broad support for traction feedback. It’s comfy to walk in without any cleat clatter and reasonably weatherproof too.