Fathom
Origin
The Fathom slots between the entry-level Talon and the full-suspension Trance — Giant's aggressive trail hardtail. Introduced around 2014 and progressively re-geometrised toward modern trail standards, the current 29" generation runs a 130 mm Giant Crest 34 fork, 66° head angle and 75° seat angle, with a dropper post fitted as standard. ALUXX SL aluminium with double-butted tubing keeps frame weight competitive with much pricier alloy trail hardtails. It is the bike Giant points riders to when they want hardtail simplicity and reliability but plan to ride genuinely rough singletrack — not just gravel paths.
Specifications
- Frame
- ALUXX SL-Grade aluminium, double-butted tubing, internal cable routing
- Weight
- kg
- Drivetrain
- Shimano Deore 1×10 on Fathom 29 2 (30T chainring, 11–46T cassette, KMC chain); higher Fathom 1 trim runs 1×12. Older 27.5" Fathom 2 used Deore M4100 10-speed
- Brakes
- Tektro HDM 275 hydraulic disc, 2-piston, 180 mm rotors (Fathom 29 2)
- Wheels
- 29", Giant AM tubeless-ready rims, 30 mm internal width
The verdict
- Light for an alloy trail hardtail (13.8 kg, size S) with excellent frame compliance and a damped, comfortable ride.
- High-quality in-house Giant Crest 34 RCL 130 mm fork with external rebound and compression adjusters — rare at this price.
- Modern trail geometry: 66° head angle for descending confidence, 75° seat angle for efficient climbing.
- Dropper seatpost fitted as standard across the range, plus tubeless-ready 30 mm rims and aggressive Maxxis tyres.
- Strong value — premium spec for roughly €1,299–€1,999.
- Sizing runs large/generous; many riders need to size down and those under ~5’3" may not fit even the smallest size.
- Aggressive Minion DHF/Aggressor tread is slow-rolling and saps climbing speed on smooth or hardpack terrain.
- Tektro HDM 275 brakes and the budget Shimano Deore 1×10 drivetrain are functional but the first parts riders tend to upgrade.
- Hardtail rear means it punishes the rider on sustained rough/rocky descents compared with the full-suspension Trance.
- No suspension lockout/remote on the base fork, so it bobs a little under hard seated efforts.
Who it’s for
Where to buy Giant Fathom in Latvia
Local shops and marketplaces in your country.
These are searches on third-party sites — URBALT is not affiliated with them and does not sell directly.
Want one?
Find this bike on the marketplace, or compare notes with riders already on one.