The Evolv Shaman is flat out one of the best rock climbing shoes you’re going to find, you guys. This Evolv climbing shoe features a microfiber lining in the forefoot, a “love bump” that puts the forefoot in a comfy position and helps fill the space behind the toes, and a “knuckle box” that allows the big toe knuckle to stay in a position of power while you climb. These design technologies are combined with unique materials to make the Shaman one of the most comfortable climbing shoes ever, and recognized as award-winning climbing gear.
Fit:
- 3 rip-and-stick straps draw the arches of the shoes into your feet for an excellent fit
- Three opposing direction strap closures for a dialed-in fit and snug arch
- A third strap closure for added security and to create a sock like fit through the arch of your foot
Fabric:
- Microfiber lining in the forefeet, cotton in the heels and leather on the footbeds limit stretching and offer great comfort
- The multi pattern lining (leather forefoot liner for increased sensitivity and feel, cotton heel for non-stretch performance), give the best feel and function for demanding climbs
Midsole:
- 1.5 mm half-length “love bump” midsole keep the foot locked in place
- The ''Love Bump'' midsole puts your forefoot in a comfortable position of power and fills in the dead space behind your toes
- Full-length MX-P 1.5mm midsoles have medium stiffness for edging power on long face routes yet are flexible enough for smearing
Upper:
- Flexible and durable synthetic suede uppers resist stretching and dry quickly
Straps:
- Three opposing hook and loop straps go on quick and secure
Features:
- The tensioned heel and arch rand eliminates dead space in the arch for secure heel hooks and transfers power to the toes
- Ideal for hard sport climbing and bouldering on steep terrain
- High-performance, 4.2mm TRAX XT-5 high-friction rubber soles stick tenaciously to rock
- High friction toe patch, a special Sharma addition for technical moves
- Toe rands of varying thicknesses enhance durability in high-wear zones, such as the front of the toe, without being cumbersome
- The evolv Shaman rock shoes are part of the Chris Sharma Signature Series
- The ''Knuckle Box'' works in combination with the ''Love Bump'' to provide room for your big toe knuckle to stay in a position of power
- Downturned shape features a roomy toe box to allow your big toes to stay bent in a position of power while you're climbing
- Two piece 4.2 mm Trax high friction rubber
- The ultimate performance climbing shoe developed from the ground up by Chris Sharma
The Evolv Shaman is the most advanced, highest-performance climbing shoe that Evolv has ever released, designed from scratch by Chris Sharma. It fits like a glove, and is the most comfortable down-turned climbing shoe we've ever tried. Imagine: a no-compromises, aggressive, technical climbing shoe that doesn't feel like a torture device!
Built on a new last, with a strong downward camber and asymmetrical profile, the Evolv Shaman is perfect for hardcore sport climbing and bouldering steep terrain. The “knuckle box” distributes weight across your big toe, and the "love bump" midsole keeps that toe in a position of power for edging while also helping these shoes retain their downturned shape. The tensioned heel and arch rand eliminate dead space in the arch, transferring even more power to the toes, and a heel counter provides additional tension for secure heel hooks. Triple velcro straps keep the arch from flattening out on you.
The guys at Evolv have worked tirelessly with Chris Sharma on this shoe, tweaking and modifying prototypes repeatedly until they were absolutely perfect, and the Evolv Shaman is a worthy result. Even Sharma's girlfriend is impressed!
The ultimate performance climbing shoe developed from the ground up by Chris Sharma ideal for hard sport climbing and bouldering on steep terrain.
The Shaman incorporates several key design elements that work synergistically to perform at the highest level: The big toe “knuckle box” and “love bump” midsole keeps the big toe in a position of power to obtain maximum strength for edging and grabbing; the tensioned heel and arch rand eliminates dead space in the arch for secure heel hooks and transfers power to the toes; the multi pattern lining (leather forefoot liner for increased sensitivity and feel, cotton heel for non-stretch performance), give the best feel and function for demanding climbs.
Designed by renown American rock climber Chris Sharma.
Down-turned profile and defined "knuckle box" for enhanced comfort.
Synthetic upper offers a snug, glove-like fit.
Leather forefoot and cotton heel lining for increased friction.
Hook-and-loop straps for a secure lockdown.
Heel pull loop for easy on/off.
MX-P, 1.5mm, half-length midsole features the "love-bump" to reduce the dead space under the toe area.
Two-piece, 4.2mm TRAX high friction rubber outsole.
VTR3D rand.
Made in the U.S.A.
Developed from the ground up by Chris Sharma, the evolv Shaman rock shoes incorporate an aggressive downturned shape and high-quality materials to meet your needs on steep routes.
Made in USA.
| Activity: | Climbing |
|---|---|
| Average footwear weight (pair): | 1 lb. 6 oz. |
| Avg. Weight (Pair): | 1 lb. 4 oz. |
| Awards: | 2012 Award Winner |
| Can be resoled: | Yes |
| Closure: | Velcro |
| Footwear closure: | Rip-and-stick |
| Last: | Slip-lasted |
| Last Shape: | Slightly Downturned |
| Liner: | Leather forefoot and foot bed, cotton heel |
| Lining: | Microfiber forefoot, cotton heel, leather foot bed |
| Midsole: | MX-P: 1.5 mm half-length |
| Outsole: | TRAX XT-5 rubber |
| Profile: | Downturned asymmetric with the “knuckle box” |
| Rand: | VTR rand (thicker front toe area) |
| Shape of last: | Cambered |
| Shoe Profile: | Aggressive Profile |
| Sole: | Two piece 4.2 mm TRAX® High Friction Rubber |
| Style: | Velcro |
| Upper: | Synthetic (perforated Synthratek upper) |
| Weight: | Weight-284 g. 100oz pair size 9 |
Subcategories of Climbing:
Evolv Shaman Reviews:
Positive Reviews:
The love bump and knuckle box combo is so evident the moment you put these on because your feet are in securely and snug but you don't have that one pair tear creep out the corner of your eye. these are super aggressive and can be really tightened up to ensure your foot is extra snug. I wear an 8 in street shoe and had to bump all the way up to a 9 in these. Now that I have climbed in them a little while they have broke in some which makes me think I should have gone with a 8.5 but do not count on these things stretching, they are synthetic. Also I being so aggressive and spending the money on these I was determined to find a shoe that really fit my foot and these things do the trick. Only thing that I don't really like is the rubber.. my first shoes were a pair of Five Ten Spires and transitioning from the Stealth C4 rubber to the Trax xt rubber it makes me miss my five tens sometimes. Whenever I have to get these resoled I'll just get them resoled with the stealth rubber instead. I haven't been able to get them on real rock quite yet unfortunately but I work at a climbing gym so I put plenty of hours in them. I have been told though they stick much better on real rock as compared to plastic holds but I do not know this for certain. They will give you a good climb regardless!
This summer I used two shoes mainly. The Evolv Shaman and the 5.10 Dragons (lace). The fitting on the Shaman definitely hurt at first with about 5 or 6 times of use plus some wearing them around the house during work. The Dragons on the other hand, right from the beginning, fit like a glove.
After putting both of these to the test on multiple different types of climbing I really believe that the Shaman is the shoe for me. Not just in my pair I am currently stoked on - but for my future pairs of shoes for years to come. I plan on buying a second pair when the weather gets cold and we all retreat to the gym (new Momentum, woop woop).
Another huge factor that I believe these shoes have over the Dragons is the rubber just seems more sticky/wears slower. I have worn the Shamans about 75% of the spring/summer and they still feel like they have more grip than the Dragons. Very strange since I am a big fan of 5.10. I just sincerely believe they are out performed by the Shaman.
This was my 3rd year of rock climbing and the Evolv Shamans really helped me progress this year. I truly believe that I would not have progressed as much without these shoes in my gear closet.
Great Shoe!!
Get Used to it.
If you're looking for comfort on a multi-pitch maybe these aren't for you. But if you're looking to stay on the rock whether slab or an over hang the arch and toe box are phenomenal. I thought the pointed toe would cause smearing to be a struggle but it actually makes it easier.
BUT, you have to get used to the different feel of the pecuilar approach to being an aggressive shoe. The shaman really excels if you are wearing it correctly. I could also see how if you have morton's toe or longer toes in general you could have problems with the toe box. The shoe is synthetic and will stretch very little. It is also hard to resole these shoes because of the rubber's shape and the rands.
If you're ready for the next step definitely look into these. Never jump into a pair of shoes because of a review though, find a store and try them on. I would suggest going a half size down because they will form to your feet. It's like making a best friend.
First, and most importantly, I normally wear an 8 street shoe and I had to size up to a 9 in these to even get my foot in! So I super suggest trying these on somewhere before ordering them online, I had to return my first pair (8.5) that I ordered.
Remember, these are aggressive shoes! They're not supposed to be comfortable, don't expect them to be. If you're a beginner climber, get shoes without a downturned toe (aka with a flat sole) that will teach you how to use your feet properly. Upgrade to these only when you're ready. With that said, for how aggressive they are, I'm actually pretty surprised about how comfortably they fit. Honestly I can wear them for a while without having to take them of, which is awesome.
I am a women and have a wider toe box so I normally order men's shoes and and these fit my feet great, no slipping in the heel or anything. They're my first pair of velcro shoes, and I love them! I'm definitely spoiled, now I can't even imagine having to lace up every time I want to boulder...
Super aggressive shoe!
First off I had to go up a full size in these. I tried going up a half size and it was just to snug on my feet. I gave them a few climbing sessions and could tell I had to move up a full size from my normal street shoe. I have pretty narrow feet and these feel great on me.
Now that I've had these shoes for about two weeks and 10 solid days of use I can say these shoes are great! They're super sticky and will definitely give you that extra piece of mind your feet will stay where you want them to. I've used them on real rock (they feel excellent on real rock) and on the free outdoor wall near me which is fiberglass natural features and plastic holds.
For how aggressive they are they're very comfortable however I still don't wear them if I'm not on the wall climbing.
Be sure to try a few different sizes on from your regular street shoe size to a full size up to get the appropriate fit.
A great shoe with one drawback.
My only legitimate con with the shoe are the 3 velcro straps. #1: Straps are long and once tight on my foot, have an inch or more hanging off which is really annoying. I have cut off about an inch on the middle strap, but they still manage to get caught on just about everything! #2: Velcro has a limit to it's durability, i.e. expect the velcro to eventually fail. The Shaman is great, and I have loved climbing in them, but I don't think I'll buy another pair of climbing shoes with velcro straps.
Excellent all-around shoe
Neutral Reviews:
I would have loved this shoe, but I have narrow, long feet.. this shoe is made for wider feet so be warned! Also, whenever I wear these, I feel like im putting my foot into a cement block.. They weren't even tight(i could fit my feet+ 3 pairs of socks in these shoes). also, there was alot of dead space in the heel and toe box for me. I switched to La Sportiva solutions and they're perfect! So if you have narrow feet, don't get this shoe, get sportivas. You can preform better with shoes that fit you like a glove, and not that have dead space.. My guess, is that most people would fit perfect in this shoe, but my size 14 narrow feet, don't..
