Our verdict
Immensely comfortable right off the bat—this is likely how wearers would describe the Evolv Shaman. That said, day-one comfort is not the only quality it has in spades. Indeed, this aggressive rock climbing shoe also has incredible surface traction and excellent steep climbing performance.
Pros
- Oozing comfort
- Impressive climbing performance
- Remarkably grippy
- Impressive climbing performance
- Competent all-rounder
- Super-secure lockdown system
Cons
- Inability to fight off the stink
- We earn affiliate commissions at no extra cost to you when you buy through us
- We earn affiliate commissions at no extra cost to you when you buy through us
Who should buy the Evolv Shaman
The Shaman is an astonishing Evolv piece in which climbers can send projects with increased confidence. It is a solid option if you:
- Same brand only.
- Same brand only.
- Why trust us.
Updates to Evolv Shaman
Co-designed by Chris Sharma—a world-renowned professional rock climber and the establisher of the grade 5.15c, the Evolv Shaman is a climbing shoe engineered with a set of technologies that grants wearers the ability to take on steep ascents.
It comes built with two Evolv-exclusive technologies: Love Bump and Knuckle Box. The former fills in dead space under the flex point of the toes, while the latter gives the knuckle of the big toe enough room for a curled position. Together, these two give climbers additional edging power. This Evolv offering is a vegan-friendly climbing shoe. Vegan products are built free of any animal substance—in some cases, even the tools and equipment with which they were created.
Sticky outsole
Trax-SAS is the name of the Evolv Shaman’s sticky outsole. It is 4.2 mm in thickness. It has split construction, which gives the shoe sufficient flexibility around the arch zone. The compound used in it delivers tenacity over a wide range of temperatures.
Easy to make the toe curl
The Shaman has a sturdy platform for edging and maneuvers thanks to its stiff midsole, called MX-P. Its half-length construction has a thickness of 1.6 mm. The Love Bump technology gives it a curved design at the forefoot, allowing the toes to curl into position without too much effort.
Durable
The Evolv Shaman’s unlined upper is made of Synthratex VX which is entirely synthetic. It is furnished with molded VTR (Variable Thickness Rand)—a proprietary randing technology that lessens hotspots and pressure points without sacrificing performance and durability. Helping users to get in and out of it with convenience is the collaboration between the two heels pull loops and the split tongue. Three hook-and-loop straps make up its closure system.
