EVOLV

Evolv burst onto the climbing scene in 2003 and has since built an impressive range of kick-ass climbing shoes. With a diverse team of serious crushers regularly slipping into a pair of Evolvs, you know that these shoes mean business.

HQ Location: Los Angeles, United States
Big-name Ambassadors: Daniel Woods, Dai Koyamada, Colin Duffy, Ashima Shiraishi, Paul Robinson

SEE THE SHOES

Our Reviews

Here are the Evolv climbing shoes we have put through their paces.

Evolv Agro

Evolv Shaman

Evolv Defy

EVOLV SHOE TECH

Evolv is continuously refining its line of clever shoe technology. From their proprietary rubber formula, known as Trax rubber, to their Dark Spine and VTR (variable thickness rands), the R&D team at Evolv HQ rarely disappoints when it comes to cool climbing tech.

Evlov was also one of the first manufacturers to champion vegan-friendly shoe design. They currently boast one of the biggest collections of vegan climbing shoes of any brand, including many of their performance models such as the Shaman and Phantom.

TRAX RUBBER

Evolvs creates its own rubber for all its shoes, currently divided into three formulas; SAS, XE, and Enduro.

DARK SPINE

The Dark Spine creates a ridge down the center of the heel cup to protect your calcaneus bone and allows for secure hooking ability.

VARIABLE THICKNESS RAND (VTR)

By varying the thickness of the toe rand, Evolv is able to increase the longevity and performance of its shoes.

EVOLV SIZE GUIDE

Evolv bases its shoe sizing on US street shoe size, so more often than not, you will find that the right size climbing shoe is very similar to your normal shoe size. Many climbers, myself included, find that upsizing by 1/2 – 1 size offers the right balance between performance and comfort.

As with most shoe manufacturers, many Evolv climbing shoes now come in Low and Mid Volume variations to cater to a diverse range of foot shapes. Their range of low-volume shoes features a lower heel cup, as well as a narrower and lower profile, fit the back and forefoot.

The Extra Bits

Everything you ever need to know about Evolv climbing.

What is the history of Evolv climbing?

Evolv burst onto the climbing scene in 2003 at the hands of Brian Chung. Since 2001, Chung had been working as a shoe resoler but quickly grew tired of all the copy-cat climbing shoe designs, so set out to design his own line of climbing shoes.

The Evolv shoe line was launched with the release of the Kaos and Bandit, models that Chung made from his garage. The company enjoyed early success thanks to a wave of quality climbing shoes made in the USA, which were frequently seen on the feet of their legion of sponsored athletes. From the beginning, they have been a leading manufacturer of vegan-friendly climbing shoes.

But if there was one move that pushed the American-made shoe manufacturer into the spotlight – apart from their reputation for well-constructed shoes and TRAX rubber – it was their high-profile collaborations. Their biggest collaboration to date was with Chirs Sharma when joined the team as an athlete, as well as a product developer, in 2006.

Sharma captured the attention of the climbing world with some of his most iconic projects like Es Pontas, La Rambla and La Dura Dura, all being sent in Evolv climbing shoes. During their 13-year partnership, Evolv created the Sharma-signature collection which included a range of performance shoes designed with the input of Sharma himself, including the Shaman, Optimus, Pontas, and Nexxo.

Whilst developing a range of collaborations with elite climbers, Evolv continued to develop its own range of shoes, with the modern reinvention of classics like the Agro and Geshido, and new additions, like the Oracle and the X1.

Which climbers are sponsored by Evolv?

Although Evolv currently has a more refined team of professional athletes than that of other shoe manufacturers, its roster is jam-packed with world-class talent.

Sharma was, of course, a huge figurehead of their early team. Even though their partnership ended in 2018, Evolv wasn’t exactly left with a shortage of talented climbers. Dai Koyamada has been one of their longest-lasting athletes, having been part of the Evolv team for well over a decade. Steph Davis has also been a long-term ambassador for Evolv.

There’s also plenty of fresh faces added to the Evolv team over the years. Young gun stars like Ashima Shiraishi, Kai Lighter, and Evolv Olympic super-star Colin Duffy are a few of the next-generation athletes waving the Evolv flag.

But the biggest name in the Evolv team is currently the bouldering mega-crusher known as Daniel Woods. Woods jumped on the Evolv bandwagon and then sent ‘Off The Wagon’. He even managed to join the highly exclusive V17 club in April 2021 with his massive first ascent of ‘Return of the Sleepwalker’.

Do Evolv Shoes Stretch?

Yes, Evolv climbing shoes stretch. As with any climbing shoe, the amount of stretch ultimately comes down to the material the uppers are made from. Leather climbing shoes, especially unlined ones, stretch significantly more than synthetic shoes do.

As Evolv has one of the largest selections of vegan climbing shoes, you might find many of their shoes won’t stretch much in the break-in process. Make sure to take a look out for what materials our shoes are made from when choosing the right size.

Are Evolv Climbing Shoes Good?

Evolv shoes are awesome! Evolv climbing shoes have shaken off the mountaineering/alpinism vibes that linger around many established shoe manufacturers. Their shoes draw inspiration from urban street style and have one of the most aesthetically pleasing shoe lines around.

Their own rubber compound ‘TRAX’ rubber, is also brilliant. Like Sharma once said “TRAX rubber has the perfect blend of stickiness and durability for extreme climbing of all types. Whether I am on a granite slab or on an overhanging limestone sport route, I have total confidence in every foot placement with Trax rubber.”

How do you wash Evolv shoes?

Like every climbing shoe, you want to take care when washing Evolv climbing shoes. Excessive heat or harsh chemicals can interfere with the shoe construction and meddle with the well-balanced forces at play. You can read about cleaning climbing shoes here.

Where can you buy Evolv climbing shoes?

Evolv sells their shoes via their website, although they also have a great distribution network through both online and offline retailers.