I’ve been climbing in Evolv Shaman’s for a few years. They fit my foot like a glove, and perform beyond any shoe I have used before. Unfortunately, I came to to end of my resole-ability with my last pair, and had to find a new shoe to buy. The new Shaman’s had the same fit as my old, but with a few added components. I was a little weary at first, because the new ‘love bump’ and more aggressive camber changed the feel of the fit. Now that I have been climbing with them for a while, I really appreciate all of the changes Evolv implemented. I work out weekly on steep walls and large roofs at the gym, to keep me ready for the crags on the weekends. These shoes add security and power when I’m on my back and cranking through the last few moves to the anchors. The smaller straps allow for a more precise fit. The down turned toes grab little edges and steep holds like glue. And the added sensitivity over the toes add a greater range of moves on those overhanging routes. This is everything I loved about the older models, with new features that allow me to take my climbing confidently to the next level.
This review was written in the old system and had content requirements that are different than reviews written today.