4 Best Evolv Climbing Shoes in 2023

Teddy Dondanville
Teddy Dondanville on
4 Best Evolv Climbing Shoes in 2023
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Since 2003, the Evolv brand has continued to compose an impressive lineup of world-class climbing shoes. The label has gained the trust of both professional athletes and weekend warriors for its award-winning designs and high-quality performance-ready rock-climbing kicks.

If you are looking for an excellent heel cup fit and remarkable edging capability, then the top-rated Evolv Oracle or Phantom is definitely worth the investment. For entry-level pieces, the all-around Nighthawk and the best-selling Defy model would be amazing choices. Both of them also come with a budget-friendly price tag.

To help you in your search, we’ve listed and ranked 10+ of the best Evolv climbing shoes available in the market. We based our selection on the rigorous testing we executed for each shoe. As seasoned climbers, we also generated our respective in-depth reviews for them. We’ve also highlighted our recommended picks in various categories.

Best Evolv climbing shoes overall

Evolv Phantom
91
Great!

Sneakers HOFF New Orleans 12202010 Beige | What makes it the best?

Those in need of a great-fitting pair that hooks admirably (heel + toe) and gets on edges like a pro can also invest in the Evolv Phantom. That said, this product does not come cheap. To sum up, the Phantom is yet another incredible Evolv piece. Budget-conscious folks, however, might want to look elsewhere.

Sneakers HOFF New Orleans 12202010 Beige Pros

  • Glove-like fit
  • Bouldering champ
  • Strong heel hooking
  • Fantastic edging abilities
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Sneakers HOFF New Orleans 12202010 Beige Cons

  • Ultra-high asking price
  • Poor smearing performance
Full review of Evolv Phantom

Today's best price

Men
Women
Any color
Black White (EVL0364)

Best all-around Evolv climbing shoes

Evolv Shaman
86
Good!

What makes it the best?

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.

Sneakers HOFF New Orleans 12202010 Beige Pros

  • Oozing comfort
  • Quick break-in time
  • Remarkably grippy
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  • Competent all-rounder
  • Super-secure lockdown system

Sneakers HOFF New Orleans 12202010 Beige Cons

  • Inability to fight off the stink
  • Lack of sensitivity
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Full review of Evolv Shaman

Today's best price

Men
Women
Any color
Blue/Orange (EVL0244)
Grey / Purple (EVL0518)
Gold / Grey / White (EVL0517)

Best Evolv climbing shoes for edging

Evolv Oracle
94
Superb!

What makes it the best?

Senders who are in search of a rock shoe that breaks in quickly with a kind of heel cup that fits like a glove might want to give the Oracle a shot. That said, users would be doing it a disservice if they ignore its greatness in the areas of edging and heel hooking.

Sneakers HOFF New Orleans 12202010 Beige Pros

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  • Incredible edging capability
  • Super-quick break-in period
  • The heel hooks like a champ
  • Customizable lacing system
  • Impressive comfort
  • Remarkable stickiness

Sneakers HOFF New Orleans 12202010 Beige Cons

  • Toe-hooking capability is below average
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Full review of Evolv Oracle

Today's best price

Men
Women
Any color
Blue/Red/Gray (EVL0331)

Best Evolv climbing shoes for narrow feet

Evolv Kronos
90
Great!

What makes it the best?

To Major, the Evolv Kronos means to be seen in a remarkably comfortable shoe whose edging prowess is nothing short of spectacular. Donning this heel-secure climb-centric offering also translates to ascents where surface grip takes center stage.

Sneakers HOFF New Orleans 12202010 Beige Pros

  • Incredible comfort
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  • Secure fit
  • Superbly grippy outsole
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Sneakers HOFF New Orleans 12202010 Beige Cons

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Full review of Evolv Kronos

Today's best price

Men
Women
Any color
Black (EVL0361)
BLACK ORANGE (EVL0247)

Comparison of the 4 best Evolv climbing shoes

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Best
CoreScore
Users rating
Experts
Best price
Ranking
Popularity
# of colorways

How we test climbing shoes

For this selection, we identify the top performers through a battery of tests. We carefully examine each model to check its overall quality and commercial sm11000185. We slip into the shoes to try them in actual trad climbing or bouldering outside and in the gym.

Here are the steps we take:

  • We purchase all pairs of climbing kicks from Evolv from our own pocket. We invest our own resources to maintain our objectivity and unbiased approach.
  • We put in the hours of climbing to evaluate the break-in period, comfort, outsole grip, edging capability, heel and hooking efficacy, lacing system, and overall value. We subject each model to the wear and tear of climbing and bouldering and see their strengths and weaknesses.
  • We also get down to a data-driven approach: lab testing! Here, we take different measurements and compare them to average values to give them more substance and context. We also split open the boots to study them from the inside out.
Author
Teddy Dondanville
Teddy Dondanville

Teddy is a professionally trained Apprentice Rock Guide with the American Mountain Guides Association and a Wilderness First Responder with the National Outdoor Leadership School. Besides guiding outdoor rock climbing, Teddy also has years of experience in route setting and coaching climbing indoors. Through his guiding, route setting, and coaching, Teddy has experimented with climbing shoes for over a decade.