Defy Climbing Shoe
When it comes to gravity in climbing gyms, most people either fight it or defy it. Those who fight it look like bears thrashing their ways up trees and destroying anything in their paths, while those who defy gravity look like dancers who reach the same destination as the bear, but without all the physical grunting. You'll generally decide whether you're going to climb like a bear or a dancer when you learn how to climb. If you want to dance, Evolv's Defy Climbing Shoe boasts the comfort required to help you learn how to defy gravity, instead of fight it.
Details
- Evolv's best-selling climbing shoe for beginners and intermediates
- Low, flat asymmetry assures comfort at gyms and multi-pitches
- Stretch-resistant Synthratek upper with odor-resistant mesh lining
- Trax high-friction rubber ensures long-lasting traction
- Runs small, so we recommend sizing up for ideal fit
- Item #EVLZ037
- Upper Material
- Synthratek VX (synthetic)
- Lining
- anti-odor mesh
- Closure
- dual hook-and-loop
- Midsole
- MX-P (1.4mm), sensitive
- Rubber
- Trax high-friction rubber
- Claimed Weight
- 8.5oz
- Asymmetrical Curvature
- low
- Manufacturer Warranty
- limited lifetime
- Profile
- flat
Reviews
Q&A
Overall Rating
4.5 based on 12 ratings
Review Summary
Fits Small
Screen reader users: the following list provides a visual scale to illustrate the product fit. Please refer to the heading above for the fit type in text.What do you think about this product?
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Selecting an option will reload the available reviews on the pageMarch 15, 2024
Favorite shoe so far!
Great grip! Pointed, flat bottom toe makes it easy to get into crevices. Heel is great, can easily hang from most holds. Used on indoor bouldering mostly.
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Originally reviewed on ExpertVoice.com
February 8, 2024
Awesome for smearing. But STINK!
- Familiarity:
- I've put it through the wringer
- Size Bought:
- 9
- Height:
- 5' 7"
- Weight:
- 165
As an intermediate climber I can say these are some of my favorite shoes. Fit: I wear a size 9 - 9.5 running shoe in Asics, Brooks or Nike and the size 9 in these is perfect. It fits a little tight until the material breaks in and then it's a glove for your foot. That is how climbing shoes should fit. PROS: I like to smear a lot even in places where other climbers think you can't. These are the absolute best for that. As an intro shoe they are comfortable and can be worn all day. The rubber is super soft so it gets really good grip on any surfaces. These shoe stick to the wall better than some of my $200 shoes. Because they are flat instead of cambered you can use the ball of your foot or switch to inside of toe really easily instead of just toe poking the wall all the time. CONS: The soft rubber also means that i wear these out after about a year and the soft rubber means edging is harder to do. Not impossible but not what the shoe is best at. The Stink! These shoes smell bad. They call the line anti odor but that is the worst misnomer in history. The liner traps in sweat. None of my other shoes smell like this. I have to spray them with disinfectant after every climb.
November 26, 2023
Perfect for what they are.
I use them nearly daily at the gym and on longer easy routes. They are not techy but they are precise for a comfortable shoe and I’ve been through about 5 pairs in my life. Several have been resoled and given me a few years before they died. I have other shoes for hard sport routes or thin cracks but if you want to hang out and crag all day on moderates these are perfect for what they are.
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Originally reviewed on ExpertVoice.com
July 3, 2023
Quick Guide To Find Size For You
- Familiarity:
- I returned this product before using it
- Size Bought:
- 8.5 womens
- Height:
- 5' 2"
- Weight:
- 145
First timer buying climbing shoes and well I learned a quick lesson after ordering my first pair, they run small (very small) and each brand is very different. So please NOTE * I did not use this pair to climb in but only to find a pair that fit. Needless to say, I wear a size 8 in women's consistently and ordered a half size up (8.5) which is a 7.5 in mens and it was still too snug. I'd recommend ordering 1 full size up. A size 9 in women's would have probably been ideal. On backcountry's site this is considered a "unisex" shoe which uses men's sizing. I hope this helps.
December 23, 2022
Good Climbing Shoe: Def Order Up A Size
- Familiarity:
- I returned this product before using it
- Size Bought:
- 9.5
- Height:
- 5' 10"
- Weight:
- 155
Got these shoes for my adult son and he loves the shoe but I had to send them back to get a bigger size! Great shoe for indoor climbing!
October 16, 2022
Amazing shoe
The only size 15 I could find, and it fits very well after having been broken in. Thank you for carrying my size!
Originally reviewed on Evolv
June 23, 2022
Shoes are fine, Sizing is off
These shoes perform absolutely fine given their intended use/demographic, but it seems to me that Evolv is dealing with some sizing discrepancies that I would like to see sorted out. The TL;DR here: I wear a Men's 11 in virtually all street shoes, but in this shoe I wear a size Men's 13 (out of the box, toes touching the ends but not quite curled over). If you are looking for shoes that fit similarly, my suggestions are as follows: For your size in Women's street shoes, go with the same size or 1/2 a size up from what is listed as the Men's size on the Evolv Defy. For your size in Men's street shoes, go 1.5 to 2 sizes bigger than what is listed as the Men's size on the Evolv Defy. COMPLETELY ignore the EU and UK sizes. Compared to the Evolv Titan, this shoe is exactly 1.5 sizes smaller (the typical men's to women's size conversion for most shoe brands) than what's listed on this website in Men's. It seems to me that what's listed on this shoe as the men's size should actually be the Women's size, and that the true Men's size is actually 1.5 sizes larger. Personally, I size up by 0.5 from my street shoe in the Evolv Titan, so I had to up 2 full sizes in the Defy. Evolv, please fix your sizing! Try these shoes on and give us some logical numbers to go off of!
Originally reviewed on Evolv
January 2, 2022
Great entry level climbing shoe
- Familiarity:
- I've used it several times
- Size Bought:
- 11
- Height:
- 5' 10"
- Weight:
- 180
Had an issue with sizing and exchanged them for a size up which fit me perfectly. Just got back into climbing after a few year hiatus. These shoes are neutral and work well in the climbing gym for an entry to intermediate climber. One thing to keep in mind is that the upper is suede and will stretch very little. I'm pretty consistent in a size 10 US across the board in different types of shoes but I needed these in 11.
December 10, 2021
Best Speed Climbing Shoes on the Market!
The Defys offer the perfect combination of high-quality robustness, comfort, and stiffness for effective power transfer to climbing holds.
Originally reviewed on Evolv
November 11, 2019
These are great shoes for beginner climbers who are just getting started.
Originally reviewed on Evolv
Need Expert Advice?
Our Gearheads Can Help
August 25, 2023
I am a mens size 15 extra wide in an ASICS sneaker. Do you think this shoe will fit in a size 15 or 16? If not, which shoe do you recommend for me?
December 23, 2022
I'm currently wearing the blue and orange rental shoes in a size 14. They are pretty stretched out and fit perfectly. Should I order a size 15? Is the defy shoes the best for a beginner with really wide feet?
August 4, 2022
I'm a size 12 in Saucony. What size climbing shoe do you recommend?
July 11, 2022
What's the policy on returns?
March 15, 2022
Hello, when will you have men's size 11.5 back in stock?
January 21, 2022
Are the size shown in US Men or Women
January 20, 2022
Do the defy’s usually fit true to shoe size or should I go smaller or bigger ?
January 11, 2022