- 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
- For the most comfortable fit for new climbers, we recommend sizing up 1-1
- 5 sizes
Synthratek VX is a durable synthetic material used in the upper part of our climbing shoes. It is designed to resist stretching, which helps maintain the shoe's shape and performance over time. This means you can rely on your shoes to provide consistent support and fit, enhancing your climbing experience without worrying about them losing their shape.
Recent Reviews
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
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Originally reviewed on Evolv
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Originally reviewed on Evolv
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Originally reviewed on Evolv
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These are great shoes for beginner climbers who are just getting started. Originally reviewed on Evolv
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Originally reviewed on Evolv
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. Originally reviewed on ExpertVoice.com
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Originally reviewed on Evolv
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Originally reviewed on Evolv
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
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Originally reviewed on Evolv
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Originally reviewed on Evolv
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Great shoe. Super sticky rubber. Comfy enough. Originally reviewed on ExpertVoice.com
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. Originally reviewed on ExpertVoice.com
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Originally reviewed on Evolv
Great Shoe, Great Price.
Snug fit and grippy sole make me feel like I can walk straight up any climb. The only bad thing I can say about these shoes is that they rub the sides of my big toe. I just tape my toes before I put then on and we can go all day. Truely an awesome and budget friendly shoe. Originally reviewed on Evolv
Great entry level climbing shoe
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.
Good first shoe
First pair of climbing shoes, bought them mainly because of the price. They get the job done; smears, toe/heel hooks, tiny foot holds, etc. all work. I'm a street 11 and matches with these, which is the "performance fit". They were tight, but I was able to sit/walk around the house in them for about thirty minutes before I felt the need to take them off while breaking them in. At the gym, I was fine wearing them for an hour and a half and didn't feel impeded while climbing.
Review
These shoes are pretty cool. they're taking a little longer to break-in, but I'm not thinking about them when I'm climbing and they fit pretty snug, plus they're a great price. Originally reviewed on Evolv
First climbing shoe
I have enjoyed the shoe I am new to rock climbing and I do indoor climbing. The shoe feels well made and does great out of the box on getting a grip on foot holds. It will be uncomfortable when you first get it just let the shoe break in. I am a beginner rock climbing and I feel that this shoes are a great beginner shoe. Make sure not to wear socks (if your gym allows it) I feel that without socks the shoe is more comfortable. Originally reviewed on ExpertVoice.com
Great beginner shoe
There is nothing wrong about these shoes. They are priced right, perform well, and have been durable. They aren’t full of features, but they work perfectly for figuring out what you want In A climbing shoe. I started in these and both my kids started in these as well. The only way I wouldn’t recommend these would be if they were a veteran climber that specifically wanted something like a more aggressive sole edge. Originally reviewed on ExpertVoice.com
Quick Guide To Find Size For You
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.
Good Climbing Shoe: Def Order Up A Size
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!
Awesome for smearing. But STINK!
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.
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