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evolv Defy VTR Rock Shoes

CHARCOAL

    evolv Defy VTR Rock Shoes

    • $89.00
    (30)

    Item # 799655

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    Whether you're new to the sport or a seasoned pro, the evolv Defy VTR rock shoes give your feet the comfort and performance needed to master most styles of climbing.

    • evolv VTR-3D technology features toe rands of varying thicknesses to enhance durability in high-wear zones, such as the front of the toe, without being cumbersome
    • Teardrop MX-P 1mm half-length midsoles add edging power without sacrificing flexibility and sensitivity for technical moves and smearing
    • High-performance 4.2mm TRAX XT-5 high-friction rubber soles cling to rock
    • Comfortable bedroom-slipper-feel lets you climb all day on long multi-pitch routes or at the gym without mashing your toes
    • Convenient dual rip-and-stick strap closure system and padded, breathable tongues lock feet in and allow quick exits
    • Flexible and durable Synthratek synthetic suede uppers resist stretching and dry quickly for long life
    • KA-1 lasting delivers an asymmetric toe profile that gives sensitivity and edging power while maintaining comfort
    • Nylon linings add comfort by managing moisture inside and work with dual heel loops to ease entry

    Average weight specification is per pair, based on size 9.

    Made in USA.

    Item 799655

    REI Membership

    evolv Defy VTR Rock Shoes Specs
    Specification
    Description
    Best use
    Climbing
    420 grams
    Slip-lasted
    Flat
    Synthetic suede
    Yes
    TRAX XT-5 rubber
    Rip-and-stick
    Yes
    Unisex
    Average weight - metric
    Last
    Shape of last
    Upper
    Lining
    Outsole
    Footwear closure
    Can be resoled
    Gender

    evolv Defy VTR Rock Shoes Customer Reviews

    REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

    by PowerReviews
    evolv Defy VTR Rock Shoes
     
    3.7

    (based on 30 reviews)

    73%

    of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

    Pros

    • Versatile (16)
    • Lightweight (15)
    • Rugged (11)
    • Comfortable (7)
    • Easy on and off velcro (3)

    Cons

    • Flimsy (3)
    • Uncomfortable (3)

    Best Uses

    • Indoor (25)
    • Bouldering (18)
    • Outdoors (12)
    • Long climbs (5)
      • Sizing:
      • Feels full size too small

         

        Feels half size too small

         

        Feels true to size

         

        60% 

        (18 reviews)

        Feels half size too big

         

        Feels full size too big

         
      • Width:
      • Feels too narrow

         

        Feels true to width

         

        86% 

        (24 reviews)

        Feels too wide

         
      • Reviewer Profile:
      • Avid climber (13), Casual/ recreational (11), Getting started (5)
      • Was this a gift?:
      • No (20)

    Reviewed by 30 customers

    Sort by

    Displaying reviews 1-10

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    (9 of 9 customers found this review helpful)

     
    4.0

    Send that project

    By Alan Stevens

    from Golden, CO

    About Me Avid Climber

    See all my reviews

    Site Member

    Pros

    • Versatile

    Cons

    • Uncomfortable

    Best Uses

    • Bouldering
    • Indoor

    Comments about evolv Defy VTR Rock Shoes:

    These shoes are kickin'. They helped me push through my summer project, and climb harder. BUT, they aren't all day shoes, and they get stinky! like really stinky. So keep dont store 'em in your car. Or you'll have no girlfriend.

    • Sizing:
    • Feels half size too small
    • Width:
    • Feels too narrow
    • Was this a gift?:
    • No

    (9 of 9 customers found this review helpful)

     
    4.0

    Decent shoes at a good price

    By SloMo228

    from Warren, MI

    About Me Casual/ Recreational

    See all my reviews

    Pros

    • Rugged

    Cons

      Best Uses

      • Indoor
      • Long Climbs

      Comments about evolv Defy VTR Rock Shoes:

      I bought the Defy VTR for gym climbing and it has done a good job. The VTR stands for "variable thickness rand" meaning that high-wear areas get more rubber, which makes these shoes more durable for indoor climbing, which can really tear up shoes quickly. They are fairly comfortable, but if you have a Morton's toe, you'll probably have to look elsewhere. My second toe is only slightly shorter than my big toe, and it's cramped in the Defy almost to the point of discomfort. If your second toe is longer, it's probably gonna hurt for you.

      My only real complaint with this shoe is that the recycled rubber sole is not terribly sticky. It gets the job done most of the time, sure, but on some of the smaller or more sloped footholds, it gives less friction than you'd think. But it's a trade-off for durability. If you're not concerned with having the stickiest of the sticky rubber and you want a shoe that's going to be pretty decent and last a while without costing a ton, the Defy VTR is a good choice.

      • Sizing:
      • Feels true to size
      • Width:
      • Feels true to width

      (4 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

       
      4.0

      Good first shoes. And second

      By climbingaddict

      from Grand Rapids, MI

      About Me Avid Climber

      See all my reviews

      Site Member

      Pros

      • Lightweight
      • Rugged

      Cons

        Best Uses

        • Bouldering
        • Indoor
        • Outdoor

        Comments about evolv Defy VTR Rock Shoes:

        Great first shoes, cheap and can be aggressive if sized right. I bought a full size down, and one I got used to them...about a week, they were great. I took them off after each climb because they were tight, but while on the route, they did not hurt at all. Great shoes the first or second time around.

        • Gift:
        • No
        • Sizing:
        • Feels true to size
        • Width:
        • Feels true to width

        (3 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

         
        3.0

        Smell like armpit

        By phathed

        from Washington, DC

        About Me Casual/ Recreational

        See all my reviews

        Site Member

        Pros

        • Comfortable
        • Recycled content
        • Stealthy looks

        Cons

        • Stinkiest shoes EVER

        Best Uses

        • Ensuring you stay single
        • Making your feet smell
        • Warding off evil

        Comments about evolv Defy VTR Rock Shoes:

        I love the way these shoes fit and they seem durable enough. But despite letting them dry after climbing and never having had stinky feet, these shoes are out of hand stinky after only 2 months. And they haven't even been worn in summer weather yet. I love them, but I shouldn't have ignored all the negative reviews about the smell. It's intense!

        • Sizing:
        • Feels true to size
        • Width:
        • Feels true to width
        • Was this a gift?:
        • No

        (3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

         
        4.0

        Super solid all arounder

        By Jason Halladay

        from Los Alamos, NM

        About Me Avid Climber

        See all my reviews

        Site Member

        Pros

        • Durable
        • Easy on and off velcro
        • Great Fit

        Cons

          Best Uses

          • Indoor
          • Outdoor

          Comments about evolv Defy VTR Rock Shoes:

          I own two pair of the Evolvs (2008 model, I think). I wear these shoes almost exclusively for hard (for me) sport climbs, gear-protected crack climbs and multi-pitch outings. I do take them off at the belays on longer routes as they fit tight and don't have that all day comfort.
          I wear a size 13 street shoe and wear a 12.5 in these. They do stretch out a bit but nothing like the stretch of leather. I don't think I'd try a full size smaller than my street shoe.
          I'd say the shoes aren't perfect for any single type of climbing but are extremely good at everything be it edging, crack or slab.

          • Gift:
          • No
          • Sizing:
          • Feels true to size
          • Width:
          • Feels true to width

          (2 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

           
          3.0

          The Stench of Death.

          By KatyKatyKaty

          from Seattle, WA

          About Me Casual/ Recreational

          See all my reviews

          Site Member

          Pros

          • Rugged
          • Versatile
          • Weather Resistant

          Cons

          • Stench Stench Stench

          Best Uses

            Comments about evolv Defy VTR Rock Shoes:

            These shoes are pretty solid for climbing. I climb mostly in gyms and the velcro is convenient to give my feet a break. I've also climbed some multi pitch outdoor stuff and they worked well for that. They sort of bend my big toe in a little bit more than I'd like, but that probably would have been fixed by buying a bigger size (I bought them when I first started climbing so I didn't totally know what I was doing). My only complaint is that they very quickly started smelling horrible. We're not talking like a little bit of foot-funk that your running shoes get after a while. We're talking about the full on stench of death. It's sort of interesting since the smell varies with time. Sometimes it smells like putrid mold. Sometimes it smells sort of like rotting flesh. The important point is that they never smell good. They smell so bad that if I put them in a bag, they'll stink up the bag for a long time. I've found leaving them outside helps a bit with the odor, but only slightly. I've washed them, which lessened the smell only until the next time I wore them. Now I'll say that usually I have no problem with funky smells and can just deal with it, but the bigger problem is that the odor just drives people away. You're gonna have trouble having friends if you have these shoes. Yeah, basically they just smell bad.

            • Sizing:
            • Feels half size too small
            • Was this a gift?:
            • No

            (2 of 11 customers found this review helpful)

             
            3.0

            Loosen up quick

            By Loonytik

            from Atlanta, GA

            About Me Casual/ Recreational

            See all my reviews

            Site Member

            Pros

              Cons

                Best Uses

                  Comments about evolv Defy VTR Rock Shoes:

                  These shoes are fine for the first 20 minutes of climbing and then they loosen up too much. Even after readjusting and tightening the straps they continue to get loose.

                  I have owned these for awhile and they were fine when I first bought them but they broke in way too fast.

                  • Gift:
                  • No
                  • Sizing:
                  • Feels true to size
                  • Width:
                  • Feels true to width

                  (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

                   
                  4.0

                  Nice shoe...

                  By jen.hughes

                  from Dallas, TX

                  About Me Casual/ Recreational

                  See all my reviews

                  Pros

                  • Lightweight
                  • Rugged
                  • Versatile

                  Cons

                    Best Uses

                    • Bouldering
                    • Indoor
                    • Long Climbs

                    Comments about evolv Defy VTR Rock Shoes:

                    It's a great indoor climbing shoe. Haven't climbed outdoors enough to know how they handle over "real" rocks. :-)

                    The shoes fit tight, but you don't want them to be really roomy. Good grip especially when bouldering. Also, as the other review stated they don't hold a smell so it's a great addition!

                    No compliants at all and I've recommended them to several friends. FYI - I do have a normal width to my foot, if you have a wider foot I could see it being uncomfortable.

                    • Sizing:
                    • Feels half size too small
                    • Width:
                    • Feels true to width

                    (1 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

                     
                    5.0

                    awesome shoe!

                    By James Swanson

                    from Atlanta, GA

                    About Me Avid Climber

                    See all my reviews

                    Pros

                      Cons

                        Best Uses

                        • Bouldering
                        • Indoor
                        • Outdoor

                        Comments about evolv Defy VTR Rock Shoes:

                        i have the 09 version of this shoe, and i love it. the fit it awesome, tight yet comfortable. they're extremely grippy, and the best part is, they don't smell! definitely a good shoe to buy!

                        • Gift:
                        • No
                        • Sizing:
                        • Feels true to size
                        • Width:
                        • Feels true to width
                         
                        4.0

                        Good Shoe

                        By Bryon

                        from Greenville,SC

                        About Me Getting Started

                        See all my reviews

                        Site Member

                        Pros

                          Cons

                            Best Uses

                            • Bouldering
                            • Indoor

                            Comments about evolv Defy VTR Rock Shoes:

                            I wear a size men's 15 in other shoes, so originally bought them in a 15 online. Fit perfect the first few times but the material stretched out. Exchanged them for a size 14 and have been climbing in those for two weeks. Much tighter on the big toe and after a hour of not relaxing my feet, they start to hurt.

                            Overall a good shoe I just wish they made a 14.5 size.

                            • Sizing:
                            • Feels half size too big
                            • Width:
                            • Feels true to width

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