Evolv Phantom Review: The Ultimate Bouldering Shoe?

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2 жыл бұрын

Our extensive climbing shoe review of the Evolv Phantom.
The Evolv Phantom has taken climbing shoes to another level with its unique design and top of the line performance. Daniel Woods and Paul Robinson were significant parts in the testing and design of the Evolv Phantoms and it shows.
The Evolv Phantoms are available to buy from us at the link below in both the standard volume and low volume models:
Standard Volume:
escoutdoors.co.uk/products/ev...
Low Volume:
escoutdoors.co.uk/products/ev...
You can read our full written review linked below:
escoutdoors.co.uk/blogs/climb...
Make sure to subscribe and follow us both here on KZfaq and on Instagram @esc.outdoors

Пікірлер: 24

@georgebaldwin5456 7 ай бұрын

Best way to recommend this shoe to you is to say if I was going to be stranded on a deserted island with fabulous climbing and bouldering and I could only bring one shoe with me, it would be my Evolve Phantoms. They have an engineeringly impossible combination of stiffness and sensitivity in the forefoot. I strongly recommend that you "break in" the metatarsal region across the ball of your feet by repeatedly squeezing with the heels of your hands with your fingers interlocked, thereby forcing the sole of the shoe to flex in a convex shape outwards. When it's about 50% easier than it was the first time you tried this, you've softened the 2nd plate reaonsonably, and you'll notice the shoe finally behaving as you hoped it would. This break-in routine will open you up to the aforementioned rigidity/sensitivity dichotomy and let you experience how incredible these shoes can be for you. There's nothing like them on the market; and I am normally a huge fan of LaSportivas.

@pablonescafebar6043 Жыл бұрын

How do these compare to the LV version?

@escoutdoors Жыл бұрын

The LVs are identical in specs just with the reduced volume fit and white upper. You can expect the same performance with the LV. If you have narrower feet they'll be great!

@pbuehner Жыл бұрын

can you compare the toe box to the Shaman? I have a wide foot. Not many shoes fit snugly. The Shaman is fairly wide in my experience.

@escoutdoors Жыл бұрын

I can get a video together explaining the difference in toe boxes for sure. If you want specific details on models though then you are welcome to message me on Instagram @esc.outdoors and I'll try and help with specific model comparisons for you. All the best!

@georgebaldwin5456 7 ай бұрын

The Phantom toe box will definitely drive power to your Big Toe. The Shamans all have a more round toe, which is great if your 2nd to is equal to or longer than your Big Toe. The closest to the Phantom is the Shaman Pro, which is slightly tighter than the other two Shaman Models; and is definitely softer in the front half of the show than the other two Shaman models and the Phantom. My fav is the Phantom; the Pro is #2 and the Shaman Lace is #3. I do not own the Shaman VS; I iked the Pro better.

@jimy6469 Жыл бұрын

If I bought a size less than my street shoes, do you think my foot is going to enter?

@escoutdoors Жыл бұрын

If you currently significantly downsize your climbings shoes then it is definitely possible depending on your foot shape. They take a bit of time to wear in are they are quite stiff at first but I have had happy customers who have gone a whole size down from their street shoe though most people will find half a size down to be plenty tight enough in most cases. I hope this helps but if you need anymore help then please ask! 🙂

@andreasrosland1635 Жыл бұрын

I have a pair of La Sportiva Skwama and they are OK, but I have never tired any other shoe so I dont really know. How much does having the best shoe for the type of climbing you are doing matter? Might a 6b be impossible for a 7b climber if he had the wrong type of shoes? Or is it like maybe it can raise you from 6b to 6c as an example?

@escoutdoors Жыл бұрын

If you're a good climber then in my opinion you can climb in almost anything but at the top level it's all about marginal gains. Someone like Daniel Woods climbing 8c/9a boulders needs ever little bit of performance to get to that level. If a shoe is extremely soft or stiff then lacking support on smaller edges or flexibility when smearing definitely make things harder for anyone. The most important part is fit to your foot and benefits from shoe specs definitely do help but I will never promise a product will make you a better climber as a whole. Do you find the skwarma lacking in some aspects?

@andreasrosland1635 Жыл бұрын

@@escoutdoors I fond it difficult to stand on volumes/slabs, but might just be me being a bad climber. My best climb is a 6A so im a pretty new beginner climber :)

@TrackpadProductions Жыл бұрын

@@andreasrosland1635 Honestly, if you're climbing 6A your shoes probably aren't the most important factor to consider when trying to move up the grades. If you're mostly bouldering and/or doing indoor stuff, softer shoes like skwamas are probably the best bet. Softer shoes for smearing, stiffer shoes for edging, generally speaking. Although, to be honest, skwamas might be a little too aggressive if you're still a beginner. If you're comfortable wearing them all day than they're definitely sized too big, which loses all the advantages of performance shoes. Something cheaper and more comfy might be worth a look, like Scarpa's veloces, or LaSpo's kubos.

@georgebaldwin5456 7 ай бұрын

I you want super sensitivity, you'll like the Skwama or the Shaman Pro. If you want power with sensitivity, you'll LOVE the Phantom. It's quite unique, not like any other shoe on the market. You will either LOVE it, as I do; or HATE it, complaining you think it's too insensitive. It IS intentionally stiff under the balls of your feet, because there's a 2nd plate there. But up forward, at your toes, theres only a single plate, and it's VERY sensitive.

@paulvolt2963 Жыл бұрын

Is Evolv Phantom stiffer than Shaman??

@escoutdoors Жыл бұрын

They are from new for sure! Over time they should remain marginally stiffer but am about to start wearing the Shaman/Shaman Lace for a future review so will have to wait till they're full worn in to know for sure over the whole life of the shoe! Will keep you posted!

@paulvolt2963 Жыл бұрын

@@escoutdoors Thanks! Looking forward to it :)

@escoutdoors Жыл бұрын

@@paulvolt2963 no worries! The Phantoms are truly an incredible performance shoe and excited to compare them to the Shaman Velcro and Lace!

@randyb5877 Жыл бұрын

why doesnt this guy blink

@escoutdoors Жыл бұрын

Unfortunately it's the concentration of trying to read a script as I go haha the most recent review due out soon is definitely more natural as I'm getting used to the reviews so shouldn't be as scary 🙃

@randyb5877 Жыл бұрын

@@escoutdoors haha great review otherwise!

@escoutdoors Жыл бұрын

@@randyb5877 thank you! Evolv Zenists are next in line and thankfully I don't suffer from dry eyes as much this time around...haha

@Truthseeker88888 Жыл бұрын

Is "fully vegan" a rebranded marketing term for synthetic materials that are anything but genuine leather?

@escoutdoors Жыл бұрын

Hi there, It's not meant as a marketing term as it's more to highlight for Vegans who want to know their options out there without having to look through all the spec charts themselves. It can be a bit of a minefield with some materials you wouldn't necessarily expect using animal products so just wanted to highlight that factor for people looking for that in their next shoe. If you have any questions on the Evolv Phantom's let me know! All the best Owen

@Truthseeker88888 Жыл бұрын

@@escoutdoors got it, thanks