EVOLV Elektra VTR SKU: #7706100

Anonymous

from Wisconsin, USA

I'm writing this review for other men who are interested in buying these shoes and are wondering about sizing. I bought these shoes because a friend of mine who is a good climber and owns 5 pairs of climbing shoes (mostly Evolv) suggested I look at women shoes -- because I have narrow lower volume feet. When I did a search trying to figure out suggestions on sizing these shoes for men I found very little information. I talked to one person who suggested that they run about a half size smaller so I tried ordering a 10.5. I normally wear around a size 10 or maybe 10.5 in running shoes. I found that these shoes were too small for my feet. I think that these shoes run at least 1 size different (so if I wear a size 10 in mens I'd want a size 11). Another way to look at sizing is to find the correct European sizing since those are the same for men or women (since sizing is so exact and tricky with climbing shoes I wish Zappos would have the manufactures chart here). So for my size 10.5 women shoes they are a 42 (270cm [Japanese sizing]). A 42 in Evolvs mens chart is a US size 9. A womens size 11 is a EU 42.5 (275cm) and mens size 9.5. There seems to be a factor of 1.5 size difference between the mens size and womens size. So I think I could probably use a size 11.5. My previous shoes are Scarppa Feroce. They are a more aggressive climbing shoe with down turned toes. In those shoes I have a mens size 9.5 which is a womens 10.5 and EU 42.5 (so different sizing conversion here). The Scarppa shoes fit very good but because they are more aggressive I don't like wearing them more than 20 minute. For these evolv shoes I wanted a more comfortable fit for mostly gym climbing. When you size climbing shoes you want them to fit tight around your foot so that your shoes become part of your feet -- more like a sock then a shoe. It's good to have your toes touching the end of the shoe and a tight heel. With these shoes they have a small heel which fits my feet well. They are also more narrow which fits my feet well. I wish they had 1 more strap to tighten the front of the shoe more and I'm surprised how much I can tighten them considering these are for womens more narrow feet. I will add that I love that these shoes are American made and with an eye on the environment. Just for reference sake, I've been climbing for 3 years and I normally climb about once a week -- outdoors in the summer and indoors in the winter. I climb around a 5.10 range (in Wisconsin).

Brands I'd also recommend: Scarppa Feroce