Evolv Addict Shoe Review

When Steph Davis became an Evolv athlete, it was only a matter of time before she designed a shoe that was similar to the beloved Moccasym. As most seasoned desert climbers know, Mocs are the secret weapons of thin crack climbing, with a toe profile unmatched by most other shoes out there.

The Addict is Evolv’s offering to the desert aficionados out there, and the blingy yellow offers a stylish alternative to the trusty Mocs. It fits more snug in the heel, which means more toe curl than the Mocs. Unlike most Evolv shoes, the all leather construction means it will break in and conform to the shape of your foot. The low profile of the toe allows you to get as much purchase as possible in thin cracks, though as with most Evolv shoes, the rubber just doesn’t do it for me.

Stemming on small holds felt a little insecure, it’s just too hard and not sticky enough. Which probably means it will last a long time, but having to resole more often is small price to pay for feeling more connected to the rock. When climbing in the Creek, I wear socks under my shoes, so I’m not sure if the yellow dye bleeds onto your feet the same way the Mocs do. Anyone care to comment on this?

I have not used these shoes for anything but climbing cracks in the desert, I have them sized too large to be good for anything else. Others have commented they enjoy them as an all day trad shoe as well.

Three out of four stars. This is a solid choice for crack climbing, and will likely replace the Moc for some folks. Or maybe I’m just a sucker for yellow.

Retail is $98.95, you can find more info and purchase online here.

Notes on Fit: I wear an 11.5/12 street shoe. I got these in 12, which has my toes curled some, but not too much for shoving into cracks. In the Shaman’s I wear a 12, the Nexxo a 12.5.

Disclaimer: Wait! Before you go handing over your credit card number, ask yourself, do you really need to buy more new stuff? If so, this product is worth a look. In the spirit of full disclosure, it was provided to SplitterChoss.com for the purpose of reviewing. Don’t worry, though, our integrity can’t be bought!