ProView – Evolv Rebel

As a Registered Nurse, I see countless things that are disturbing and disgusting. Feet being one of them. They cause people pain and discomfort and are just plain weird. It takes energy to find shoes that work. Those of you who read this review, know that I have horribly uncomfortable feet and I’m always on an eternal quest for footwear that works for me.  Approach shoes have always been a sensitive subject for me as the discomfort usually trumps whatever benefit I get from them.

Imagine if a skate shoe and a traditional approach shoe did the tango; their byproduct would be the Evolv Rebel. To test these shoes, I hiked through a myriad of conditions including the great snowpocalypse of Southwest Colorado and the rugged landscape of Red Rocks, Las Vegas.

Fit and Comfort

For me, traditional approach shoes are quite stiff out of the box, with a rather brutal break-in period. Not the Rebels. Straight out of the box, they possessed comfort and style. The wide toe box allowed for my funky feet to be comfortable, while the shoe was supportive enough to avoid the dreaded twisted ankle. Nothing is worse than hurting yourself prior to a climb. The Rebels are breathable yet warm, again handling both snow and desert equally well. They are rigid enough to allow for easy access on and off, allowing you quick access to your climbing shoes, yet soft enough to flex and bend in order to smear, cram, and contort to whatever surface you’re walking on. If you’ve ever worn Evolv climbing shoes you were probably shocked by what size you fit in. These shoes are true to street shoe sizing. I wear a ten normally, and a ten in these fit well.

Function and Performance

I think the best summary of these shoes is the marriage between a stiff approach shoe and a soft skate shoe. The forefront of the shoe had enough rigidity to handle technical terrain as well as enough flex to support smears for miles. The Trax enduro rubber was extremely sticky in a multitude of conditions including ice and snow. As many of us have probably experienced, another leading shoe company’s rubber is ultra slippery on ice and snow. Not these, they rebel against the traditional mold of an approach shoe which was quite a surprise. The exterior of the shoe has a water repellent coating to prevent saturation while hiking. The rand is durable and blends seamlessly into the Trax rubber below. A moderately aggressive tread pattern provides ample traction in whatever element you can toss at it. As for durability, considering the amount of time I’ve spent on limestone, sandstone, and snow, these shoes show no signs of slowing down or delaminating where other company’s shoes typically do.

Look and Style

These shoes are casual enough for dinner parties, airport excursions, and weddings in New Jersey. They are comfortable enough to handle any approach to any crag, these shoes might actually fit the mold of a quiver of one. Sensual lines and thoughtful design signify these shoes. These shoes rebel against any preconceived notion that an approach shoe is only an approach shoe. These shoes can (and should) be integrated into any aspect of your life.

Room for Improvement

This is always a difficult subject for me because Evolv makes great shoes. I’d like to see the addition of their agion technology into these shoes, just like their climbing shoes. Beyond that, they are well constructed, durable, and very comfortable.

Final Words

If you climb to be seen, look good, or just want a nice pair of shoes that won’t fail you, then get these shoes. Stylish, practical, and economical. Everything the aspiring dirtbag climber is looking for. You’ll certainly be the rebel at any occasion wearing these, but that’s a good thing. They won’t let you down like other approach shoes and people will ask you about them, I promise. They are hands down the best approach shoe on the market.

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