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Shaman fit

Original Post
GhaMby Eagan · · Heaven · Joined Oct 2006 · Points: 385

No one carries a shaman in bigger sizes where I live, so how are people fitting their shamans? I wear a 13.5 in most evolv and five ten shoes.

Benjamin Chapman · · Small Town, USA · Joined Jan 2007 · Points: 18,818

GhaMby.......13.5, that's a tall order. Good luck with finding those. As for the Shaman fit, I've spoken with the folks at Evolv and everyone I encounter at the crag or gym wearing them, since the Shaman came out on the market, and what I've concluded is that you DON'T want to downsize from your street shoe size. Size up 1/2 size for a snug fit and one size up for a comfortable fit. I have a pair of size 10 & a pair of size 10.5 (I wear a 9.5 street shoe). The 10 is snug, but the fit is the best I've found in 33 yrs. of wearing climbing shoes. The 10.5 is comfy, but not loose. I'm not a high end climber, but I've found both shoes to be amazingly sticky and perform well.just my 2 cents. Again, good luck. ps. I wear 9.5 Evolv Pontas 2 (have had three pairs) and they are snug at 1st.

Benjamin Chapman · · Small Town, USA · Joined Jan 2007 · Points: 18,818

Blake...the average homo sapien can't even get their foot into a pair of Shamans that are downsized one shoe size. I had the folks at Evolv and MountainGear fit me for a pair at the Red Rock Rendevous. Sorry, bad answer!
GhaMby.....call Evolv at (714) 522-5556 and ask or at services@evolvsports.com
Edit: Blake.....put your own feet in a pair and then speak from 1st hand experience. Until then, it's just heresay.

Austin Eddy · · Chattanooga, TN · Joined Apr 2013 · Points: 11

I wear a 9.5 in the shaman, a 8.5 in the anasazi vcs, a 9.5 in 5.10 hornets, and I'm probably a 9.5 street shoe size.

frankstoneline · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2009 · Points: 30
Benjamin Chapman wrote:Blake...the average homo sapien can't even get their foot into a pair of Shamans that are downsized one shoe size. I had the folks at Evolv and MountainGear fit me for a pair at the Red Rock Rendevous. Sorry, bad answer! GhaMby.....call Evolv at (714) 522-5556 and ask or at services@evolvsports.com Edit: Blake.....put your own feet in a pair and then speak from 1st hand experience. Until then, it's just heresay.
Speaking from first hand experience,
On shoe size is a comfortable gym shoe/long sport route shoe, half size down is pretty tight but wearable bouldering. half size up from street shoe size is sloppy (this coming from a guy who doesnt much buy into the super tight shoes hype)
Jon H · · PC, UT · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 118

I have an 11.5 foot and I wear a 12 Shaman - it's tight getting it on, but perfect once finally velcroed. That's definitely a "performance" fit with virtually no possible toe movement. I only need an 11.5 in Cruzer approach shoes for a comfortable all day sneaker.

For comparison, I wear a 43.5 in Solutions and a 42.5 in Miuras (although they are 10+ years old and have been resoled 3 times) - I suspect I would be a 43.5 if I bought new a pair of Miuras.

DB Cee · · Chattanooga, TN · Joined May 2007 · Points: 146
GhaMby wrote:No one carries a shaman in bigger sizes where I live, so how are people fitting their shamans? I wear a 13.5 in most evolv and five ten shoes.
What are the other Evolv shoes you've worn. I was a pretty standard across the board 9.5 except the Pontas which I was a 9.0 in. Talons/Pred's 9.5, Geshidos 9.5, Shamans 9.5

Hopefully that helps.
Benjamin Chapman · · Small Town, USA · Joined Jan 2007 · Points: 18,818

GhaMby....Check out the video of Chris Sharma and Matt Segal discussing the Shaman at the Rendevous, on the Evolv website (www.evolvclimbing.com). Both climbers indicate (at 1:13 in the video) that the correct sizing is 1/2 size UP from your normal shoe, and that there is NO need to cram your foot into a tight Shaman to get high performance fit out of it.

Grumpy Gym Climber · · Sacramento · Joined Mar 2013 · Points: 10

My experience with Shamans was that I ordered them in the same size as my other evolv shoes and they needed to be a full size larger to fit as comfortably as the other models (I had several at the time). I don't understand why climbing shoe manufacturers can't have consistent sizing/fit within their own brands.

Patrick Becerra · · Madison Heights, Mi · Joined May 2014 · Points: 100

How do you people find the heel fits on your Shamans? I've tried the 11.5s and they fit the toe and mid section perfect, but there is so much dead space in the heel that I can't do any kind of hook without feeling the shoe squash down, it's very unstable. This is compared to my Miuras which fit my heels like magic.

Austin Eddy · · Chattanooga, TN · Joined Apr 2013 · Points: 11

The shamans stretch about a half size. The first pair I bought I bought a 10.5 and thought they were pretty tight, but the second pair I bought I got a 9.5 and I feel like I could still go down a half size if I wanted. They are a very comfortable shoe due to the way the toe box supports your foot. I never loved the performance of the shoe, the rubber has poor edging and sensitivity in my opinion, but they are my favorite shoes for the gym because they are comfortable and have lots of rubber so they last a while.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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