Evolv Pontas Laceup

The Pontas Lace Up Climbing Shoe is the second installment in the Sharma Signature Series of shoes. Who else better to design a climbing shoe than one of the strongest, most well acclaimed climbers in the world. The Pontas Lace-up is a precision edging master due to the design. It is equipped with a full mid sole and extra half mid sole for added support and stiffness while still offering a glove like fitin the forefoot and heel.

The Pontas lace-up has a higher toe rand with an extended Trax high friction rubber rand around the shoe offering excellent protection and added grip when toe hooking or scumming. With the speed lacing system, the Pontas is easy on and off, unlike other lace ups, and gives you quick sensitivity adjustments at your fingertips.

The above is what the Evolv website has to say about the Pontas Lace up’s

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Review by Justin Lawson

I’ve been using the Pontas laceup’s for about 6 months now and I’ve been really impressed with their performance. Their edging abilities are excellent, (thanks to the 3/4 length semi stiff midsole) providing the ideal balance of edging power and responsiveness from toe through to the arch. Smearing is not bad and heel hooking 100%.

I’ve found these shoes to be really sensitive, allowing you to place your foot down correctly on a foothold, first time.

The Trax XT5 rubber works great providing plenty of friction on every type of rock I’ve been on so far (Sandstone, Granite, Quartzite and Limestone).

The lacing system is fantastic, allowing you to get the shoes on and off almost as quick as Velcro shoes. The advantage being that you can crank the shoes really tight with the laces.

The synthetic upper is ’stretch-resistant Synthratek’ and I think they’re quite serious about it! My shoes have ‘released’ a little, but to say they’ve stretched would be wrong, so when you buy your pair make sure they are just the right size (not too small). The inside of the shoe is a cotton fiber lining which feels good on the skin.

My only gripe is that I had the skin by my Achilles heel scratched from the stitching inside the shoe, however after wearing the shoes for a month, the stitching softened and it is no longer a problem (I asked other Evolv shoe wearers about this and could not find anyone else with this problem!)

My feet are wide and the Pontas accommodate them well with the shoe forming nicely around the foot and heel. The toebox is narrower than other shoes I’ve worn so I do feel the need to take them off after a climb/pitch for a quick break before putting them back on again.

These shoes work great for high end climbing and bouldering.

The Evolv shoe sizing appears to differ by about one size (smaller) than other brands, so unless you’re sure of your size try on your shoes before buying (again, don’t think they’re going to stretch!)

All in all a well constructed shoe, that will suit beginners through to 8a+ climbers.

Evolv Pontas (lace up) Specs:

• PROFILE asymmetrical toe profile (KA-1 last)
• SOLE 4.2 mm TRAX® XT-5 high friction rubber
• RAND 2.2mm TRAX® duro-rand
• UPPER Non-stretch Synthratek synthetic upper
• LINING Cotton lining
• MIDSOLE MX-2: 2mm stiff half-length midsole and 1mm full-length midsole

Recommended retail: R1283.00

Available from Cityrock