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john_doe
Oct 16, 2009, 2:04 AM
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Does anyone have them? Feedback? Are they really as versatile as advertised?
http://www.sportiva.com/products/prod/855
I'm looking at a pair to replace my aged La Sportiva Cirque Pro's. But at $215 clams, I want to make sure they are worth the extra $$.
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rhythm164
Oct 16, 2009, 2:54 AM
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215 dollar approach shoes? sounds like Sportivas banking on you being a chump.
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pazzo
Oct 16, 2009, 3:47 AM
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Those look awesome.
I am currently using the Scarpa Quest, which are excellent as well ;)
(This post was edited by pazzo on Oct 16, 2009, 3:48 AM)
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vegastradguy
Oct 16, 2009, 6:38 AM
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rc.com has them for review.
initial impressions are favorable- they certainly climb better than any approach shoe i've worn (thin 5.9 was surprisingly casual in them- and 5.9 is climbing shoe terrain for me!), but that price tag...
i've only had them for about two or three weeks, so i'll reserve more comments for the review- the real test, imho, is if they stand up to the abuse- for $215, they better withstand the next 5 years!
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ShibbyShane
Oct 16, 2009, 8:26 AM
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Hmmmm, sounds intriguing. I'll probably be in the need of some new approach shoes soon, seeing as my current pair are falling apart... but still, 180 for approach shoes?!? Damn.
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sungam
Oct 16, 2009, 8:32 AM
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Personally the cirques were so shitty in their design/construction I'll never buy sportiva approach shoes again.
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acorneau
Oct 16, 2009, 2:51 PM
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ShibbyShane wrote: Hmmmm, sounds intriguing. I'll probably be in the need of some new approach shoes soon, seeing as my current pair are falling apart... but still, 180 for approach shoes?!? Damn.
FYI: Evolve is blowing out a bunch of approach shoes on their clearance page: http://evolvesports.com/closeout.htm
I really like their Strykers, but I'm guessing the others are about the same function-wise.
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rgold
Oct 16, 2009, 3:12 PM
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An approach shoe that you could fairly comfortably climb 5.9 and higher in would be fantastic for back-country rock-climbing. (E.g. remote Teton canyons, Wind Rivers, Sierra.)
I certainly haven't come remotely near to trying them all, but I've never had an approach shoe that was any good for me beyond medium fifth-class. (With the exception of the old Galibier Robbin's shoes, which were really a mini mountaineering boot that could be fitted comfortable enough for hiking and still climb effectively, at least by the standards of the day.)
If the Gandalf's really perform and don't fall apart, I'd say they'd be worth the steep ticket.
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sungam
Oct 16, 2009, 3:24 PM
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acorneau wrote: ShibbyShane wrote: Hmmmm, sounds intriguing. I'll probably be in the need of some new approach shoes soon, seeing as my current pair are falling apart... but still, 180 for approach shoes?!? Damn. FYI: Evolve is blowing out a bunch of approach shoes on their clearance page: http://evolvesports.com/closeout.htm I really like their Strykers, but I'm guessing the others are about the same function-wise.
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ShibbyShane
Oct 16, 2009, 7:28 PM
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sungam wrote: acorneau wrote: ShibbyShane wrote: Hmmmm, sounds intriguing. I'll probably be in the need of some new approach shoes soon, seeing as my current pair are falling apart... but still, 180 for approach shoes?!? Damn. FYI: Evolve is blowing out a bunch of approach shoes on their clearance page: http://evolvesports.com/closeout.htm I really like their Strykers, but I'm guessing the others are about the same function-wise. The stryker - now that's a fukkin approach shoe. If I was in the USA right now I'd buy a second pair. Hell, I might buy a second pair anyways and have spikeddem to bring them over for me.
Looks good, and for 29 bucks it's a steal.
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technogeekery
Oct 19, 2009, 12:17 AM
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so if you have size 11.5+ you can get a good deal...
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gmggg
Oct 20, 2009, 3:25 PM
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technogeekery wrote: so if you have size 11.5+ you can get a good deal...
Hell yeah you can, and hell yeah I just did.
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pazzo
Oct 20, 2009, 5:35 PM
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Those Evolv shoes look like shit in comparison to the Scarpa, Kayland or La Sportiva (Italian made) shoes.
Guaranteed they'll fall apart like the 5.10 'approach' shoes I see everyday in Squamish. LOL.
rgold wrote: If the Gandalf's really perform and don't fall apart, I'd say they'd be worth the steep ticket.
x2
(This post was edited by pazzo on Oct 20, 2009, 5:37 PM)
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sungam
Oct 20, 2009, 5:44 PM
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pazzo wrote: Those Evolv shoes look like shit in comparison to the Scarpa, Kayland or La Sportiva (Italian made) shoes. Guaranteed they'll fall apart like the 5.10 'approach' shoes I see everyday in Squamish. LOL.
I haven't used Kaylands. Evolv strykers are still my favorite, though.
And, to be honest, you can't "guarantee" anything - it sounds to me that your sole experiance with these shoes is by looking at a picture of them, which really doesn't show much.
And what's with the "italian made" crap? Mike tore a pair of them apart in like 2 weeks and he barely climbs, that was just from walking around the gym!
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markc
Oct 20, 2009, 6:32 PM
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vegastradguy wrote: i've only had them for about two or three weeks, so i'll reserve more comments for the review- the real test, imho, is if they stand up to the abuse- for $215, they better withstand the next 5 years!
So we'll expect that review in 2014?
*Adds to iCal.*
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gmggg
Oct 20, 2009, 8:20 PM
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sungam wrote: pazzo wrote: Those Evolv shoes look like shit in comparison to the Scarpa, Kayland or La Sportiva (Italian made) shoes. Guaranteed they'll fall apart like the 5.10 'approach' shoes I see everyday in Squamish. LOL. Which? The Strykers? They're actually really, really good. I will agree that Scarpa makes great shoes and boots, but the Sportiva shoes (not rock shoes, they make some great rock shoes) I've worn truely sucked. I mean they were the worst I've used. I haven't used Kaylands. Evolv strykers are still my favorite, though. And, to be honest, you can't "guarantee" anything - it sounds to me that your sole experiance with these shoes is by looking at a picture of them, which really doesn't show much. And what's with the "italian made" crap? Mike tore a pair of them apart in like 2 weeks and he barely climbs, that was just from walking around the gym!
Kayland's are actually really nice quality-wise.
Sportiva's problem is that their general use shoes are outsourced and they don't seem to control as much of the process as other companies with similar practices. Judging merely by experience and related accounts.
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vegastradguy
Oct 21, 2009, 4:46 AM
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markc wrote: vegastradguy wrote: i've only had them for about two or three weeks, so i'll reserve more comments for the review- the real test, imho, is if they stand up to the abuse- for $215, they better withstand the next 5 years! So we'll expect that review in 2014? *Adds to iCal.*
LOL! I'll see if i can get something out sooner than that!
i will say that before i got these i've been playing with a pair of strykers for over a year, and they've handily outlasted any other approach shoe i've ever worn- most approach shoes last 6-8 months, at the most. the strykers are still in great shape, which is awesome.
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john_doe
Oct 23, 2009, 2:25 AM
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I caved and bought a pair...
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Myxomatosis
Oct 23, 2009, 5:37 AM
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sungam wrote: acorneau wrote: ShibbyShane wrote: Hmmmm, sounds intriguing. I'll probably be in the need of some new approach shoes soon, seeing as my current pair are falling apart... but still, 180 for approach shoes?!? Damn. FYI: Evolve is blowing out a bunch of approach shoes on their clearance page: http://evolvesports.com/closeout.htm I really like their Strykers, but I'm guessing the others are about the same function-wise. The stryker - now that's a fukkin approach shoe. If I was in the USA right now I'd buy a second pair. Hell, I might buy a second pair anyways and have spikeddem to bring them over for me.
No orders outside USA... DAMIT!!! Feel ya pain S man... I want a pair of $29 shoes 
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john_doe
Oct 23, 2009, 10:13 PM
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I checked it out. I took my new gandalf's for a walk last night for 1 hour. Pretty comfy around town. Will be taking them to the climbing gym this weekend to see how they climb.
True test will be how they handle the mountians.
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sungam
Oct 23, 2009, 10:56 PM
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john_doe wrote: I checked it out. I took my new gandalf's for a walk last night for 1 hour. Pretty comfy around town. Will be taking them to the climbing gym this weekend to see how they climb. True test will be how they handle the mountians.
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johnwesely
Oct 24, 2009, 12:43 AM
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sungam wrote: john_doe wrote: I checked it out. I took my new gandalf's for a walk last night for 1 hour. Pretty comfy around town. Will be taking them to the climbing gym this weekend to see how they climb. True test will be how they handle the mountians. Yeah - please take them to the mountains before judging. Don't be a "I just got these and walked to the gym and they fuckin' ROOOOOL" gear reviewer.
I think you are missing the point. They are "approach" shoes. For approaching ladies. There is no better place than in the gym. I know when the noob girls see me in my official "approach" shoes, they really get hot and bothered.
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sungam
Oct 24, 2009, 8:45 AM
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johnwesely wrote: sungam wrote: john_doe wrote: I checked it out. I took my new gandalf's for a walk last night for 1 hour. Pretty comfy around town. Will be taking them to the climbing gym this weekend to see how they climb. True test will be how they handle the mountians. Yeah - please take them to the mountains before judging. Don't be a "I just got these and walked to the gym and they fuckin' ROOOOOL" gear reviewer. I think you are missing the point. They are "approach" shoes. For approaching ladies. There is no better place than in the gym. I know when the noob girls see me in my official "approach" shoes, they really get hot and bothered.
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