Evangelion’s 30th anniversary is shaping up to be one of the biggest crossover celebrations we have seen. It kicked off last year with a flood of co-branded releases covering nearly every corner of lifestyle gear. Now it has footwear covered too (though it is not the first). Folks, meet the Shaka Otter Trail AT Second Way For Evangelion. Like the trunk we saw recently, this is something we can totally picture Asuka, Rei, and Shinji wearing.
As the name suggests, it is based on Shaka’s signature sneaker-sandal hybrid, the Otter Trail AT. Hard to imagine a sandal being “sports,” but here it is: a pair designed to combine the agility of sports sandals with the stability of sneakers. A detachable heel strap completes the two-way design known as the Otter Trail AT Second Way For Evangelion.
This release lands under Radio EVA “THE 30”, the ongoing anniversary campaign that has been quietly turning everyday gear into Evangelion merchandise without making it look like cosplay props. The Otter Trail AT Second Way follows the same formula. It takes Shaka’s trail-ready sneaker sandal and dresses it in EVA unit colors that still pass perfectly fine as regular street footwear.
There are three versions to choose from: EVA-00, EVA-01, and EVA-02. The EVA-00 model [JP] channels Rei through a blue upper paired with a green outsole and layered gray material accents.
The EVA-01 edition [JP] features the unmistakable purple and neon green palette with additional plug suit references worked into the branding.
The EVA-02 variant [JP] goes full Asuka with a red base, orange outsole highlights, and light gray contrast details that keep things wearable instead of loud. Thankfully, this pair does not scream like Asuka when you step on them.
I know. Instead of the mecha’s colors, Shaka has chosen the EVA pilots’ suit colors. It’s a strange decision. Not sure if it is limited by the shoes’ default palette or something else. It would be nice if the EVA-00 model were in yellow and white, like the mecha. But oh well…
Anyhooo… the detachable heel strap lets the footwear switch between sneaker, sandal, and slide sandal modes, which is exactly what SHAKA calls its “Second Way” configuration. Unit numbers are printed on the strap itself, while glow-in-the-dark tape-end components and hook hardware add a subtle Evangelion touch that only shows up when the lights go down.
Each pair also comes with a limited illustrated sticker featuring the characters heading out on a trip wearing the collaboration footwear, sized at 80 × 56.5 mm.
The Shaka Otter Trail AT Second Way For Evangelion is available in unisex sizes from 22.0 to 28.0 cm starting March 7 via Shaka and Radio EVA online stores and selected retailers. The price is 23,980 yen, which works out to be around US$151 at the time of this post.
Fun fact: Shaka is not originally a Japanese brand—it was founded in South Africa in the 1990s. However, it was revived and reissued in Japan in 2013, and today it operates as a Tokyo-based footwear brand with a strong Japanese identity.
Images: Shaka [JP].
