Barefoot shoes come with an obvious worry, that you’ll give up all your cushioning and support only to end up with sore feet once you walk in them all day.
Lems is one of the easier brands to test that worry with. I came to them as someone with flat feet who always likes having arch support, fully expecting to miss it, and that’s not what happened.
Lems makes minimalist, foot-shaped shoes with a wide toe box and a low, flexible sole. They were my introduction to barefoot footwear, and I’ve been testing their boots on Bay Area hikes and around town to see whether the barefoot thing actually works for travel and everyday life.
This Lems shoes review is my honest take on the two boots I’ve worn from the brand, what surprised me, and who I think each one is for.
Disclosure: Lems sent me both pairs of boots to test, but all opinions are my own.
Pros
- Wide toe box that lets your toes actually spread out
- Impressive craftsmanship and build quality
- Removable insole, so you can add support or go more minimal
- Excellent traction
- Both boots I tested are fully waterproof
Cons
- Not as versatile, both boots lean rugged and outdoorsy
- Little arch support by design, which is an adjustment if you’re used to it
- Pricey
What is Lems?
Lems was founded by Andrew Rademacher, a former college track athlete who got frustrated that he couldn’t find a shoe shaped like an actual foot.
He started by dissecting his favorite running shoes and cutting out the material he thought was unnecessary, then taught himself shoe fitting and construction. The first Lems shoe, the Primal, launched in 2011.
The brand is built on one idea, that shoes should be shaped around the foot instead of forcing the foot to fit the shoe.
That means a wide toe box so your toes can splay, a low or zero-drop sole that keeps your foot close to the ground, and flexible materials that let your foot move naturally.
Lems is based in Boulder, Colorado, and has grown from casual shoes into a full line of hiking boots and sandals. They’re one of the more approachable barefoot brands to start with.
Lems Shoes Review: My Experience With Lems Boots
I’ve tested two Lems boots over the past two years, including the Outlander and the Boulder Summit.
Both are waterproof, both have that signature wide toe box, and both share the same removable insole, so I could swap in more support if needed while I got used to the barefoot feel (I didn’t end up needing to with these pairs).
Testing barefoot shoes made me realize my toes are at least a little squished in almost every other shoe I own, even with regular-width feet, and that extra room feels like a luxury once you try it.
It also seems to make up for the arch support I thought I’d miss, since my feet feel good with no pain and no issues so far, even after taking these on 4-mile hikes.
The craftsmanship on both boots is impressive too, the kind of build quality where you can tell real thought went into the materials and construction.
My main hesitation with both is styling, which I’ll get into, because they’re more rugged and masculine than my other casual shoes, though about on par with my other hiking boots. Here’s how the two compare.
Lems Outlander Boot
The Outlander is the boot I’ve had the longest and worn most, especially on hikes around the Bay Area to test how it does on uneven and rocky terrain. It’s my favorite of the Lems shoes I’ve tried.
My feet feel great in it, and the traction is excellent. What I love most is the wide toe box, giving my toes room to spread on downhills and rocky ground in a way that provides more stability.
The included insole is a nice touch, too. It adds a little cushion that takes the edge off the minimal barefoot sole, and I’ve been happy leaving it in, but you can always swap it out if you’d rather have more ground feel.
I like the look of the Evergreen color I got as well, with its natural greens and browns, which gives it a slightly softer look. It has a hipster hiking boot thing going on, and it’s fully waterproof, but because it’s not full leather, it’s a bit lighter and more breathable than the Boulder Summit. It still leans masculine, so I wear it with leggings, jeans, and outdoorsy pants like barrel, utility, or cargo styles rather than trying to dress it up.
Two years in, they’ve held up well. The tread still has plenty of life in it, there’s no sole separation anywhere, and the nylon and leather both still look good, just broken in.
Lems Boulder Summit Boot
The Boulder Summit is the more recent pair of boots I’ve tried from Lems, and it’s the more rugged and heavy-duty option.
It has the same platform and removable insole as the Outlander, with the same wide toe box, so my feet feel just as good in it. It’s also fully waterproof and uses the same winter traction outsole.
Where it differs is the build. It has a work-boot feel, with a large pull tab on the back and a larger build overall. Because it’s full leather rather than the Outlander’s nylon and leather mix, it’s heavier and runs a little warmer.
It’s also thicker and bulkier in person than it looked online. I was originally hoping to style it with dresses for that feminine on top masculine on the bottom look, but it’s far too bulky for that.
That said, this is the boot I’d want for a cold, wet trip. It’d be great for the Pacific Northwest or somewhere with snow and slush, and it works well from a trail to a city if you pair it with leggings, hiking outfits, or winter layers.
I plan to wear it through winter and will update this review with how it handles cold weather and snow once I’ve tested it.
Sizing and Fit
I wear my normal size in Lems, a US women’s 10.5, and both boots fit true to size for me. Lems recommends ordering your normal size, and that lined up with my experience on both pairs.
The wide toe box is standard across the brand, so even at true size, you get plenty of room. If you have wide feet, that natural foot shape is one of the reasons people switch to Lems in the first place.
If you like to wear thick socks in the winter, both boots have enough room to fit them comfortably without sizing up. I’ve worn thick hiking socks with them with no issue.
FAQs About Lems Shoes
Yes. They’re minimalist, foot-shaped shoes with a wide toe box and a low, flexible sole meant to let your foot move naturally.
They tend to be a little more cushioned than some other barefoot brands, which is part of why they’re an easier starting point if you’re new to the category.
They’re one of the better brands for it. The removable insole lets you keep a bit of cushion while your feet adjust, then go more minimal if you want.
If you’re coming from cushioned, supportive shoes, ease in slowly rather than switching over all at once, since your feet and calves need time to adapt.
Not in the traditional sense, and that’s by design. Barefoot shoes keep your foot flat and let it work on its own rather than propping up the arch.
I have flat feet and expected this to be a problem, but the wide toe box and natural movement have worked well for me. The insole they include also has a little cushion to it, and my feet have been happy with it.
Both boots I tested, the Outlander and the Boulder Summit, are fully waterproof. The Boulder Summit is the more heavy-duty, cold-weather option of the two.
Lems is based in Boulder, Colorado, and designs its shoes there. Like most footwear brands, the actual manufacturing happens overseas.
Final Thoughts: Are Lems Shoes Worth It?
Lems won me over more than I expected. Coming in with flat feet and a lifelong attachment to arch support, I figured barefoot shoes weren’t for me.
Instead, I found that the wide toe box and natural foot shape kept my feet comfortable, even without the extra support.
I also love the quality of Lems shoes and how durable they’ve been after two years. At around $200 a pair, they’re an investment, but two years in, they’ve paid for themselves.
The honest caveat is the look. These boots lean bulky and masculine, and if you were hoping to pair them with dresses or something other than outdoorsy outfits, they’re not that versatile.
But if you want well-made, foot-friendly boots for hiking, outdoorsy travel, and bad weather, and you’re open to easing into the barefoot feel, Lems is worth it.
Mimi McFadden
Mimi started The Atlas Heart in 2013 to write about her travels abroad. 13 years and 45+ countries later, she accidentally became a packing expert. Now she helps women figure out what to pack, what to wear, and which gear is actually worth it. Outside of travel, you’ll find her hiking with her son, reading in her chaise lounge, and winning 3-point contests against her husband.
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