Thursday, January 2, 2014

Gear Review - Lems Primal 2 Shoes

Through the Outdoor Blogger Network I was recently given the opportunity to test out a pair of Lems Primal 2 shoes in their sky blue color.  Check them out.....
 

I admit that I hadn't heard of Lems shoes before this gear opportunity so I immediately went to their website to find out more about them.  First of all, they are a family owned company that is dedicated to creating and providing a quality shoe that fits the natural shape of your foot.  Lems shoes are made with less, but actually give you so much more.  Let me explain.

In designing their unique shoes, the folks at Lems have taken away

  • heel elevation which can be harmful in athletic shoes
  •  toe spring which incorrectly causes your toes to curve up from the ground
  •  tapered toe box which creates a narrow toe area 
  •  "curved last" which is basically a cut out area in the middle of the foot that in turn denies proper use of a weight bearing bone
  • shoe stiffness, added weight and bulk
Here are the specs from the Lems website:

Last:  LemsLast™ foot-shaped
Upper:  Microsuede + open-weave mesh (100% vegan)
Sole:  8.0mm LemsRubber™ injection rubber
Insole: Optional removable 3.0mm MoistureWick foam
Lining: 100% Moisture-wicking polyester
Stack Height: 8.0mm (without removable insole)
Drop: 0.0mm
Weight: 6.9oz (size 43)
Width: 4.2-4.4" (size 43)
 
So what does all this mean?  Let me tell you.  Right out of the box, I loved the blue color, although they also come in black, brown or frost. The shoes are extremely lightweight and flexible.  If you're packing them in a suitcase you can easily roll them up and stuff them in a corner of the suitcase where they will take up practically no room at all.  But I think you'd really prefer to wear them. 

Womens Primal 2 Sky
 
These shoes are ultra comfortable.  I'm a bare-foot girl from way back.  I'm one of those people who never wears slippers and if I'm out in the yard, well, I never have shoes on.  Lems shoes are the next best thing to being barefoot because they are so lightweight.  You honestly forget you have shoes on.  I loved the extra toe room.  I never felt like my toes were squished.  I have trouble wearing shoes for more than a couple of hours due to an injury several years ago that resulted in a broken bone on the outside edge of my left foot.  Usually by the end of a shoe-wearing-day my left foot is aching and sore.  I never noticed any discomfort with the Lems

Womens Primal 2 Sky

Since I liked the Lems shoes so much for general use, I wondered how they would perform as a running shoe and decided to give them a workout.  I tried using them both on my treadmill and outdoors and for me, personally, they didn't provide enough shock absorption in the sole.   I inquired about the use of the Primal 2's as a "running" shoe and Lems did inform me that  "Although the Primal 2 is not marketed as a running shoe, it is often used in such a way.  We recently had a customer run a marathon in the Primal 2's.  I would not recommend using them as go to running shoe unless you are accustomed to barefoot style shoes.  However; if one has been using minimalist footwear for awhile, there is nothing wrong with using the Primal 2 as a running shoe."  I think it will be more a matter of personal preference on whether you want to use the Primal 2's as an everyday shoe and/or a running shoe.  As far as an everyday shoe - they cannot be beat.  I love them!
 
Pros:  I like the mesh on top, the breath-ability and the flexible soles.  Most of all I loved how light weight they are and the feel of extra toe room.  By far one of the most comfortable shoes I've ever worn.  Also, their customer service is excellent.  They have very good response times for questions and inquiries.

Womens Primal 2 Sky
 
Cons:  Lems is in the process of switching from US size grading to European and I found their current size chart difficult to decipher.  I inquired about the reason for the chart change and explained my difficulty with it.  I received a quick response from the folks at Lems who said "European sizing believe it or not is a little more accurate than US sizing.  With that being said, we understand that some people have trouble in deciphering what size they need based on our website and we are currently in the process of redesigning the sizing chart with a print out that allows potential customers to measure their foot."    So you can see that they are aware of a sizing chart difficulty and they are actively working to correct that.  As I said - great customer service!
  
Go visit the Lems website and go like their FB page.

I was provided a pair of the Lems Primal 2 shoes for review purposes and asked to give an honest review.  All opinions are my own.  All photos are property of Lems and cannot be reproduced. 
 
 

19 comments:

  1. These sound great. I am always looking for a lightweight shoe. xo Laura

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    1. Check these out Laura - perfect for those morning strolls.

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  2. Awesome review Kim...well done!!

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    1. Thanks Cheri. I won't wear them in the snow here so I'm hoarding them til spring now.

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  3. If your feet are uncomfortable there is no hope for the day. These sound great. I have been wearing Sketchers for a while that are comfy but would give these a try for sure.
    I wonder if they ship to Canada. I'll have to check out their website.

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    1. They ship worldwide Lori. Go check them out. I want to get a pair of their Boulder boots - they look awesome.

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  4. Very comprehensive review, Kim! They sound wonderful! I need a lightweight shoe like that. I'll have to check these out!

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    1. By far the lightest shoe I've ever worn. SO comfortable!

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  5. I hear you've won a calendar! Congratulations!

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    1. I did!! Linda takes such beautiful photos and this is going right by my desk in my office.

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  6. Those look not only comfy but are pretty too.

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    1. I am in love with the color and co-incidentally, it matches my favorite jacket!

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  7. I like the look of those. I use skora running shoes and they look quite similar.

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    1. I'll have to check that brand out as I've not heard of them. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment!

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  8. I like the look of those. I use skora running shoes and they look quite similar.

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  9. Thank you for this review! Do they feel secure on the tops of your feet? I don't like being able to pull shoes off without untying them.

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  10. Thank you for this review! Do they feel secure on the tops of your feet? I don't like being able to pull shoes off without untying them.

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    1. Very secure. I love these shoes and highly recommend! They have 2 slots so you can thread the laces through the tongue too if you want. Super comfortable.

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  11. Really Very nice review Kim! Love the way you have explained about Lems Primal 2 Shoes. You have brilliantly presented this review.


    Beautiful Gear & Footwear

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