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. 

 

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. 



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.

 

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. 

 

 

Outdoor Blogger Network Interview

I frequently post my blog articles over at the Outdoor Blogger Network.  Rebecca and Joe run a great organization over there and are amassing a fantastic group of outdoor minded bloggers.  You can find a blog on practically any outdoor related activity and I've had the pleasure of getting to know some wonderful bloggers because of them.  In fact, that's how I came across the CacheCrazy crowd and what a fun bunch they are to be associated with!

Yesterday they did me the honor of posting an interview they did with me.  It's part of their "Quickfire Interview" series and it gives everyone a chance to get to know some of the bloggers a little bit better.

If you have any interest in reading the interview, which was fun to do by the way, go over and check it out here.  While you're there, take the time to investigate the Outdoor Blogger Network a little further.  I can almost guarantee you'll find some outdoor minded blogs that will interest you.

How To Spell Family with COLEMAN

Do you know how to spell FAMILY?   I do - one of the ways I spell it is C.O.L.E.M.A.N.!

I was a kid in the 1960's.  And this Coleman thermos went with us on every single vacation that we ever took.  When that familiar green and white behemoth appeared on the kitchen table, we knew that a trip of some sort was on the horizon.  Mom would fill it with loads of ice and kool-aid, and it would get stuffed into the trunk alongside our suitcases and the picnic basket.  We'd hit the road with dad driving and mom riding shotgun, holding the map.  Most of our trips took place during the summer, so beaches and pools played a prominent role.  I guess that's why I love the water so much!

We drove up to Lake Delevan in Wisconsin during my earlier years and the Coleman thermos got carried along to the beach with us each day.  Our cottage was a couple of blocks from the water, so we'd pull on our bathing suits, roll our bathing caps into our beach towels, mom would grab the thermos, dad would handle the picnic basket and off we'd go.  We'd spend the day at the beach, leaving the water only long enough to swallow a couple of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and gulp a solo cup of nice cold kool- aid.  It was amazing how long that Coleman thermos would hold the ice.

When I got a little older we headed to Lake of the Ozarks, which involved an 8 hour drive.  After about 6 hours we'd pull over at the rest area and mom would spread the rose dappled tablecloth and pull sandwiches, pickles and brownies out of the picnic basket.  Again, that Coleman thermos would appear on the corner of the picnic table, the white spout hanging over the edge and we'd drink our fill of icy kool-aid.  I wish I had a dollar for every mile that old Coleman thermos traveled over the interstates during my formative years.

Another favorite Coleman item is this cooler......

The bottom of it has this stamp on it.....

Does that mean it was made in December of 1976?  Could I have possibly have had it that long?  Can that Coleman cooler possibly be that tough and AWESOME??  Hell yeah!  Look at it, - it has really taken a beating.....

How many miles do you think this Coleman cooler has traveled over the last 35 years??  How many beer cans, pop bottles, bags of ice, sandwiches, watermelons, and condiments do you think it has held?  If I could open the lid and let loose the memories it holds I would see the last 35 years of my life fly before my eyes....college parties, camping trips, canoe excursions, road trips, birthday parties, my kids' baptisms and graduation parties, picnics and boat rides.  Geocaching, hiking, swimming, kayaking.....  My parents, my sisters, my husband, my kids, my friends....  Coleman in the trunk, in the back seat, on the deck, in the boat, strapped to the rear of the camper, on the picnic table, next to the campfire......  Talk about awesome!  It may be a little beat up, missing its handles and looking a little worn, but let me tell you, - it still performs!  Did I mention it's 35 years old??

Coleman products are reliable and dependable - just like my family.  Always there when I need them -just like my family.  And isn't that what family is really all about?

Yes, my life has been crammed with lots of family, travel and fun.  And a Coleman thermos and a Coleman Cooler have been with me every step of the way.  Yep, I know how to spell family - its COLEMAN!

“Sponsored by Coleman and hosted by the Outdoor Blogger Network, this is my submission for the Coleman Camping Heritage Essay Contest.”

Thank You to Coleman for bringing such an amazing contest and opportunity to the entire Outdoor Blogging Community!

LightLoad Towels - Gear Review

A couple of weeks ago The Outdoor Blogger Network asked me to do a review on Lightload Outdoor Travel Towels.  I was happy to do it, especially because I had heard about these towels and I wanted to see them for myself.

They sent me a package of 2, 12" x 12" towels.  They come packaged like this....

I could hardly believe how small these towel disks were....

That's a nickel I'm holding....

I opened the package and it slowly spread out to this....

And here's the opened towel with their logo....

First off, the towel is soft.  And super absorbent!  I decided to use it in the one room where it would get the most use - the kitchen.  I placed it next to the sink and used it to wipe my hands, wipe down counters and also to dry dishes.   It worked really well.

According to the Lightload website  they are good for a wide variety of uses such as a bandana, a fire starter, a scarf, a first aid supplement.  I found that it worked really well as a wash cloth also.

The Lightload towels come in a variety of sizes - the 12" x 12",  12" x 24" and a full size beach towel.  I would love the beach towel for my carry on bag when I go to Florida.  It would take up practically no room at all!

They are also extremely affordable - the 12" x 12" package of 2 is only $ 2.75.  Plus, you can get them custom designed with your own logo, which would be a fun idea for a give-away or a company promo.  They sell them on their website and in different stores around the country.

I tossed the 2nd towel into my backpack for when we're geocaching or hiking.  It takes up no room at all and it's nice to know that it's there in case of an emergency!

If you see these towels, go ahead and pick up a pack.  I think you're like them.  If you have kids, then I think you'll find the towels handy for a wide variety of kid related uses.  If you're outdoors minded, you'll find out how convenient they are to carry along in a back pack, a purse, a pocket, or the glove compartment.

Thanks to Lightload Outdoor Travel Towels and The Outdoor Blogger Network for this gear review opportunity.  All opinions are my own and I was not compensated in any way for my review.  I was given the towels with the understanding that I would review them and give my honest opinion.

Product Review - Sauce Headwear

In October, The Outdoor Blogger Network gave me the opportunity to test and review a Sauce Headband.

Sauce gave me the choice between 2 different styles, the Swift or the Ventilator.  I chose the Ventilator because its a wider headband and I was looking for something with a little more head coverage.  My immediate choice was the Purple Pinwheel headband.  I loved the colors and style....

Sauce headbands are lined with a soft, moisture wicking layer.  The material they use for the headband is stretchy and flexible.  The specs on their website state that the headbands are ideal for moderate to high intensity exercise in temperatures as low as -10 C or for casual wear on a warm winter day.  One size fits most.

We spend a lot of time outdoors.  The colder weather doesn't deter us from being outside in a wide variety of conditions.  I decided to put my headband to the test, so I wore it geocaching.....

 hiking....

 deer hunting....

as well as while I was doing yard work, and when I went grocery shopping.  It was used on days with wind conditions of up to 30 mph, and in temperatures as low as 16 F.  I wore it during the day as well as at night.

So, how did it perform?

First, I was worried about the size.  I have a small head and very thin hair.  My biggest concern was that the headband was going to be too large and not stay in place.  If there is one thing I can't stand, it's to be constantly tugging at my hat to keep it in place. NO problem here!  The headband fit me perfectly.  The stretchy material has just the right amount of "give."  It also doesn't itch.  You know how some hats or headbands itch and are uncomfortable?   There was no such problem with the headband at all.

Second, did it keep me warm?  Yes!  My ears were never cold.  Air and wind didn't blow into my ears at all. The headband covers a large area of my head which I really like.  Here my dad and I are standing on the bridge and the wind was howling!!

Third, it's extremely lightweight.  It rolls up into a small finger of material.  I keep it stored in the inside pocket of my jacket for easy access and this way I have it with me all the time.

The Ventilator Headband had 2 huge pluses as far as I'm concerned  - It stayed in place and it was snug without giving me a headache.  Honestly, most of the time I wasn't even aware of it being on my head.   I love this headband!  Here's a shot of the back of my head.  Don't mind the messy hair!

Drawbacks?  Nothing, just 1 personal preference....   in extreme cold, below zero weather, I think I'd prefer a Sauce Hat just to keep the top tip of my head toasty warm as well.  This is mainly because I have such thin hair so I need a little more hat to keep me warm on top.  But the areas that the headband does cover are warm as can be.

Overall, I rate this product a 10 on a scale of 1 - 10.  There isn't anything about it that I didn't like!  Sauce has a nice selection of color choices and style options.  I think their prices are very reasonable and affordable.  You can order custom products with team, sports and event logos.  They are based in Montana.  They have hats and headbands that will appeal to both men and women.  I have only one suggestion....  They may want to consider a camouflage pattern.  I think lots of sportsmen and woman would love this headwear, but would need the camouflage pattern while out in the field.  Just saying.......

I would like to sincerely thank Sauce Headwear for giving me the opportunity to test this great product.  High 5's all around!  Go check them out.

I also want to thank The Outdoor Blogger Network for picking me for the review.  They have a great website and it's growing by leaps and bounds as they add new outdoor blogs on a weekly basis.

Disclaimer:  Sauce provided the headband to me free of charge for this review.  All opinions are my own.

Reaching 10,000 Hits

Wow - I just reached over 10,000 hits on my blog!  That probably isn't a lot of hits to most of you, but to me, well, it's phenomenal.  I remember being thrilled when I reached 100 hits.  It's a giant honor to have people come by and to develop a following.

I'd like to offer up a HUGE thank you to everyone who stops by to read my blog.  Since starting Snug Harbor Bay in March of this year, I've actually spent time with several amazing bloggers who have helped to make my life better and more enjoyable for having met them.  You Florida guys and gals all know who I'm talking about, each and every one of you!

I've also been honored to be a guest poster on a couple of blogs as well as had several amazing writers guest post here.  Thanks for your fun, informative and interesting posts!  I definitely need to have more of you guest blog for me.

I've hooked up with The Outdoor Blogger Network and their fantastic web of outdoor bloggers that stretches around the globe.

And, I'm now a co-author at CacheCrazy, which has one of the best groups of geocachers and all around nice-guys that I've ever had the pleasure to meet.

So thank you everyone for taking a few minutes out of your busy day to stop by here and see what I have to say.  Many of you have been really encouraging and always have something nice to say to brighten my day!  Blogging is even more fun (and more work) than I ever thought possible, but it's also one of the most rewarding things I've ever done.  And I'm having a blast with it!

Onward to 20,000 hits!!

Autumn Hiking

Autumn is my favorite time of year to be hiking out in the woods.  The trees are gorgeous......

 The air is crisp and I like the sound of the leaves as they crunch beneath our feet.....

  Sometimes we'll get a whiff of smoke, or see geese flying over head, or deer foraging for acorns....

We often hike with family.....

 Or hike while we geocache.....

And sometimes we just hike alone....

Now doesn't that just make you want to throw on your hiking boots and go for a walk in the woods??

The week long celebration over at The Outdoor Blogger Network is almost over.  I can't wait to see what they do for their 2nd year!