With the drop you’re gonna get back pain and other issues from misalignment. We avoid dropped shoes as much as humanly possible. BUT, if you really want it, Lems has the Trailhead which is 4mm, and the brand Topo Athletic has shoes with varying drop measurements and wide toe boxes.
@@air-wreck-ahapp-eel6325 yeah for sure! There are definitely people out there who could use a shoe like that. It would be tough for us to wear and review though, we've been zero drop for so long now. Just the other day I went bowling and it was killing me wearing those shoes lol, too "big" of a heel, my back hurt super quickly, it was crazy.
@@sonsofsever Myself I am just getting into it. Have already noticed a huge change. Now I know what heels feel like when I just try wearing shell toes from Adidas.
I’m wanting to try the Lems out. I typically wear Altra lone peaks. So wide toe box and high arches is my thing. Between the Summit and the other Boulders? Which one would you recommend? For work.
Been a while since I've been in a Xero sneaker, also haven't tried the HSF 2, but from what I can remember of the Prio, Feelgrounds and Xero have very similar toe box widths. Anyone else out there have any better insight into this??
Very cool! I still prefer the styling of the Freestyle though. I think maybe the rigidity was on purpose, since it looks more like a skate shoe than even the Freestyle does, so something more heavy duty might suit those kinds of activities more, just at the cost of a little flexibility and maybe a bit thicker in the sole. They still look like a nice option for those looking for that kind of thing. I don't mind the toe box on my Freestyles (the same Pine colour shown in the video), I'm used to how goofy barefoot shoes look now. XD
Gonna add this to my list, good looking durable shoe that seems to check my boxes for casual use. Only thing that gives me pause is the volume for my medium to high arches and the width, which although Belenka is known for I haven't tried yet.
Too narrow for you maybe. That’s subjective. Also, heel slip isn’t an issue for us in these. And the majority of Chelsea boots don’t have a cinching mechanism.
Yep, GEA in Austria is doing this from 90s. Cool it is getting more known. Best part of them all is that you could resole them and with it make each pare unique
@@johnbuban3618 the Bahe Revive would be my go to choice for a barefoot marathon shoe. Pricey, but I think it would be worth it. We have a review video and a link to that product in the description for that video.
I went a bit too hard into barefoot shoes right off the hop and got some persistent foot pain with Freet barefoot shoes. Lems boultder boot were a great second pair due to the extra padding with the wider toe box, they let me get used to barefoot shoes. But they don't last, first pair tore at the heel and they replaced them. Second pair of Lems Boulder boots is tearing on the instep now. They're comfortable but they don't last more that a year. I consider Lems a half way between barefoot shoes and much more padded shoes. I'm looking forward to getting a pair of Jim Green long boots for the winter now that my feet are strong enough to walk in full barefoot shoes.
@@Antiques-ud7yp it’s just the way the upper and the lower integrate with each other. It has no effect on the shape of the shoe when you’re wearing it. The upper is really stretchy and pulls on the lower when your foot’s not in it, causing it to curl. A lot of five fingers experience this.
I’m hoping this will work well with my cowboy hat. I used to wear cowboy boots and a hat to work but ever since switching over to barefoot shoes I haven’t been able to wear my boots. Until someone creates a barefoot cowboy boot stuff like this is the closest I can get. I’m also hoping they can be my church shoes. my wife gets a little annoyed with me that I don’t have any dressy shoes anymore.
So sad that they made the toe area more rounded. A healthy thumb does not curve. The previous form may not have looked so ordinary but was much healthier. It's sad that another brand is giving up and making shoes like everyone else. Now it's just another Barebaric
I’d have to disagree. Because of the taper, I find that my toe is plenty able to push out to the middle like it’s supposed to. They didn’t change the inside of the shoe, they changed the way the outside of the foot tapers
I like belenka's bean shape of shoes, but I found the soles too thin on previous models. What's the thickness of these shoes like? Is it suitable for a whole day of city walking?
The website says 5mm, I don't think that includes the insole, so probably around 8mm total. Totally depends on how adjusted your feet are to this type of a shoe on if you can walk around all day on that all day or not.
@@sonsofsever Well for reference I've been walking exclusively in vivo primus trail shoes for two years now, wearing a thin extra insole, and I can still feel an ache in my feet. First few months were a pain, but it's gotten better. I'm beginning to wonder if one can ever get completely used to the hard floors and barefoot shoes? :D
@@ghashog gotcha! Yeah I think these would provide a pretty similar feel to your Vivos. If you're looking to bump up the stack height a little and give yourself a little more cushion and protection under foot for hard surfaces the Lems Primal Zen or Primal 3 would be a good way to go
I bought several pair and am very disappointed. They pill badly after a single wear. I contacted the company and they don't really care. Said it's normal. I wash my wool socks separately on gentle cycle and line dry them. None of my other wool socks are fragile and coming apart like this. I don't recommend.
They look like they're pretty wide but Be Lenka York and Barebarics Zing that you guys reviewed are not their widest models, could you check out their Active grip, everyday comfort or path grip outsole shape from be lenka? Those are the widest. You can filter that on their website.
I’ve purchased one pair in March and another pair in April I switched between the pairs of boots so the sweat can dry each day when I purchased them, I oiled them and now I use kEWE brown boot polish, they are now softer and I use then as weekly work boots. The only complaint that I have is walking downstairs. The back of the boots takes time to getting use to because it protrudes farther out than a normal boot
The website just says "soft, high quality leather." It definitely feels nice, we'll have to try and get Rose Anvil to cut it up and burn it just to see how good of leather it actually is haha
Love the apparent toe space from this brand & this new model has even more toe splay space! Amazing, wish more barefoot shoe brands would be as bold as Splay shoes with the (proper natural) foot shaped toe boxes.. where the big toe can actually properly extend out & away from the other toes like the feet of wild / natural tribes people. Really like the look of this shoe also & multiple colour choices, Splay nailed it with this 101* 👌
I like “the more”ergonomic & anatomical and oblique toebox. Do you know if they are wider than the; WYDE FOOTWEAR-?, I believe they’re made in Portugal. Something you can play basketball in. also will they be coming in high top? Thanks in advance for your outstanding feedback.
Never heard of Wyde before! Checked out the website, just based off of looks those seem wider than the Splay honestly but obviously we can't say for sure. We'll have to reach out and see if we can get some to compare. And we're not sure about a high top, though a Splay high top has been a dream of ours for a long time now, so we're keeping our fingers crossed
Thanks for the analytical display and exhibit and the handling of the footwear, the static photographs that are on the site! doesn’t do justice to it what you and your brother are doing is outstanding thanks again
Check out their new model : « The Splay 101 ». They may have become the best barefoot brand over night! I used your promo code and ordered 3 pairs as soon as the product was available this morning ;)
The Grips were my first Lems product and gave me a skewed view of their lineup because of the big chunk of EVA foam between the grip outsole and the lasting board. I believe the summits are the same. Basically, everything marketed toward hiking in their lineup seems to be that way. I think the waterproof version of the regular boulder boot is a better option for anyone wanting something more minimal or at least something that will remain zero drop after use. I am a pretty big guy and the eva in the Grip molded to my foot and left an imprint like when you get custom orthotics made. You can actually see it; it is that deep into the boot. Which leaves me standing on my arches. Anyway, now I am going to try out some different models that I know don't have that thick layer of foam. I know a local shop that has some Mid's in stock that I am going to give a try (I don't like the leather color in the regular boulder boot). As an aside, I wish they'd make an unlined boot.
@@sonsofsever Yeah, I saw that on their site they show a few models cut in half and explain what's inside. I wish they did that with every model so that you know if you are getting just zero drop or a more minimal shoe. Maybe it time. The grip does tell you, but I didn't know at the time, my fault, lol. The good news is that I can try models more suited to my needs before deciding that Lems isn't for me. I think it will be fine because the only thing I don't like is that foam. I think I'm going to give the Primal 3 or Zens a go. As always, thanks for the work you do!
Have the bruins, the fit great and are flexible, however have had them a year and they already have blown out seems from daily use as a work boot and the sole is already ready to be replaced. I will be purchasing the Jim green bf ar next as they seem more durable. They have upped their price however not much cheaper than the bruins.
I am circling back to Lems after trying some others. I have decided that what I don't like about my Boulder Boot Grips is that massive slab of eva between the outsole and the midsole. The regular Boulder Boots don't have that, and they feel much, much better under foot. Basically, that eva in the Grip collapses and creates artificial arch support, for me. Really, it is negative heel drop. Like you can feel a massive indent and I am standing on my arches. I've counteracted this with a carbon plate but that totally adds too much rigidity. That leads me to a question. I know the Primal 2/3s don't have any chunky eva midsole because I have seen them both cut in half. I know the Boulder Boot and WP don't either. But the Grip, Summit and Court Grip all have that eva. What about the Zens? Do you know if it has that slab of eva in the midsole? I can't find any info on it anywhere. I am considering the Zen over the Primal 3 because I don't love the cupped soles on the regular Primal's. And my Xero 360s are just too little stack height for use outside of lifting. Honestly it is too little stack height, for me, outside of deadlifts, lol. As always, thanks in advance!
Not sure if it has any EVA, sorry. The description on the website mentions a "bit more cushion" then the Primal 2/3, so it's possible I suppose. It would be a tiny amount though because their stack heights are so similar
@@sonsofsever Just as an update, they said they don't have that chunky eva like in the grip boots. Looks like anything with grip in the name has this thick eva and all of the trail specific stuff too. Oh well, I'll pick up a pair of regular waterproof boulder boots this winter and regulate these ones to chore boot duty (shorter wearing time). Thanks again.
boulder boots are definitely not wide enough. just take a look at the toebox. it still forces the big toe to be pushed in at an angle, giving you a bunion over time. primal zen is just barely wide enough for a real human foot.
I say this a lot but that’s going to be subjective. Some people naturally have very straight toes. My two year old has only been in foot shaped shoes or barefoot. His foot is very square. His big toe is straight, it doesn’t splay medially. Lems toeboxes are not severe enough to cause bunions. They are at the very least straight. Would wider be better? Always. But they aren’t going to cause disfunction
We think it's wide enough for most people, us included, but we know there are people out there it doesn't work for. Obviously it's wider than most of what's in the boot market, but it isn't the absolute widest toe box out there.
I’m an outlier here, while I DO prefer the JG BF African Ranger, my feet are WIDE. Like, super wide. The Bruins fit my feet much better. I also think Bearfoot has quality control issues because I wear mine daily and they’re great. No issues at all. But I see tons of other owners who have had structural issues out of the box. I lift weights in my Bearfoot Ursus shoes and I wear my Bruins daily. All that said, I have to wear steel toes at work 12+ hours a day, so my Bruins aren’t worn at work. Maybe that’s the difference? All that said, if the JG fit me better I’d strongly prefer them
I’ve had the Jim Greens for about 6 months. I wear them everyday as work boots. I have put them through hard wear and they have held up amazingly well. They are very comfortable and have a great balance of ground feel, and foot protection. Couldn’t be happier…
@@SomeGuy. I would describe it mostly as maintenance and light construction. I rent a few properties and keep them up. The upper on the Jim Greens is really tough and well made.
