I brought my black Lems Primal2 lightweight shoes to Israel and Greece with me last month but didn’t expect them to be the shoes I wore pretty much all day, every day. I did and my appreciation for the lightweight shoes grew. They’re a great option if you will be doing a lot of walking in the heat.
The company describes the shoes this way-
“We here at Lems Shoes don’t always wear shoes, but when we do we choose the Primal2. If lightweight (6.9oz), flexible, breathable, foot-shaped, and flat are all characteristics that you look for in footwear, than look no further than this shoe. The Primal2 is assembled using a no-sewn construction, which allows the shoe to comfortably form to the natural shape of your foot.”
“Lightweight microsuede and open-weave mesh, allow your foot increased airflow and better breathability. The low-profile 8.0mm LemsRubber™ sole brings you closer to the ground for a more natural stride. Our LemsLast™ design, with its natural foot shape, provides you with that Feelgood Fit that we pride ourselves on. So whether at work, walking the dog, or running errands, the Primal2 is certainly the ‘go to shoe’ for you.”
I wore them the first day and found that they weren’t quite as comfortable as I wanted. That night I had an idea. I pulled out the insole of the shoes and replaced them with my orthodics. The result was a lightweight shoe that was both comfortable and supportive. And because they have an understated black design, unlike the bright red ones I wrote about recently, they went with pretty much everything I wore.
Thanks to the lightweight design the shoes were easy to wear for hours and hours and hours. Thanks to the breathable material from which they are made they are great in the heat. And boy did I encounter heat. Summer in Israel is always hot, but an afternoon on the Acropolis in the midst of an Athenian heatwave. The shoes let my feet breath in the heat and kept me comfortable… or as comfortable as I could have been in the heat.
This time out I had no such concern. I should, however, note that I often wear them with my orthodics in place.
Specs:
- 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
- Width: 4.2-4.4? (size 43)
In my initial review I wrote:
They offer good support. They are a pleasure to walk in. All the rest is commentary. I slipped them on, tied the laces and, within moments, knew that I had a new pair of favorite shoes.
You can read that review here.