Lems Primal Zen - Women's Review

The Lems Primal Zen features a 9.5-millimeter stack height and a removable cork-lined insole. Compared to the other shoes (not boots) in our lineup, they are on the heavier side at 15.3 ounces, though that is still less than two pounds for the pair.

Performance Comparison

Ground Feedback

The Lems Primal Zen is one of our favorite shoes for day-to-day wear. As such, we took them just about everywhere with us. We walked the dogs, made grocery runs, traveled, hung out by the river, and made our way down hardpack trails.

If you are new to barefoot shoes, the Primal Zen is a great place to start. They have reasonable ground feedback but are slightly dampened. We found they are far more sensitive when the insoles are removed, meaning you can ease into the barefoot feel by keeping the insoles in. When you're ready for more, simply ditch them. The insoles are cork-lined, which we found to be very effective at dampening the underfoot feel, which is why these shoes lost some points in this metric. They have a 9.5-millimeter stack height and a zero heel-to-toe drop.

We flexed and folded these shoes, and they felt slightly stiffer than some models in the lineup. However, they have a wide toe box that allows our toes to splay and healthily walk without our feet feeling squished. They also have a gap in the faux leather at the big toe joint. Instead, the mesh fabric extends down to where the outsole begins. This small detail makes a huge difference in how free the foot feels. We noticed we didn't have any restriction as we made our way through our stride, and the lack of stiff material is to thank.

Stability

As barefoot shoes tend to be wider than most, they are on the more stable end of the spectrum. However, not all barefoot shoes are equal in this regard. As we made our rounds with the Lems, we took detailed notes on how stable they felt.

The Primal Zen is one of the most stable shoes we have ever worn. They are 11 centimeters across the forefoot and feature a boxy toe box. This translates to a shoe that holds its ground. Beyond that, we could get a nice snug fit when we wanted by the lacing system. While we shopped around town, we wanted a loose fit, which still fit well on our feet, never feeling like we were swimming around in them. The outsole extends up over the sides of the shoe, appearing more like a traditional shoe. This bumper helped when we were riverside and inevitably bumped into rocks. Additionally, the heel cup has more sturdy materials, so our heels never felt like they could slip out.

Traction

As we made our way through various terrain types, we took notes on how well each shoe stayed put on the ground. Barefoot shoes tend to have less tread and lower lugs than traditional shoes, especially when compared to hiking shoes. However, that doesn't mean they can't handle some off-road use. The Lems has a classic barefoot shoe outsole with an inverted-appearing tread pattern.

Surprisingly, the Primal Zen did quite well on wet rock and concrete. As we walked on the riverside, we clung to rocks that we would have otherwise expected to slip on. We also had a few rainy days during testing. The slick concrete was anxiety-provoking, especially with some of the shoes we tested, but not the Lems. The sticky rubber kept us upright as we walked around. However, the shoes aren't the best on loose trail as the tread doesn't have enough jagged edges to bite into soft dirt.

Weight

Because barefoot style shoes typically don't use a whole lot of materials, you can expect them to be a lot lighter than normal shoes. The shoes in this review were all within a few ounces of one another. Keep in mind that we also tested boots, which weighed a lot more. But for the shoe models, the Lems Primal Zen were on the heavier side.

The Primal Zen weighed in at 15.3 ounces for a US size 9. This means that the pair of shoes weighed under a pound. The vegan leather upper is more pronounced than many other options in the lineup. Likewise, the heel cup has a decent amount of materials. We don't think this is necessarily a bad thing unless you are trying to go as light as possible. The extra materials were sturdy and helped us feel stable in the shoes.

Durability

With the lightweight materials that create barefoot shoes, it is understandable to be concerned about their longevity. That is why we dedicated an entire metric to durability. While we wore these for months on end, we were sure to keep an eye out for premature wear. We looked for holes, peeling, rips, or anything else that just seemed off.

The Lems didn't disappoint us here. The sturdy materials held up to our daily wear. We initially had concerns with the lightweight mesh that is above the toe box, but it proved to be no problem. Even after accidentally drenching the shoes in river water, they dried up and didn't take any damage. The outsole extends up much higher than other option, which helps prevent scrapes and bumps to the vegan leather and mesh. We were very impressed with how new these continued to look after many miles in them.

Should You Buy the Lems Primal Zen?

We think the Lems Primal Zen is a great everyday shoe. We had no complaints while running errands or traveling in them. They aren't our top pick for taking on a run, as they aren't the most athletic fitting, but they can certainly do in a pinch. While barefoot pros might find the ground feedback too dampened, we think they are great for almost everyone, including those new to the style. They have a removable insole that can be used for a softer transition into the barefoot feel. We appreciate the stylish approach these shoes take, wich can easily be dressed up or down.

What Other Barefoot Shoes Should You Consider?

The Merrell Vapor Glove 6 is another shoe that we love for its versatility. The Vapor Glove is much lighter than the Lems, but lacks the gentle barefoot transition as it doesn't have an optional insole and has just six millimeters underfoot. We also love the Whitin Minimalist which has a similar fit to the Lems, but is a fraction of the price.