The Primal 2 model from Lems takes the zero-drop, barefoot idea to its logical conclusion by paring down everything to a miniscule 195 grams. Add to that the ability to stuff them into the smallest of suitcase corners, and a vegan-friendly construction and we may have alighted on the pinnacle of the barefoot movement.
First impressions: This has been said in a thousand shoe reviews, but these are as comfy as slippers. In this case, it's literally true, I've worn them around the house without realising they were still on. Out of the box comfort is insane and it's largely down to that minimalist approach. They weigh nothing so feel like nothing on your feet. The upper is so extensively made from mesh that you feel the odd breeze pass over your foot, as if you're wearing nothing. And the shape - a wide forefoot designed to allow your feet to move the way nature intended - completes the magic slipper package.
My second impression was that I would never go hiking in slippers; these shoes can't stand up to a rough trail??? This will partly be down to personal preference, and if you wear B3 mountaineering boots for every stroll (and some people do) you might struggle with the change. However, the 'getting-used-to-it' curve was a tiny bump, due to the sole unit walking the perfect line between being tactile and simultaneously just-beefy-enough to round out the more spiky rocks on the path.
Looks are always personal of course, but we've come a long way from those garish monkey-toed things that 'barefoot' used to be synonymous with. The mesh - fresh and shiny out of the box - did have a hint of laciness which didn't appeal to my inner rugged adventurer, but that was merely a function of newness and nothing some mud couldn't fix. There's a retro cool to these shoes which the Americans are nailing at the minute (think Danner, as well as Lems other models).
It could be tricky for those hardened hikers who love the support of a sturdy boot to really take to these shoes - and long distance hiking is probably not their strong suit. But they're shockingly capable off-road and remain comfy on long (if not super-taxing) days on the hill. And if nothing else, they're the perfect packable extra on your hiking holiday. I've worn nothing else since they arrived.
