I was excited to try out the Lems Primal Zen Suede shoe (women’s and men’s) because they looked cute and comfortable. After testing them around town, while teaching, hiking, and even running — I’ve come to the conclusion this shoe has no negatives (and I gave another Lems shoe a very low score)!
Lems Primal Zen Suede Style
I’ve received a number of compliments while wearing the Primal Zen Suede. From its wide toe box to its perforated suede surface, the shoe has a unique look that catches people’s eye, I think. The combination of colors on my particular model- blues, purple on the inside, a strip of yellow on the upper back – makes it an attractive shoe for a female. Even the thick, round shoe laces stick out as something a bit different. The shoe looks fun and playful, while also practical and comfortable.
Lems Primal Zen Suede Comfort
The Primal Zen Suede is incredibly comfortable! The footbed is made out of cork, which makes it feel a bit spongy. Because of the wide toe box, there is plenty of room in the front — no squished toes! The shoe is very lightweight and flexible. When I am wearing them, I forget that I have these shoes on. If I’m not thinking about my feet, that must be a good sign that the shoe I’m wearing is doing its job, right?
Lems Primal Zen Suede Pros
Here’s what I like about the Primal Zen Suede:
- For casual, outdoor walking on paved surfaces such as a sidewalk, this is a great go-to shoe.
- On actual hiking trails that have a more unsteady surface with gravel, rocks and roots, the Primal Zen is also comfortable. I have not felt rocks jabbing into my foot or gotten pebbles stuck in the shoes. The shoe does have good grip on uneven surfaces.
- Being on my feet all day in the classroom setting, this shoe has kept my feet pain free! I cannot say this nowadays about a lot of other shoes I have tried wearing for teaching all day. When I can come home in the afternoon and my feet are still feeling good, I notice and appreciate it. I would imagine the Primal Zen would also be a great shoe for people who are on their feet all day in healthcare professions, and others.
- When I have run in this shoe, I notice how quickly my legs get tired. This is because of it being a ”zero drop” heel shoe. I can definitely feel the difference vs. a shoe with much more cushioning, such as a Hoka. Lems does not advertise the Primal Zen as a running shoe. However, if a person wanted to regularly run in this style of shoe, I think it would quickly strengthen the leg muscles.
Lems Primal Zen Suede Cons
Here’s what I don’t like about the Lems Primal Zen Suede: Nothing! I cannot think of anything about the shoe that is a con. When looking at reviews on Lems’ site, however, here are just a couple of comments that I noticed:
- The shoe may come up a bit high on the heel, so one reviewer commented that she needs to wear higher socks.
- This is not a con, but something to consider: some reviewers recommend buying a half size larger than the shoe size one typically wears. I would not agree – I typically wear a size 7, and the Primal Zen size 7 fits me just fine.
Conclusion
In general, the reviews are glowing. It is obvious that people are in love with their Primal Zen Suede shoes. I feel the same way about them! In conclusion, I’d use words such as comfort, versatility, lightweight, and fun to describe this shoe. I absolutely recommend the Lems Primal Zen Suede shoe (women’s and men’s) to anyone looking for a new pair! Simply put, they really are perfect everyday shoes.
