Lems Boulder Boot Review: Are Zero-Drop Boots For You?

I’ve heard a ton of great things about zero-drop boots and shoes. Some say the shape and style help return your feet back to the way they’re meant to be.

Splayed toes. Strong arches. 

I’m not sure I’m convinced on all that, but I’m definitely curious. 

So recently I picked up the Lems Boulder Boot: it’s one of the most popular zero-drop boots on the market. 

If you’re wondering whether these boots are right for you, stick around because I’m diving into all the details. 

Lems Boulder Boot Overview

The Lems Boulder Boot is a zero drop boot. What does zero drop mean? 

Well, it’s basically a type of boot or shoe that is flat all the way through the sole. There’s no arch, and the heel is at the same height as the forefoot. 

What’s the supposed benefit? 

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For a lot of people, having your heel raised can cause a pinching in the lower back, or can cause stiff, sore knees. Depending on your posture, heeled boots can be sneaky and cause all sorts of issues. 

So a lot of guys who have knee pain or back pain are starting to try the zero drop style. 

There are several different versions of the Lems Boulder Boot: I’m reviewing the standard leather version. But there’s also a nylon and leather version, a canvas version (all vegan), and a waterproof version.

Things to Consider Before Buying

If you’re not used to wearing zero drop boots and you start wearing Lems Boulder Boots as your everyday boot, you might have some soreness for the first few weeks as your feet adjust.

Wearing flat, wide toe’d shoes does actually affect the shape of your foot—your feet become a little wider and your toes splay out. This is a more natural shape for your foot. Boots like Lems help get your feet back to normal. 

But if you wear a pair of Lems for a year, you’ll have trouble wearing normal boots. Your toes will feel cramped, and the arch and heel will throw you off.

So expect a bit of soreness as your feet adjust—Lems Boulder Boots are an entirely different type of footwear from most of the boots I review here. 

They’re not so much focused on quality per se, but more on the shape of the boot and how that affects your feet, posture, and long term comfort. 

My Hands-On Review

First Impression

The Lems Boulder Boot is the best looking zero drop boot or shoe I’ve seen, which is why it’s the first one I picked up. 

But that’s not saying much because I think zero drop shoes generally aren’t that great looking. 

This isn’t a knock specifically on Lems, but it’s just the nature of the type of shoe the Boulder Boot is. 

The toe is quite wide—these don’t taper at all toward the toe. In fact, they’re actually wider at the toe than at the waist of the boot. 

Overall, this makes the boot look stubby and short. 

The Boulder Boot is a moc toe style, which refers to the “U” shaped toe. And the boot has a nice, red flannel lining to match with the brown leather. 

The Lems site says that each boot weighs 9oz (size 9), but that’s not what I saw at all. I got the size 11 boot and it weighed 13.4oz, which seems significantly higher. Of course, bigger boots use more material so they’re heavier, but that seems like a big jump to me. 

Leather Quality and Care

Considering the price, the leather is solid. I measured it at 1.5mm, which is fairly thick for a boot that costs less than $200. 

And the leather seems good quality as well. It’s a corrected full grain leather—it’s not going to make any leather enthusiasts swoon, but it’s solid considering the price and it doesn’t need much care. 

It’s a pull up type leather, meaning it’s tanned with oils and waxes. You don’t need to condition the leather if you don’t want to—conditioning will lengthen the lifetime of the leather and can help add water resistance, but the leather will repel water decently untreated. 

To care for the leather, you can just brush it off with a damp rag. If you don’t mind darkening the leather of your boots, then some mink oil or Huberd’s Shoe Grease will help waterproof the leather. 

But for me, I’m going to just stick to keeping the mud off with a damp rag and maybe use some Bick 4 leather conditioner if the leather is in desperate need of some TLC. 

Sole

The sole is a mold-injected rubber, which helps keep the weight and price down, but comes with its own baggage. 

Mold-injected soles aren’t necessarily bad, but they don’t offer a lot of water resistance, and they can sometimes come apart from the upper. It’s not the best construction method by a long shot, especially for durability. 

But one thing Lems offers is an even plane between your heel and forefoot: they’re zero drop. That’s hard to find in a boot. 

So I’d really only look at Lems if you’re intent on getting something zero drop. From a quality perspective, the insole and outsole are just ok. 

And don’t expect any arch support—these are flat boots all the way through. If you have flat feet, you may want to add your own custom insert, though I don’t know that you’d be able to maintain a true 0mm difference between the heel and forefoot. 

Fit and Sizing

Sizing for the Lems Boulder Boot can be a bit tricky, so I made a Lems sizing guide to cover the in depth sizing details.

But to sum in up, I ordered a half-size larger than I normally would for sneakers and they fit comfortably. 

I’m normally a size 10.5D on the Brannock (the metal contraption they use in shoe stores to measure your feet), and all of my sneakers are size 10.5. In most boots, I get a size 10, since boots usually run big.

But for the Lems Boulder Boot, I got a size 11 and they are snug at the waist of my foot. 

The forefoot is wider than I need, but that’s the whole point of the Boulder Boot: they offer room for your toes to splay. 

So I recommend getting a half size larger than you normally would for you sneakers and dress shoes. 

Break-in Period

It doesn’t take any time to break the boot in, but it’s more like the boot breaks your foot in.

As I mentioned, the nature of zero-drop footwear is different than most shoes and boots you’re used to wearing. 

The longer you wear zero-drop boots, the more your toes splay out and your foot widens. 

So I did notice some soreness in the first few days of wearing Lems, but that was mainly due to my feet having more room to stretch out while walking. 

There’s nothing in the boot that’s hard to break in—the leather is supple and the insole is all foam and rubber. But you may still experience a little soreness because it’s a different type of shoe than you’re used to wearing. 

What do Other Reviewers Say?

Lems gets a lot of love from reviewers with back and knee pain that haven’t been able to find good outdoor boots due to previous injuries. 

I read several reviews from guys with wide feet (E-EE) and they recommend sizing up a full size. That makes sense to me, because I had to size up half a size and I have standard D width feet. 

Lems Boulder Boot Alternatives

Vivobarefoot Tracker II

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If you’re looking for a zero drop hiking boot, I’d check out the Vivobarefoot Tracker II. It’s a similar concept to the Lems Boulder Boot, but it’s waterproof, offers a bit more support in the ankle, and has better traction across various types of terrain. 

It’s also more expensive. 

For everyday wear, the Lems Boulder Boot is fine. But if you’re specifically looking for a zero drop outdoor adventure boot, the Vivobarefoot Tracker II will keep your feet better protected from the elements and is worth the extra cost. 

My Thoughts Overall

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