PRIMAL 2 VS. PRIMAL 3 OVERVIEW

Balanced Weight Distribution
The increased overall outsole width ensures that your body weight is spread out more evenly, reducing the pressure points on your feet. This even weight distribution enhances comfort during various activities. For those with lower arches and flat feet, you will find that this is a big improvement. But for those with high arches, you may feel very little, to no difference.
Enhanced Outsole
The Primal 3 is made with our Widest Fit Last, just like the Primal 2. The difference is that we developed a new outsole on the Primal 3 with a wider footprint for more ground contact underneath the foot.
Higher Sidewalls
When examining the Lems Primal 3 from a lateral view, you may notice a visual difference — the sidewalls now wrap up higher on the sides. This is a deliberate design choice aimed at improving both fit and lateral stability. The higher side walls provide a snugger fit around the contours of your feet, cradling them comfortably.
Zero-Drop Platform
Just like the Primal 2, the Primal 3 is built on a zero-drop platform which keeps your heel and toes level, mimicking your natural barefoot position on a flat surface.

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PRIMAL 2 VS. PRIMAL 3 OVERVIEW

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LEATHER UPPER

We’ve utilized a full-grain leather upper to enhance the overall look and feel of the shoe. Date night? Business casual event? The Nine2Five has you covered.

IBR OUTSOLE

Injection blown rubber is a mixture of air and rubber that makes our minimalist shoes incredibly lightweight and flexible.

ZERO-DROP

Places the forefoot AND heel the same distance from the ground. No elevation, no pain, no complaints.

WIDE TOE BOX

Unlike traditional footwear that squeeze the toes together, our foot-shaped toe box allows for maximum room giving the toes ultimate freedom to wiggle and spread.

4.7

Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars

Based on 990 reviews

Total 5 star reviews: 747 Total 4 star reviews: 179 Total 3 star reviews: 48 Total 2 star reviews: 9 Total 1 star reviews: 7

94%would recommend this product

SizingRated -0.0 on a scale of minus 2 to 2

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Reviews Summary

Customers say these dress shoes offer exceptional comfort with their wide toe box and zero-drop design. Many reviews mention they're versatile enough for both office wear and casual settings. Common feedback includes praise for the immediate comfort with no break-in period needed. While most appreciate the professional look, frequent comments address squeaking issues from the insoles. The leather scuffs easily according to several users, though the overall fit receives consistent praise. Reviews note the shoes work well for long days of standing and walking, though some find them slightly narrow in the midfoot. Most users appreciate the blend of style and comfort, making them suitable for workplace environments.

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990 reviews

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Rated 4 out of 5 stars
5 days ago
Good, not great
I have two other pair of Lems (Chelsea barefoot boots and Malibu shoes), both of which I love and are super comfortable. These are good shoes too, but a couple of issues.
1. As others have noted, the squeak like crazy. I fixed this by removing the insole, but I really like the insole on both my other Lems and going without makes the shoes slightly less comfortable.
2. They seem to be a bit narrow in the midfoot and put a lot of pressure on my pinky toe bone on one foot which caused walking to be a bit painful. This was also mostly fixed by removing the insole, creating more room within the shoe, but makes the sole slightly less comfortable. I tried wearing them with the insole for a couple of weeks and using a spring loaded shoe tree, hoping they would stretch but no luck.
Overall I still like these, and they seem to be the best option for lace up office shoes. I wear them most every day at work with no issues, but probably wouldn't want to walk any distance like I would in my other Lems.
Dave
Verified Buyer
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Rated 5 out of 5 stars
1 week ago
5 Stars
Im a big lems supporter, and have had many pairs. these are pretty nice.
Great improovements from v1. My original toebox seams blew out on 2 pairs (after about a year and a half of daily use). V2 has moved the seam to a place i believe will get less stress and hopefully last longer.
Leather feels and looks less like plastic.
Laces actually hold.
Cork insoles feel much better out of the box (but not as nice as the ones with new mariner boat shoes).
They might be slightly tighter than v1, but i havnt broken them in yet
TANNER
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Rated 5 out of 5 stars
1 week ago
Good shoes
Glad to find shoes that are acceptable for dressing up, but also kind to my feet.
Jacob G.
Verified Buyer
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