The popular barefoot shoe brand, Lems Shoes, just launched a new MTB/trail shoe called the Trail Thrasher. At its core, the Trail Thrasher is a mountain bike shoe. It takes serious design cues from downhill biking culture, which I think is obvious by its aesthetics.

Lems sent me an 11.5 in the Asteroid color way, and it’s a handsome shoe. I’ve been wearing the Trail Thrasher every day for a few weeks now, and it’s proven to be a comfortable trail shoe. I’ve only ridden with the shoe a few times, but I will report back with a full review when I get a good amount of bike time on it.

I have reached out to see if there are any plans to offer the Trail Thrasher as a clipless (or Clip in?) shoe that would have a slightly stiffer insole and SPD compatibility. As of this writing, I haven’t heard back. I sure hope so.

OK, let’s get into the meat of it.

A Quick Word on the Name

Lems is a shoe company that I have been wearing since 2017. It’s a great barefoot shoe brand with amazing products and great customer service. On the Lems site and in its marketing, Lems consistently promotes “going outside” and enjoying the natural world, but the term “Trail Thrasher” does not really fit the “leave no trace” ethos that the majority of outdoor enthusiasts practice.

Ok, I’ll get off my soapbox and get on with it.

Lems Trail Thrasher

As you’d expect from a barefoot shoe, the new Trail Thrasher features a wide toe box. This gives your toes room to spread naturally and uses a zero-drop platform that keeps your heel and forefoot at the same level – mimicking how your feet would sit without shoes.

Built for both trails and city streets, the Trail Thrasher uses the same beefy outsole as Lems’ Boulder Summit boot. It sports 4mm lugs and zig-zag siping for traction on various surfaces.

The upper combines nubuck leather with perforated suede in flex zones, allowing your foot to move comfortably while still maintaining durability. My review pair weighs in at 14.2oz (404g) for size 11.5. The low weight is designed to keep your feet comfortable during longer activities without feeling too heavy.

The shoe was designed to work well for mountain biking, commuting, hiking, or daily wear around town. You can remove the minimal insole if you want more ground contact or need extra room inside the shoe for some warm wool socks. It comes with a 16mm stack height and an EVA midsole for cushioning. It’s very comfy.

Trail Thrasher Retail & Detail

Retail: $155

Sizes: 4.5 – 15 (in 1/2 size increments)

Colors: Moss, Ghost, and Astroid (tested)

• Waterproofing: None
• Fit: Lems WIDEST Natural-Shape
• Upper: Nubuck and Perforated Suede
• Lining: Polyester
• Midsole: EVA
• Outsole: Rugged rubber outsole with 4mm lugs
• Insole: Minimal Poly Insole
• Stack Height: 16mm
• Drop: Zero-Drop
• Weight: 13.4oz (Men’s 10)
• Vegan: No

How They Feel

The thing about Lems Shoes is that they feel excellent as soon as your foot slips inside. I have many models of their shoes, and they all feel consistently good tight outta the box.

The Trail Thrasher is no different. It felt great, right from the gate. Like all of Lems’ shoes, the Trail Thrasher fits into the brand’s approach of creating foot-shaped footwear that lets your feet function more naturally.

I’ve been in and out of town since getting my review pair, so I haven’t actually done a true mountain bike ride with them yet. But I have worn them every day since receiving them. That includes a 6-day off-the-grid camping trip through the Eastern Sierra Back Country, and so far, they have been great.

As far as any riding in them, well, I’ve ridden the Rivendell to the Post Office a few times with them, and the traction the 4mm lugs offered was great on the Clem’s pedals (MKS Grip Monarch). I’m really looking forward to getting some MTB riding in with these shoes in the very near future.

In Conclusion, But Not Done Yet

So far, it’s hard not to like the Trail Thrasher. It’s a shoe that is both comfortable and versatile. It still feels like a typical Lems Shoe in that it’s sturdy, comfy, well-made, and built to last a very long time. Plus, the aesthetics are very handsome.

A strong believer in the barefoot shoe philosophy, I feel a big difference when my feet aren’t in barefoot shoes. So far these shoes have met my expectations and, as a long-time Lems customer, I have zero reason to think they won’t continue to do so.

Stay tuned here for the full review in the next month or so.

The Trail Thrasher is available for pre-order from November 13-27, with shipping expected in mid-December. The shoe runs true to size and comes in Lems’ widest natural-shape fit. Check ’em out, you won’t be sorry.