Lems Waterproof Boulder Summit Boot Review
Good day hikers! I’m Dan Purdy, Wildland’s Gear Guide manager.
It’s finally happened. After almost a decade of backpacking trips, professional guiding, travel, and volunteer search-and-rescue calls, and managing Wildland’s Gear Guide, I FINALLY found the perfect pair of hiking boots (for me).
I recently had the chance to test the Lems Boulder Summit boots in the wet Olympic Mountains. Normally, I wait until I describe the test to reveal how a product performed, but I just can’t wait that long. The results were outrageous(ly good). There, I said it. The boots have their drawbacks, of course, but the performance, build, and shape all coalesce into the single most comfortable boot I’ve ever encountered, and I’ve encountered a lot of boots! So, let’s look into the Boulder Summit Boot’s specifications and how they performed in the backcountry.
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Boulder Summit Boots Quick Look
For starters, let’s review the Outlander’s basic specifications.
- Price: $210.00
- Material: Full Grain Leather and Nylon Upper
- Support: Zero-drop design with 5.5mm PU insole.
- Intended Activity: Hiking/Backpacking
- Sizing: Men’s and Women’s sizing with Lems WIDEST Natural-Shape™
Intended Use
The Boulder Summit Boots are designed for rugged trails. With aggressive traction lugs, burly waterproofing, and a durable leather upper, these boots are aimed at serious hiking and backpacking in a range of environments. Additionally, Lems’ signature wide design further caters to wide-footed hikers or folks who simply want their toes to have more room to spread out and relax.
However, for such durable and rugged boots, the overall aesthetic and color are deceptively relaxed. These boots simply appear informal and would fit right in walking around town or going out to dinner. This relaxed appearance, in my opinion, further enhances the Boulder Summits’ versatility by making them suitable for use on and off the trail.
Notable Features
The Boulder Summit Boots include a couple of features that are worth discussing before we jump into the full review:
Zero Drop – with the heel and toes at the same height, which encourages a natural step.
Natural Foot Shape – gives your toes room to spread out to their natural shape. This promotes better posture and walking form while reducing injuries.
Full-Grain Leather plus Waterproof Membrane – keep all unwanted moisture out of these boots. Properly cared for and occasionally waxed, leather alone is a good water barrier. But when paired with the waterproof membrane in the boot lining, these boots provide outstanding weather protection.
Lems Company Background
Lems’ founder, Andrew Rademacher, first started researching shoe design and production in 2008 after failing to find a pair of durable shoes that featured a wide, comfortable footbox. From that beginning and countless research hours, Lems released its first shoe in 2011 and has steadily grown, offering a “wide” selection of boots and shoes spanning from casual to rugged performance. Every one of Lems’ products features their signature natural footshape design, which provides a wide, comfortable space for your toes to spread out, promoting improved posture and foot health.
THE TEST – QUICK OVERVIEW
My testing involved almost everything the Olympic Peninsula has to offer.
With these boots, I encountered PNW coastline, rocky alpine, a surprise snowstorm, and abrasive blackberry patches. I also hiked both with and without a heavy backpack, testing the Boulder Summits' support for heavy loads versus moving fast and light.
The Review
Now that we’ve covered the basic characteristics of the Boulder Summit Boots and the background of the Lems brand, it’s time for my full review. I’ll cover the main performance characteristics for hiking boots below (such as comfort, durability, breathability, and so on) and give each category a score from 1 to 5. The scoring key is below for reference, and I’ll back up each score with firsthand information from my field testing that led me to assign each score.
Test Score Key
1/5 – Poor
2/5 – Tolerable
3/5 – Fair
4/5 – Good
5/5 – Excellent
Durability – 5/5
So far so good!
Of course, leather tends to show scuffs and minor abrasions naturally (and very superficially). Such is the case with the Boulder Summits. When I came back from a 4-day technical rope course, or a hiking trip, or a prickly search-and-rescue call stomping through sharp blackberry bushes, these boots definitely showed it. But a little buff, a little shine, and they’re looking sharp and ready for the next adventure!
Looking closer, I see no fraying or blown seams, no punctures, and zero wear on the outsole lugs. Therefore, I’m very impressed with the boots’ overall durability, and I expect (and hope) that they’ll last many seasons in the rough backcountry!
My only minor critique in this department is that I wish the front of the boots had a rubber toe cap to protect the leather from abrasive rock or other damage. My hiking often involves run-ins with extremely rough surfaces, and that extra protection would help prevent me from scraping the toe area.
Comfort – 5/5
A million bazillion in this category! I simply cannot overstate how freaking comfortable these boots are. And get this: I took out the 5.5mm insert for a little more room, and they’re STILL so comfortable that I’m struggling for words.
The Lems Boulder Summits are so comfortable that I:
- Don’t bother to take them off for the drive home after a long, exhausting day hike. They’re just too comfortable.
- Think of them as my backcountry slippers.
- Believe my “around town” shoes are significantly less comfortable than these hiking boots.
- Put them on before a multi-hour drive to a hike or SAR call, they’re just so cozy.
Honestly, I struggled for years to find a durable, waterproof hiking boot that could accommodate my super-wide feet. I tried dozens of boots across numerous brands, but each and every one pinched my feet to death, killed my toes on the downhill, and just made me miserable wearing boots for any length of time. The Lems Boulder Summit boots’ comfortable design has (truly) changed my hiking life forever, and I love ’em for it.
Quality – 5/5
Overall, the quality has appeared top-shelf. After slushing through water, pushing through thick brush, and spending a whole day in a wet snowstorm, I have zero complaints or feedback about the quality of the Boulder Summit.
They seem to use quality materials and craftsmanship, and I fully expect them to last many seasons.
Support – 3/5
Due to their zero-drop design and minimalist approach, these boots offer noticeably less support than bulkier options.
Lems is notably focused on lightweight, uncluttered boots that offer ample interior space for your feet to spread out. They want a natural, unmodified footstep with these boots, and that’s exactly what the Boulder Summits deliver. You won’t find bulky shims, layers upon layers of clunky inserts, or extra arch support in these boots – they’re a comfortable, durable shell that lets your feet do their thing.
I will say, however, that the lacing system and boot uppers do provide shockingly outstanding ankle support. My left ankle is prone to rolling, and I can lace these boots up nice and tight so that I feel supported but without any uncomfortable pinching or binding.
But overall, the Boulder Summits are minimal on the support front, but I accept (and appreciate) that that’s the way it’s supposed to be.
Weight/Bulk – 5/5
At only 14.8 ounces, the Boulder Summits are quite lightweight for a pair of hiking boots.
They have the nimbleness, flexibility, and light step of ultralight hiking shoes or trail runners. However, the durable leather exterior and tough build give these boots the durability of a much heavier boot.
Additionally, I love the highly flexible outsole. Most durable, heavier boots have a very stiff outsole that inhibits my natural stride and makes it hard to find purchase on slippery surfaces. But the Boulder Summits are extremely flexible and conform perfectly to whatever surface I’m traversing, whether it be wet rock or a slippery downed tree.
Price – 5/5
Woof, at $210, these are some expensive boots. However, they’re fairly on par with the competition for a long-lasting, quality pair of backcountry boots.
What’s more, I believe the Lems Boulder Summit boots deliver extraordinary value for the price you pay. Frankly, for me, the question comes down to what price I put on my feet being comfortable in the backcountry, no matter how hard I’m working or how steep the trail is. With that question in mind, is $210 worth it to achieve zen-level comfort and keep me moving forward without a hint of complaint for my toesies? My answer: absolutely.
So although these boots are expensive, I believe they’re delivering some of the best value on the market because they’re doing for me what every other boot I’ve ever tried has failed to do.
Breathability – 3/5
Breathability is the one downside to full leather boots (plus a waterproof membrane).
There’s a lot of material for that air exchange to pass through with the Boulder Summits. When I was pushing hard on a steep trail during my testing, I definitely felt the heat building up inside the boots.
I haven’t worn these boots in peak summer yet, but I suspect they’ll run hotter than most synthetic nylon boots that offer better breathability. So, we’ve found the Boulder Summits weak point, and it’s definitely something to be aware of if you often hike in very hot climates.
Waterproofing – 5/5
Outstanding waterproofing! I walked through standing water several times (as shown in the picture) during my initial testing, and I never felt one drop of water intrusion.
But the true test came during an outdoor course I was taking that happened to line up with a spring snowstorm here in the Olympic Mountains. The temperature was above freezing, and endless masses of heavy, thick, and wet snow pummeled us … for five hours! But, through it all, I never felt even the slightest hint of moisture get to my feet, even though we were tramping through thick brush off-trail. My shell pants and coat were pummeled with moisture, my midlayer was saturated at the cuffs and neck, but my socks were dry as dry could be at the end of that long day.
So top points to waterproofing, and I hope this effective water barrier lasts for many seasons!
Bringing it Together
We’ve covered a lot of aspects of the Boulder Summit Boots in this review! To help keep these boots’ strengths and weaknesses clear, I’ve compiled the pros and cons from my testing below for our review.
Pros:
- Outrageously comfortable (but narrow-footed hikers may find them too roomy)
- Durable full-leather upper
- Very effective waterproofing
- Price delivers outstanding value
- Light and flexible design that moves light and fast with you
Cons:
- Less support than other options (but it’s intentional for a light, natural step)
- Poor breathability
Final Thoughts
After taking the Boulder Summit boots through a range of slushy, rocky, prickly, wet, and abrasive conditions on the Olympic Peninsula, I can confidently say that these are the best hiking boots I’ve worn … ever. They’re out-of-this-world comfortable, durable, 100% waterproof, and the informal leather design makes them just as suitable for around town as on the trail (and they’re absolutely comfortable enough for around town).
Of course, the full leather upper makes these boots noticeably less breathable than synthetic boots, but this heat buildup did not make me wish I had other boots during my springtime testing. Also, the Boulder Summits are not technical boots and lack high-end features for rocky approaches or alpine work.
But as a solid hiking boot for exploring the backcountry through a range of climates or even off-trail, I cannot recommend the Boulder Summits enough. They’ve instantly earned their place as my go-to backcountry footwear, both recreationally and for my volunteer SAR role, and I expect to keep using them for many many seasons!
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