Lems Malibu

Overview

The Lems Malibu is a minimalist slip-on built for casual comfort. It features a polyester canvas upper, a zero-drop, foot-shaped design, and Lems’ signature IBR outsole. It’s a touch more structured than the Drifter but still flexible, light, and easy to wear sockless.

My review pair was in the Baltic colorway, a rich blue with subtle contrast detailing. I wasn’t able to test them in the Baltic Sea — but I did scramble plenty of coastal rocks in Gloucester and Manchester-by-the-Sea, which felt like a fair substitute.

Fit & Sizing

If you’ve worn the Drifter, you might assume the Malibu fits the same — and that’s what I expected too. But the Malibu is actually slightly tighter.

Out of the box, the upper hugs more closely across the midfoot and instep. Over time, this eased up as the material softened, but the initial fit definitely felt quite a bit snugger than the Drifter. It’s still true to size, but if you’re between sizes, consider going up.

Like other Lems models, the Malibu comes with a removable cork insole, which provides extra comfort and breathability. You can always remove it to increase the internal height, but ideally, sizing should allow you to choose whether to use it — not require it for fit.

By comparison, the Drifter’s cotton canvas upper offers a more forgiving stretch and slightly higher volume. That means your toes feel freer right away, whereas the Malibu takes a few wears to reach that same broken-in comfort.

Upper & Texture

The upper material is where the Malibu diverges most from the Drifter.

The Drifter uses a cotton canvas with a looser weave — soft, breathable, and easygoing. It feels almost like a favorite pair of canvas slippers.

The Malibu, by contrast, uses a polyester canvas that’s smoother, denser, and more structured. It gives the shoe a sleeker look and better shape retention but initially feels firmer over the top of the foot. The tighter weave means it doesn’t stretch as much, but it’s also more durable and easier to wipe clean.

After a few days of wear, the Malibu softened nicely without losing its shape — much like how denim “breaks in.” The inside remains comfortable against bare skin, though the Drifter still wins for pure softness and barefoot coziness.

Sole

The Malibu features Lems’ Injection-Blown Rubber (IBR) sole — the same lightweight compound found in many of their most comfortable models.

What is IBR?

Injection-Blown Rubber is Lems’ proprietary process that infuses air into the rubber compound during molding. This creates a sole that’s incredibly lightweight (roughly 30–50% lighter than standard rubber) yet still flexible and durable.

In practice, the Malibu’s sole feels soft and springy underfoot without the “spongey” feel of foam-based soles. The traction pattern offers reliable grip on both pavement and light terrain — it handled wet coastal rock surprisingly well.

Because the IBR sole compresses slightly under pressure, it provides just enough cushion for comfort while maintaining solid ground feel. It’s an excellent balance for a casual minimalist shoe — not too firm, not too plush.

Lems notes that IBR may not last quite as long as full rubber, but in years of testing Lems models, the durability has been excellent. The Malibu is no exception: after several weeks of wear and some rocky climbs, the outsole showed minimal wear.

Aesthetics

The Malibu’s low profile and minimal stitching give it a clean, versatile look that works just as well with jeans as with shorts. The Baltic colorway is a standout — a deep navy-blue that complements nearly anything and carries a subtle coastal vibe. I’d love to see Lems introduce a few bolder, more playful color options to balance out the understated palette already on offer.

What’s especially nice about the Malibu is that, unlike many minimalist shoes, it doesn’t scream “barefoot.” There’s no exaggerated wide toe box or overtly utilitarian styling to give it away. Instead, it blends in effortlessly — casual enough for daily wear yet refined enough that most people wouldn’t guess you’re wearing a zero-drop, flexible shoe. It’s a design that lets you enjoy the benefits of natural movement without feeling like you’ve made a fashion compromise.

Compared to the Drifters

Compared to the Drifter, the Malibu feels like a sibling — sharing the same DNA but showing a distinct personality. While the Drifter’s cotton canvas upper is soft, breathable, and fabric-like, the Malibu’s polyester canvas has a sleeker, more structured texture that feels smoother to the touch and more durable over time.

In terms of looks, the Drifters have a raised section over the toes, moccasin or slipper style, while the Malibus have a smooth single layer for the uppers. This change may account for the differences in sizing, to a degree. The lack of this raised area also means more durability long term as there is an opportunity for water to get into the seams of the Drifters or for the seams themselves to bow out over time.

It will not pill, scratch, or bunch the same way that canvas would, but it lacks the softer texture and light plays off of the uppers quite differently as a result. They are each casual in their own way. The Drifter fits roomier right out of the box and stretches easily, whereas the Malibu feels tighter at first before gradually molding to your foot for a more tailored fit.

Both share the removable cork insole, but proper sizing is key — you’ll want the cork to be an option for comfort tuning, not a necessity for space. The Malibu also comes in slightly heavier at around 8.2 oz compared to the Drifter’s 7.5 oz, which adds to its more substantial, travel-ready feel.

In essence, if the Drifter is your laid-back weekend companion, the Malibu is its city-savvy counterpart — equally minimalist but with a cleaner, more polished look that transitions seamlessly from relaxed days to town adventures.

Wishlist

I would love to see Lems unify their sizing across all models. While the differences are subtle, they’re enough to make sizing tricky between the Primal, Drifter, and Malibu lines. Consistency would make finding the right fit much easier.

It would also be exciting to see Lems experiment with a thinner IBR sole for those who prefer a more pronounced barefoot feel — something in the 6–7mm range could strike a perfect middle ground.

Finally, the Malibu’s design is strong enough to carry more colorways. A few earth tones, washed neutrals, or even a hemp edition would give this shoe even more character.

Summary

The Lems Malibu is a minimalist slip-on that bridges the gap between barefoot comfort and everyday refinement. Its structured polyester upper and lightweight IBR sole make it more versatile than the Drifter for urban and travel wear, though the fit is initially snugger.

Once broken in, it’s one of the most balanced minimalist casual shoes you can wear — flexible, foot-shaped, and effortlessly stylish.

Its versatility is such that I can wear them for a wedding one weekend, a hike the next, and as the finishing touches for my Halloween Costume at the end of the week. (I'm Abby from K-Pop Demon Hunters!)

Frequently Asked Questions about the Lems Malibu