Lems Switchback Sandal Review
The huarache-inspired sandal from Lems features a novel strap system for easy fit. Tested over 60 miles on trails, walks, and errands, a detailed review of this go-anywhere sandal.
Middle school — over 30 years ago — was when I got my first pair of Teva sandals.
This was the early 90s, and Teva, founded in 1984, was having their moment with teens, even awkward, "big-boned" kids like me.
I remember my first pair of Tevas were "high-tech" and tan-strapped with a hieroglyphic pattern. What made them special, as I recall, was that mine had some kind of “spider grip” insole, marketed as superior for keeping your foot secure in all sorts of settings, especially whitewater rafting (how Tevas got their start). And of cousre I was rafting all the time. Or never.
I wore those Tevas every day that I could. I wore them so much that the sandals got marinated in teen sweet. They became so rank that I could smell them as I sat in class. At some point I moved on to Birks (a story for another sandal review), which, thankfully, didn't suffer from the same odor problem.
Teva sandals maintain their popularity to this day, and their simple velcro design, using triangle plastic rings to connect the straps, is still how they work. Tevas even had a minimalist sandal at one point. The design innovation with Teva is the three points of adjustment via heel, instep, and metatarsel velcro straps. This design is simple, reliable, time-tested. It works.
What do Teva sandals have to do with a review of the Lems Switchback? Because Lems Switchbacks feature an insole — marketed the Barefoot Footbed™ — that reminds me of the detail and design of the Teva spider grip footbed. In 2025, the Switchback is a novel design for the minimalist-minded sandal market, offering folks an alternative to successful incumbents like LUNA, Bedrock, Shamma, Xero, and Earth Runners. I like seeing new products and new approaches, just as Teva sandals were once novel sandal offerings 40+ years ago.
But new isn't always good, so how does the Lems Switchback perform? I had to find out for myself, so I bought a pair a couple months back. I’ve now put 60+ miles on them across neighborhood walks (5 million steps aren't going to take themselves), outdoor nature trails, surprise outings, and even a couple treadmill runs. I'm ready to share a review, my first of a Lems product in seven years, and if you stick around — and are a BirthdayShoes subscriber — I'll share a 10% off coupon at the end of the review.
There's a lot to cover on the Switchback, so let's get going. First, let's cover the basics.
What Lems says about the Switchback sandal
Lems brought the Switchback sandal to market, their first sandal offering, after over four years of prototyping by Andrew and team. I’ve known Andrew Rademacher, Lems’ founder, for about 15 years, since the company’s early days when the company went by a different name. What I know about Andrew is that he’s all about design. He pours energy into creating footwear that balances foot-friendly function that also looks good.
The Switchback is billed as being built for tackling hiking trails, bike-packing routes, beach days, or urban exploration. The core design innovation with the Switchback is how its combination of a single ladder lock buckle (that's attached to a fixed toe-post harness) that tightens webbing that runs through Lems' proprietary Switchback Slydr™, of which there are two flanking the ankle on either side. This hardware serves as guide for the webbing, allowing you to adjust tightness around the heel for a secure fit. This design simplifies the adjustment of the sandals.
Additionally, the Switchback features a full rubber outsole for durability and traction on varied surfaces, paired with a flexible EVA midsole for lightweight cushioning. What Lems calls the Barefoot Footbed™ is an anatomically contoured, textured insole. It's touted as mimicking the foot’s natural shape to enhance sensory feedback, keeping feet responsive to terrain.
My size 11 sandals weigh 9.0 oz/each (compare to 10.7 oz for Bedrock Cairn Pro 3D in size 11; and 6.1oz in LUNA Mono Retros in size 10.5). the Switchback offers a 14–17 mm stack height and a 3.0 mm drop. The upper comes in synthetic leather (Mojave, Scorpion, Sandstorm) or vegan nylon (Cactus, Oasis), with neoprene and microfiber lining. The shape of the sandal is built on Lems’ Widest Natural-Shape™ last.
Lems claims the sandal fits true to size, advising to size up for those between whole sizes — so I sized up from my default 10.5 and got 11 and they fit me great. I also wear 11s in Bedrock, 11s in Shamma, a 10.5 in LUNA, and a 10.5 in Shamma.
Marketed as a do-everything sandal, the Switchback is pitched for rugged trails to casual strolls. The Switchback aims to balance minimalist principles with enough structure for light adventures, making it a contender for those seeking one sandal to rule them all.
The MSRP for the Switchback is $120 from the Lems website (Note: this is an affiliate link, so use this link if you want to support BirthdayShoes at no cost ... and if you don't want to use it, here's a direct link), and $120 is what I paid for my pair in the Cactus color way (plus tax).
Here are a few photos of my pair when they were brand new:
User review of the Switchback is highly positive
Before I wrote this review, I took to Lemsshoes.com and gathered up nearly every review so far on the Switchback. I read them and then dumped them all into a file in order to prompt a synthetic summary of what people think. Here are some highlights of user reviews.
The Switchback sandal has sparked enthusiasm among users, earning an average rating of 4.9 stars with over 80 reviews (as of mid-June 2025, the sandals were released in mid-April). Comfort is a recurring theme — "so comfortable," "super comfortable," etc. with the word mentioned by at least 30 reviews. One user remarked, “Feels like you’re not wearing anything,” and a number cite all-day wearability.
The Switchback is described as "super light," especially compared to Chaco sandals, and Chacos were the most frequent sandal comparison. If you're curious, only one review mentions Bedrock or LUNA saying, "These sandals have, by far, the best strap system out of the others that I've tried, the others being Bedrocks and Lunas. These are the only ones that haven't chafed my ankles or the tops of my feet."
Users also like the fit afforded by the Switchback Slydr™ strap system (No, no one calls it that) for its ease of adjustment. A common refrain is that the Switchback is "easy to adjust." One user said, "Favorite thing is that you can pop them on and adjust with one hand and by just a tug they secure all the way around."
Users are using the Lems sandals in a variety of ways with accounts of trekking miles in tropical heat or navigating urban and trail settings with ease. One wearer hiked extensively abroad, reporting durability and grip on varied surfaces, while others lounged or worked long hours on their feet, like a swim coach on a pool deck, without fatigue.
Drawbacks. Sizing confuses some. A few users needed a size or two larger than expected to avoid toe overhang, urging careful selection. The 3.0 mm drop frustrates minimalist purists with one reviewer wishing for a zero-drop design, calling the difference slight but noticeable. The toe post of these huaraches-inspired sandals can rub initially (though "rubbing" not a common comment). Durability seems strong though it's still early for these sandals, and one user encountered a fraying strap restrainer, resolved through Lems’ warranty.
Despite these notes, the consensus leans heavily positive. Users swapping from other brands praise the natural footbed and even the "moderate" cushioning.
How I tested the Lems Switchback sandal
As mentioned earlier, I got my Switchbacks in Cactus, size 11.
Over the past several weeks, I’ve recorded right on 60 miles of use: 46 miles on asphalt walks in my hilly neighborhood (140-150 feet of elevation change, 16–17 minute-per-mile pace), around 7 miles on nature trails with creek crossings, sandy clay, rocks, fields, wood detritus, log jumps, etc., and even 8 miles running on a treadmill (two separate 4-mile runs) to see how they fared running — though they aren't marketed as running sandals. I also got them wet on the trail and can share some thoughts on water performance.
Beyond that, I wore them casually to my kid's swim meets and trips to the neighborhood pool, on errands and around town (grocery runs, family outings, summer stuff).
Design and strap system
The Switchback is a huarache-inspired sandal with a modern twist. It uses a toe post between your big toes, a Y-shaped harness over the top of the foot, and a single strap that wraps the ankle and heel, adjusted via a ladder lock on the outside. The Switchback's equipped with metal hardware across the board, using proprietary clips (the "Slydr") that reverse the direction of the single strap, not unlike a typical huaraches sandal — just with a bit more finesse.
This strap system lets you tighten the strap with one hand, pulling the heel and harness snug. Here's how I do it. I stand, shift my foot forward pushing against the toe post, lean over and grip the bottom part of the strap (that goes into the ladder lock) between my fingers with my thumb on the ladder lock and pull. This cinches up the strap against my heel, bringing the slack through the Slydr ring, and then I ratchet down the strap tight. This is a quick process that works well. Once tightened, you can dial in the fit by lifting the lock just a bit. And when you want to take them off, pull up and slip them off.
How I adjust the Lems Switchback with one hand. To get a snug fit, I scoot my foot forward into the toe post then pull the webbing to tighten the strap against my heel. Then I ratchet the strap down with the ladder lock. I might have overdone it in this video example (my foot's a little more forward than I typically wear the Switchback).
It’s a neat system, and one of the simplest ways to adjust two points of tension in an easy motion. Kudos to Andrew at Lems for this innovation. Users raved about the ease of adjustment, and I agree: It’s quick and reliable, and the only thing I'd change about it is finding a way to contain the extra strap when they are worn "snug," as it hangs out there a bit.
As for the neoprene lining used on the static parts of the system ... It feels good against the skin and affords the Switchback structure, directing the straps where they should go. On one occasion early in my testing, I had an issue with the outside structure bumping my ankle bone. I can't say why this was happening and thankfully it hasn't happened again.
The Y-shaped harness does a good job providing structure to the sandals too. I don't think that loop atop the harness is useful for much other than adding a focal point (it's for looks).
Design details of the Switchback. This stitching is all holding up well so far.
Unlike traditional — or modern — huaraches, almost all of which offer multiple adjustment points, the Switchback's single ladder lock constrains fine-tuning. This limitation is a tradeoff, a feature, one that a lot of folks will like because it removes complexity from the sandal and speeds adjustment, even if it reduces customization.
Also, the simplicity of the heel strap is much appreciated. I wouldn't have expected to cite a heel strap as a standout feature, yet here we are: The webbing chosen by Lems for the Switchback is great. It feels substantial and good on my skin. And I appreciate how there's strap — and only strap — on the heel of these sandals. The angle where the straps land on my heel is chef's kiss right. In my testing I never had any issues with slippage on the heel strap and it sits perfectly against my heel. My only complaint is it would occasionally flip over when I'd ram the sandals on quickly, requiring a quick flip with my hands. Mentioned for review completeness only.
Switchback performance
I see the Switchback as a generalist sandal, built for all-day wear running errands and then ready to go hit a trail for a hike or neighborhood for a walk.
On my neighborhood walks (fast-paced, hilly with 140–150 feet of elevation change all over the course of a couple miles), the Lems performed like a champ. Going downhill, toe-post-style sandals can strain your foot laterally as it angles out from your body. Here, the Switchback stayed secure. All around, I suffered no hot spots at the toe post or ball of my foot, even after 5-mile treks.
The Switchback is a solid pick for urban adventures, from swim meets to grocery runs, and the padding in the soles is nice for standing around on concrete too.
Before (new and clean) and after (dirty and worn on the trail). These soles performed well across the varied surfaces I tested them on, from streets and concrete to sandy terrain.
On light trails — in my case, sandy clay, river rocks, roots, and wood detritus — the Switchback felt sure-footed. The rubber outsole gripped well, and I felt confident sprinting or dodging obstacles like roots and rocks.
That said, that 14-17 mm stack height combined with the toe-post design whereby your foot has more lateral play at the front did lead to a couple minor slips. On a couple occasions during one hike, I misstepped on angled terrain and my foot wanted to shift off the footbed at the front of the sandal (the toe post can only do so much to stop this kind of movement). I was fine. Still, always a good reminder of the open-toe vulnerability of sandals on the trail, especially to your toes and the outside front of your feet.
Getting the insoles wet, I found the footbed can get a little slippery though not enough to make me too worried.
I mentioned I ran in these very early on in my testing. I wore the Lems Switchback for two 4 mile runs on a treadmill. The sandals worked fine with no blisters and minimal abrasion and hotspot activity.
However, for running only, the footbed’s texture got too “sensational” for my feet about two miles in. For walks and trail hikes, the texture of the footbed is just fine, and if you feel like running for a short spell on the trail, they're great for that.
Switchback aesthetics
Andrew at Lems has a knack for balancing function and style, from classics like the Primal to the Mariner to the Nine2Five. The Switchback’s Cactus color way is distinctive (and I also really like the synthetic leather offerings, though I don't recall them being available when I ordered my pair). I like the accents on the sandals, whether it's the way the outsole has cutaways to the insole or the premium-quality of the metal hardware, which is a step up from the plastic typically found on outdoor sandals.
At swim meets and at the grocery store, I got “Where’d you get those?” comments. My kids just shrug and see them as typical for the sandals I wear.
The Cactus nylon straps have a sporty vibe, but I’m eyeing the leather Mojave for a classier look. Some users called it stylish, and I agree that it stands out without being flashy.
If you’re new to huaraches, the toe post aesthetic takes getting used to. For me, I think Andrew nailed a fresh take on the genre with the aesthetic design of the Switchback.
Barefoot feel and comfort
With a 14–17 mm stack height (17 mm heel, 14 mm forefoot), you get a 3.0 mm heel-to-toe "drop." Any time you have a drop in barefoot shoes or minimalist sandals, the eyebrows are going up.
The 3.0 mm drop will bug minimalist purists. I am confident Lems has gotten and will get an earful about the sandals not being zero-drop. For me, I can't say I much noticed it, and maybe that's not surprising. I recently measured my two-year-old, thoroughly worn LUNA Mono Winged sandals. Those LUNAs use Vibram Morflex rubber, and on measuring with calipers, I note they are 7 mm thick at the ball of my foot and 10 mm thick at the heel, a 3–4 mm drop that didn't exist when they were new (15mm based on my calipers). I haven't noticed that drop either.
Then there's the Switchback’s toe spring, another debate, because toe spring lifts the front of the sandal to avoid snagging on obstacles. Here, too, is a design choice that assuredly has some effect on biomechanics and gait kinematics. How much? Shrug. What I know is that toe spring helps reduce the likelihood the front of the sandal snags on the ground of low-clearance obstacles. (I snagged and dragged the front lip of a pair of Xero Shoes Z-Treks twice on a walk just this past Sunday — very annoying!). So I give Lems a pass on the toe spring too.
With such a stack height, the Lems Switchback will subdue a good bit of ground feel. Still, you’ll notice gravel, roots, and rocks on trails. I'd place the ground feel above Bedrock Sandals Cairn though less than LUNA Mono and certainly less than various ultra-minimalist Xero Shoes sandals. By way of a simple example of the ground feel, rolling a pea-sized, rough pebble on concrete, I can feel the roughness through the Switchback soles.
The benefit of the somewhat plush insole on the Lems is that the EVA makes the sandals ride a smoother as compared to Bedrocks, for example. The contours of the footbed, which likely include something akin to "arch support" (arch hugging?) make your foot feel more locked onto the sandals too.
On the other hand, if you don't wear them snug on your foot, you'll get a little bit of that flop sound of the soles dangling and then reconnecting with your foot on each step. With a snug adjustment on the strap, this goes away completely though.
Switchback durability and wear
After 60 miles, the Switchback looks solid. The outsole shows minimal scuffs, no tread loss, promising longevity. The insole creases where it bends but holds firm.
The nylon straps and neoprene lining are pristine, with no fraying to mention. The Switchback Slydr™ metal ring — where the strap tensions — seems sturdy enough (the hardware very sturdy). I do wonder how it will do over time with regular, hard pulling to adjust the strap through the "switchback." It is fine so far. (The extreme close-up of the switchback system above is also photo taken in the last day.)
Also, as for any smell? None to report, noting that I haven't suffered from smelly shoes in at least a couple decades now. I guess I paid my dues there.
For fun, I hosed off my sandals after my recent five-mile hike as they'd gotten pretty dirty. I then threw them in the dishwasher, top rack. Post-wash, they look pristine again, though I probably voided the warranty. Dishwash at your own risk.
Mine survived this experiment fine, but disclaimer: Dishwash your sandals at your own risk! Don't try this at home as Lems doesn't advertise dishwashability as a feature. (First photo is before. Second photo is after.)
Conclusion
The Lems Switchback sandal is the newest take on minimalist-minded sandals or modern huaraches. Lems approach blends a traditional toe-post, ankle-wrapped design with a new strapping system and Lems eye for aesthetics.
That single-strap "switchback" system adjusts easily, with little fuss to speak of, and this aspect of the sandals really is the one that stands out — fitting given the system is the sandals' namesake. The contoured insole is overall a good thing, even if it's like Ruffles (with all those ridges IYKYK).
From urban strolls to light trails, the Switchback inspires confidence and has held strong after 60 miles of documented testing (plus various other everyday adventures). If you're looking for a solid alternative style to the incumbents in the barefoot sandals market, take a good long look at the Switchback. You can get them for $120 from the Lems website (and if you want 10% through July get the coupon code at the end of this review).
Thanks to Andrew at Lems for a standout creation. I'm happy with my purchase, and expect to get a lot of use out of these sandals.
If you pick up a pair, let me know your thoughts.
Get a pair of Lems Switchback sandals for 10% off using coupon code BDAYSHOES10 through end of July. Find them here.
