Pair of Lem's Boots after heavy use

Disclaimer: Lems provided the footwear for this review. I was not paid to publish it, and the company had no input or influence over its content. As always, this review reflects my honest assessment based on firsthand testing and experience. This post contains affiliate links where I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

The best way to evaluate footwear is to use it in the environment it was designed for. These Lem’s Men’s Tactical Pro Mid Boots were wrung out at a recent weekend music festival.

By Leon Pantenburg

The annual Central Oregon Bluegrass campout is in August at a mountain lake camping area in the Deschutes National Forest. The event gathering is a whole lot of fun catching up with old friends and dozens of attendees. To take it all in requires a good deal of walking from your camp spot to the central area, visiting with folks at their camps, standing during the hours of jams, and moving around from place to place.

My reasoning for wearing the Lem’s Men’s Tactical Pro Mid-Boot all weekend was this. A 3-day weekend event on my feet might recreate the environment a police officer or first responder could regularly encounter when working a normal shift.

The Tactical Pro Mid Boot is Designed for Those on Their Feet for Hours at a Time.

According to Lem’s, this boot is designed for first responders and professionals, blending durability, comfort, and versatility. Crafted from full-grain leather, the upper is fully polishable.

Built on Lem’s widest last, the Tactical Pro Mid boot offers a natural foot shape and stable platform. The mid-cut design provides balanced ankle support and flexibility, ideal for those who might need quick movement.

The Vibram® Megagrip outsole delivers excellent traction on wet or dry surfaces. This is a real confidence builder. Also, the wide tread easily sloughs off the debris and didn’t pick up a lot of mud or sand that got dragged into the tent.

The leather uppers work well with breathable lining and tongue

Lem’s Tactical Boot Specs

Here is How the Lem’s Boots Worked Out for Me

Fit: I have several pairs of Lem’s footwear, and they all fit very well. I ordered my standard size 11-wide in the mid boot and the boots fit perfectly with one pair of Darn Tough or Hollow socks. The combination of the boots and either of the two excellent socks is great for anyone who will be on their feet a lot.

Water Resistant: I don’t like waterproof shoes – they are generally too hot, and your socks will stay soggy. When the waterproof liner wears out, you get the worst of both worlds – a boot that leaks, but is still too hot. These mid boots were comfortable during a rainstorm, and in the unusually hot weather the next day.

Zero-Drop: According to the Lem’s website: “Zero-drop refers to the angle between your heel and your toes. Traditional footwear elevates the heel an average of 14-24mm (0.5″-1.0″), which throws off the alignment of the spine and forces an unnatural heel strike.“ 

In a zero-drop shoe, your heel and toes are level, which mimics your natural barefoot position on a flat surface. Lem’s considers a zero-drop shoe to be anything under 3mm. For reference, two pennies stacked are approximately 3mm tall.

I had been enduring plantar fasciitis in my left foot for several weeks. To my surprise and delight, the symptoms lessened and almost disappeared after several weeks of wearing the mid boots. I’ve heard that it’s not uncommon for persistent injuries to disappear after switching to zero-drop shoes.

Outsole: Vibram® Megagrip: I have been wearing some sort of boot with Vibram soles for decades. The different patterns are designed for  a variety of environments and situations. The Megagrips work very well in an urban or flatland area. I’d prefer a more aggressive pattern for a mountain or hunting boot. The Vibram Megagrip pattern is excellent for everyday wear.

Leather Upper: Made from genuine full-grain leather, the upper can be polished to a deep shine. This is not a major consideration for me, but it is important for first responders and police officers who need a clean, professional look. Polished shoes fit in well with my standard everyday business/casual appearance. 

Wide Toe Box: Lem’s foot-shaped toe box is wonderful! It provides plenty of space and I love being able to wiggle my toes while wearing them. This aspect will endear the boots to long distance hikers with heavy packs.

photo of soles of Lem's boots
The Vibram sole pattern sloughed off the debris easily – although there’s always some sticky pitch when you’re in the pines

Then There’s This

The Lem’s Men’s Tactical Pro Mid Boot would work really well on well-established trails such as the Pacific Crest or the Appalachian. They would also excel on urban hikes or on concrete sidewalks. They won’t slip in the rain and sleet during inclement weather. Since they are water repellant, you don’t need to worry about getting your feet wet.

But the sole may be too flexible for serious off-trail, cross-country treks, where you might be stepping from boulder to boulder with a heavy pack. And they might not have enough ankle support for mountaineering.

Other than that, there’s not a thing I don’t like about these boots. They will be available in September in different colors