Lems ZenSpeed+ Review | A Natural Feel With a Firm, Grounded Ride

The Lems ZenSpeed+ is the first dedicated running shoe from a brand well-known for its barefoot and minimalist style footwear.

Lems has presented us with a medium stack, low drop shoe aimed at creating a natural fit for our active feet.

I was eager to see how Lems’ more natural approach would translate into my usual running routine, so I laced them up and took them out for some test miles!

Lems is a Colorado-based company that started back in 2011, best known for their barefoot-style shoes, hiking shoes, and boots. The idea behind the brand is pretty simple: shoes should be shaped around your feet, not the other way around.

They focus on shoes with wider toe boxes, flexibility, and natural movement. The ZenSpeed+ surprised me with how stable, comfortable, and secure it felt underfoot.

It’s definitely not your traditional, mainstream running shoe. Overall, I enjoyed its firmer feel and comfortable fit.

This shoe is great for runners who enjoy a firmer, more natural-feeling shoe with a stable ride and a little more structure than a traditional minimalist shoe. It could also be a good option for runners who are just starting to transition to a wider toe box and lower drop shoes.

Lems ZenSpeed+ Overview

The ZenSpeed+ has a pretty different feel from most daily trainers I’ve tested. It’s noticeably firm underfoot, but that firmness gives it a really stable, grounded ride.

Rather than feeling like I’m sinking into layers of cushioning, I felt much more connected to the road. In fact, it’s one of the things I ended up liking most about this shoe.

I was able to feel connected to the surfaces I was running on in a way that would be impossible to do while wearing highly cushioned or high-stack trainers. 

The 5 mm drop was barely noticeable, and the roomy toe box gave my toes plenty of space to spread out.

Together, those features gave the shoe a really natural feel. I never felt like my foot was being pushed into a particular position or that there was a lot of extra shoe between me and the ground.

If you’re curious about trying a lower drop shoe or something with a more foot-shaped fit, I think the ZenSpeed+ could be an interesting place to start.

This isn’t a shoe I’d choose when I’m looking for a soft, energetic ride or a little extra help picking up the pace.

There’s not much bounce or forward propulsion, and heel strikers who want plenty of cushioning underfoot may find it a little too firm.

I also started noticing some foot fatigue on runs longer than about six miles, so even though I took them up to 12 miles, I’d personally keep them in my rotation for shorter runs. (I’ll be reaching for more cushioned shoes when it comes to my marathon training long runs.)

I also appreciate that the ZenSpeed+ isn’t limited to running. It has a stable platform that works well for walking and gym sessions too.

I liked the classic black and white colorway of the ZenSpeed+ I tested, which had a fun, slightly retro and bold look. I also appreciated that the Lems logo on the side of the shoe was reflective.

They don’t look overly technical or like a typical running shoe.

They have a more laid-back style that works just as well for everyday wear.

Lems ZenSpeed+ Fit

Length: True to size
Width: Moderate
Toe Box: Roomy
Arch: Neutral
Volume: Moderate

Before I dive into more detail about the overall fit of the ZenSpeed+, I have to give a special shout-out to the superb heel lockdown!

I instantly fell in love with the curve and structure of the heel counter. It might be the best of any running shoe I’ve worn. There was no need to use a runner’s loop for extra heel security, and the back of the shoe didn’t shift at all during any of my runs. 

Ironically, Lems provided a wonderfully long set of laces with the ZenSpeed+, which would have come in handy if I had needed to use a runner’s loop.

I’ve found that most shoe brands do NOT provide laces long enough to accommodate both a runner’s loop and a double knot. (It’s one of my biggest pet peeves with new shoes!)

But the ZenSpeed+ had plenty of lace length to spare. I still found myself using a double knot to make sure the laces stayed securely tied.

The laces were thick, slightly padded, and didn’t have much stretch.

There’s a good amount of padding around the heel collar without making it feel bulky. And the tongue is nicely padded and gusseted, so it stays put while running. 

The ZenSpeed+ has an excellent combination of a roomy toe box and a secure overall fit. (I loved the toe box!) There’s plenty of space up front for toes to spread out naturally, but the midfoot lockdown is excellent.

The way the upper mesh hugged my midfoot was perfect. Couldn’t ask for a better fit there.

I honestly didn’t give the fit of the arch much thought while running, which is usually a good sign for me. There’s no pronounced arch support or noticeable pressure underfoot, so it just felt comfortable and natural.

I’m a neutral runner who has a slightly higher-than-average arch. These shoes felt great for me underfoot and fit well.

Lems offers the ZenSpeed+ in two widths: medium and wide. I tested the wide version, which felt really great on my average-width foot.

According to Lems, the wide is the more familiar fit for those who already wear the brand, while the medium is a little slimmer and better suited to runners with narrower or lower volume feet.

Both have the same foot-shaped toe box, although the sole is supposedly just a tiny bit narrower on the medium.

If you’re already a Lems fan and like their usual roomy fit, I’d stick with the wide. I haven’t tried the medium myself, but I like that they offer the option.

Lems ZenSpeed+ Feel

I was able to test out the ZenSpeed+ over several weeks of short, mid-distance, and longer runs. I stayed mainly on roads and paved trails, but was able to throw in the occasional gravel or dirt pathway. 

The ZenSpeed+ has a noticeably firm ride, much firmer than most shoes I’ve run in.

When I first tried them on, I wondered if they’d be too firm, but I ended up enjoying them. That firmness gives the shoe a stable, connected-to-the-ground feeling.

I wouldn’t call this shoe bouncy, energetic, or speedy. However, I did love how grounded I felt while running in them. I felt in control and secure. I felt like I could respond well to the surface below me.

At 31 mm, the ZenSpeed+ has more stack than what some people may associate with Lems, but it’s still relatively low compared to many daily trainers.

Interestingly, I never felt high off the ground at all; I truly felt like I was directly connected to the road.

The 5 mm drop felt natural, and I barely noticed the drop at all while running. I also felt the low drop strongly encouraged a midfoot landing rather than a heel strike.

The ZENCELL midsole uses a mainly EVA-based foam blend with 10% PEBA. Despite the moderate heel stack, the firmness makes the shoe feel much closer to the ground than the numbers suggest.

I would, however, appreciate a little more softness for longer runs. Personally, I’ll probably keep this shoe in my rotation for runs at around the 10K distance or below.

I didn’t notice any forward propulsion from the slight rocker at the front of the shoe. If you prefer a more natural transition rather than an exaggerated rocker, this might work well for you. 

The cork-topped insole was something new for me. It’s definitely different from the usual foam insoles you find in running shoes.

The texture has a little more grip to it, so it feels slightly less smooth against your foot. It wasn’t uncomfortable or distracting at all, and I didn’t find it made a huge difference while running.

I really like the full coverage on the outsole. There’s very little exposed midsole, and the 3.5 mm of rubber provided excellent grip, even when running on wet surfaces. 

The mesh upper is pretty typical of a daily trainer, with plenty of ventilation.

What was not typical, however, was the reinforced toe bumper along the front of the shoe. The ZenSpeed+ is a road running shoe, but the extra protection around the front of the shoe reminded me a bit of my trail running shoes.

Maybe not always needed on a road run, but appreciated all the same. Who knows when I’ll randomly kick a rock or stub my toe on a sidewalk crack, right?

If you love lots of energy return, a high drop, soft cushioning, or a really plush long run shoe, the Lems ZenSpeed+ probably won’t be your favorite.

But if you prefer a stable, comfortable, low drop, natural feel to your running shoes, the ZenSpeed+ just might be the right pick for you!

Lems ZenSpeed+ and ZenSpeed Lite Comparison

In addition to the ZenSpeed+, I was given the opportunity to try out the ZenSpeed Lite.

The ZenSpeed+ and ZenSpeed Lite are surprisingly similar shoes. In fact, if you put them side by side, you might expect a bigger difference in how they feel underfoot than I actually noticed. 

Both have that roomy, foot-shaped fit, a stable platform, and a firm, grounded feel. The biggest differences come down to stack height, drop, and how much cushioning you want.

The ZenSpeed+ has a 31 mm heel and 26 mm forefoot stack with a 5 mm drop, while the Lite drops down to 24 mm / 22 mm with a 2 mm drop.

The ZenSpeed Lite is also a little lighter, weighing 8.8 ounces (Men’s) compared to 9.4 ounces for the ZenSpeed+ (Men’s).

Both use the same ZENCELL foam, cork insole, and full rubber outsole, so they share quite a bit of the same construction. 

The Lite is really the more minimal version, designed for runners who want less underfoot cushioning and a closer connection to the ground.

I think runners coming from a barefoot or minimalist shoe background may be more drawn to the Lite.

The lower stack and 2 mm drop offer a more minimal experience, while the ZenSpeed+ gives you a little more cushioning and a slightly higher drop.

If you’re newer to low-drop or natural-shaped running shoes, the ZenSpeed+ might be the easier place to start.

Both models are available in medium and wide widths, and both are vegan.

As for looks, I wasn’t nearly as sold on the all-white version of the ZenSpeed Lite. I have nothing against all-white shoes, but the ventilation pattern and mesh on the upper reminded me a little too much of quilted toilet paper. And once I saw it, I just couldn’t unsee it!

Overall, I think I will find myself reaching for the ZenSpeed+ more often than the ZenSpeed Lite. However, they were both solid, stable, comfortable shoes.