Lems Kourt Grip

WILL NOT BE STOCKED FOR FALL/WINTER 2024

Please email for availability if interested in a sold out size.

 

Meet the latest evolution of comfort and style in a lace-up shoe: the Kourt Grip.

This shoe takes you anywhere and everywhere with confidence, thanks to its new grippy, anti-slip outsole.

Crafted from full-grain leather, this shoe combines sophistication with rugged durability.

 

Features

• Full-grain leather uppers with breathable and durable polyester lining

• Full rubber grip outsole: slip-resistant and non-marking

• Contains leather, therefor not vegan

• Uppers design features perforated areas for breathable comfort

• Made on Lems’s signature Wide Natural-Shape™ last

• Outsole design features zig-zag grooves and grippy textures suitable for service industry and urban day to day life.

• Zero drop if worn without the optional insole

• With the addition of the slip-resistant layer to the outsole, these have a stack height of 13mm + 4mm insole

• Comfy for long days on your feet and transitioning to minimal shoes

• Lightweight: Lems air-injected outsoles are deceptively light to wear

While this shoe itself is zero drop, as of June 2024 the optional insoles have a small drop (1.5mm for the Minimal Cork insole or 3.5mm for Adventure Poly insole). You can see their breakdown of which models have which insoles here.

• Lems suggests that the insoles compress over time, so you may not notice a drop after the shoes are broken in.
• If you prefer not to use an insole that has a drop, you can wear these without any insoles, or try a zero drop insole such as our Alpaca Insoles.

Sizing

Lems recommends your usual size for the Kourt Grip, and they fit exactly the same as the regular (non-grip) Kourt.

The Kourt Grip is a Lems unisex model, so the men's 9 is the same pair of shoes as the women's 10.5. They use the American sizing system.

 

Fit Notes:

• Lems have a triangular footprint shape, wide at the forefoot and tapering to be nice and secure towards the heel.

• The forefoot width is fairly evenly distributed on the inside and outside edge of the foot.

• The forefoot shape suits all but the widest of toe shapes, and you can always accommodate those by going half a size up.

• The Kourt should suit a wide variety of feet, with their adjustable volume via the laces, and soft leather that molds to your feet.

• Their leather uppers will soften and stretch within the first few wears, it’s a very easy break-in.

• Both Lems and Cool East Market recommend about 0.5-1cm of room in front of your toes for an ideal fit that allows for full range of motion.

Ground Feel

The Kourt Grip is totally suitable for your transition to minimal shoes!

Due to the thicker stack height and the bouncy lightweight outsole material, these will be very forgiving on hard surfaces like concrete. This makes for all-day comfort.

We always recommend starting with a shoe that is forgiving so that you can get used to zero drop, a wide toe box, and the amount of movement that's possible in minimal shoes.

Customers who are looking for the maximum amount of connection and feedback from the ground may want to pass on these and we're happy to suggest alternatives.

That said, sometimes when you know you'll be spending a long day on concrete, asphalt, and other hard surfaces it can be nice to have a comfier pair of shoes that’s still minimal.

 

Care

Lems recommends NikWax and OtterWax brands of leather care for their shoes, but you can use your favourite products if they’re good on black leather.

You can use a damp cloth to wipe the Kourt Grip clean day to day, and treat them with a leather conditioner if the leather starts to look sad. This will preserve the material so it lasts longer and looks beautiful all the while.

Avoid storing leather in direct sun or next to heat sources, and allow them to dry completely if they get wet.

Best Uses

We think we’ve finally found the perfect minimal shoe for the service industry! Due to the all-black design, comfy wear experience, and slip-resistant sole, these will look amazing and perform all day.

For others, the Kourt Grip is slick and smart for date night, business casual, and a general go-to for stylish all-day comfort.