Having tested ten of the best hiking sandals, I'm surprised by the sandal I've worn more than any other in 2026—the Lems Switchback Sandal. After six months of testing, the Switchback has emerged as my everyday Summer sandal. But I've also pulled off several test hikes in spite of wildfires, drought, and triple digit temperatures in New Mexico. My Lems Switbach Sandal review shares what I've learned about this sandal's support, weight, fit, comfort, traction, and overall value.
Testing the Lems Switchback sandal in New Mexico's Jemez Mountains
This post does NOT include affiliate links, so I won't make any money from this post, whatsoever. I'm simply sharing this independent review because I like the Bedrock brand and found the Cairn Evo C PRO Sandal worth promoting—even though writing this review doesn't benefit me.
Lems Switchback Review
My review of the Lems Switchback Sandal is based on six months of casual wear and 5 test hikes in the Sandia and Jemez Mountains of New Mexico. By design, I hiked a range of trails, including some multi-use trails, moderate trails with switchbacks, canyon hikes with slickrock boulders, and an alpine trail with easy water crossings. I also packed the Switchback sandal on my Peruvian vacation to the Sacred Valley below Machu Picchu.
As always, Hiking Feet's reviews are 100% independent and based on my first-hand experience. Why trust my take on the Switchback sandal? I'm the former footwear manager at Appalachian Outdoors and test hiking footwear more than 1,000 miles every year.
Testing the Lems Switchback Sandal at Piedra Lisa Trail
Support & Protection
The Lems Switchback is light on support. It's more of a minimalist sandal for casual hikes and everyday wear. You'll find a few thinner sandals out there, but the Switchback has the thinnest soles (17/14mm) that I've tested.
I prefer this sandal for more casual wear but pulled off a few 5-6 mile hikes in my test pair. My feet and (especially) calves felt fatigued after the three steeper test hikes (Piedra Lisa, Pino, and La Luz trails). That said, most hikers who choose sandals aren't looking for support.
The Switchback is the second lightest sandal I've tested
Weight
Most men and women who hike in sandals prioritize weight savings (and tan lines). The Lems Switchback is the second-lighted sandal I've tested at 19 ounces per pair. That's several ounces lighter than most trail running shoes I recommend for hiking. If you're looking for a lightweight sandal for hiking, the Lems Switchback sandal should be on your radar.
The Lems Switchback fits wide
Fit
The Lems Switchback Sandal fits true to size with a wider base than many hiking sandals. Lems only offers it in full sizes, so size up if you're a half-size.
This sandal has a single buckle to adjust your fit. It's not as sophisticated of a fit as Bedrock sandals but locked my feet in well enough for hiking.
I found the Lems Switchback most comfortable on groomed trails
Comfort
If you prefer more of a minimalist sandal, you'll probably find the Lems Switchback comfortable. It's light on the feet with a wide fit that accommodates wider feet (like mine). Even though I tend towards more supportive footwear, I've found this sandal comfortable.
For everyday wear, I've actually worn the Lems Switchback more than the other 8-9 sandals in my gear closet. Its fit just gels with my feet. For hiking, my feet feel better in more supportive hiking sandals. I also found this sandal comfortable for travel. When I traveled to Peru this summer, I chose the Switchback over the other adventure sandals in my gear closet.
The Switchback's tread tested better on rock
Traction
The Switchback sandal has more trail-to-town tread than hardcore hiking traction. The wide shallow lugs stick to streets and sidewalks well—which also lends itself well to rocky trails. I hiked slip-free on some granite slabs and mixed, rocky terrain. On sandy and gravelly switchbacks, my uphill traction wasn't bad, but I had to slow down on the downhills due to some slight slipping. If you don't hike gnarly terrain, you probably won't get into too much trouble with this sandal's average traction.
Value
With a MSRP of $125, the Lems Switchback is priced like the other sandals I recommend for hikers.
Click on the buttons below to see current prices and color options:
Men's Lems Switchback Sandal
Check current price, styles, and colors:
Women's Lems Switchback Sandal
Check current price, styles, and colors:
Pros & Cons of the Lems Switchback Sandal
After six months of first-hand experience wearing the Lems Switchback, here's my take on its pros and cons:
Should you buy the Lems Switchback Sandal?
I'm not Lems' target demographic, but I've enjoyed wearing the Switchback sandal. I prefer more supportive sandals for my hiking style, but I've worn the Lems Switchback frequently as an everyday sandal and travel sandal. If you're a serious hiker, you may want a sandal with more aggressive traction or better wet rock traction—and maybe some more support, too. Then again, most people who hike in sandals have more of a "less is more" vibe. I recommend the Lems Switchback for less hardcore uses, such as easier hikes on groomed trails, travel, and everyday, casual wear.
If this post sold you on the Switchback, please consider buying it through the links in this post. That doesn't cost you anything but sends a few pesos my way, which keeps Hiking Feet going.
Cheers!
Men's Lems Switchback Sandal
Check current price, styles, and colors:
Women's Lems Switchback Sandal
Check current price, styles, and colors:
