Survival is Brown

Stem Survival Origins

As previously stated, the only perceivable difference between the Primal Origins and the Survival Origins is the color. While the upper of the Primal Origins are slate grey colored, the Survival Origins’ upper is a nice dark brown. Though dark brown and slate grey are not the most common colors, I think they provide a good selection for wearers who either want a dark-colored or a light-colored shoe.

I will be the first to admit that I was not totally sold on the slate grey color of the Primal Origins when I first received it, namely because it would show dirt and other signs of use faster. However, after using the Primal Origins for the past 3 months, the color has grown on me and I quite like them now– except that I still shudder at the thought of how they’ll look after a hike on one of our muddy trails.

Compared to the contrast of the Primal Origins’ grey fabric and white stitching, the Survival Origins are very uniform in appearance. The stitching on the Survival Origins is the same brown color as the fabric so the it blends right in, which looks great. I really like the dark brown color of the Survival Origins because they will be at home on or off the trail.

Stiching same color as fabric

Build Quality

Stem noted that a manufacturing issue was responsible for the threads coming loose and that the issue had since been resolved. I will note that the seam where the threads came loose on my original pair of shoes does appear to be tighter on the Survival Origins. Aside from that, the shoe looks nearly identical to the Primal Origins. It appears to be well put together and I do hope that no other manufacturing issues will rear their head for the Survival Origins.

Comfort

Though both the Primal Origins and the Survival Origins are the same size, the newer Survival Origins feel noticeably more confined. Over the past 3 months, the Primal Origins have been able to stretch out into what is a very comfortable pair of shoes, and I expect the Survival Origins to become more comfortable as they are broken in as well. Aside from that, the Survival Origins benefit from the same light and flexible outsole as the Primal Origins, not to mention an insole that feels great on bare feet.

That being said, even though they are not yet broken in, the Survival Origins are pretty comfy right out of the box.

A great start for a new shoe company

Stem has really done a lot of things right with their first offering. First and foremost, they are very comfortable (for both walking and running) thanks in large part to Stem’s thin and flexible sole. Secondly, they look like normal shoes. I won’t name names, but the fact that Stem’s shoes don’t look like gorilla feet and are not neon colored is a big departure from the offerings from other minimalist shoe makers. Now, with first-hand experience of their great customer service, I am confident that Stem is off to a great start as a new shoe company.

Stem's flexible outsole

Stem’s shoes have become my go-to footwear whenever I head out of the house. Some may say that Stem has made the perfect minimalist casual shoe, but I would have to disagree. I would contend that the Stem Survival Origins are the perfect casual shoe, period and would be a great option for cubicle dwellers, weekend walkers, and barefoot advocates alike.

Stem Survival Origins: First Impressions was originally published on Archetyped on January 9, 2012 04:00pm

The Good

Right from the start, the Primal Origins are great for skating because the outsole, while minimal, protect your feet from the ground rushing by as well as from the rough grip tape on the board.  Also, the shoes are light and don’t feel the slightest bit clunky like some skating shoes can be.

In addition, the thin and flexible nature of the Primal Origins adds something that makes skating with them an entirely new experience– ground feel.  The contours of the deck are clearly felt and you can even feel the texture of the asphalt during the brief moments when pushing off the ground.  Even cooler is that you can curl your toes over the edge of the board for better grip when carving left or right.

It’s the best of both worlds; the connectedness of skating barefoot on an old fishtail board and the protection necessary for doing tricks on a modern board.

Why not the best?

There’s no question that the Primal Origins feel great while skating, but the problem is that if you do any amount of tricks, they will not look good for very long at all.

I made a small hole in my shoe after a couple of ollies:

Hole from ollies

To be fair, all shoes suffer from this problem to some extent.  Though some skate shoes may reinforce the high-abrasion areas with additional padding or stronger material, pretty much all shoes will require a dose of Shoe Goo sooner or later due to the inherent roughness of the grip tape on the deck.

What would be great though is if Stem created a shoe specifically for skating with reinforced material in specific areas of the vamp/upper to stave off the need for Shoe Goo for as long as possible.  The larger stitching style used on the Primal Origins may also need to be modified as the grip tape would likely make short work of the exposed thread.

Large stiching may need to go

I love what Stem Footwear has done with their take on casual shoes, so I’m very interested to see what they could do for a skate shoe.

How about you? Would you be interested in a Stem shoe made specifically for skateboarding?

Stem Primal Origins: Best Skateboard Shoe Ever! (almost) was originally published on Archetyped on January 5, 2012 08:00am

The shoes are slowly unraveling and I’m afraid I’ll be left with nothing but strips of fabric before too long.

I’ll save the explanation by using a few pictures of the problem.

Left Shoe

Right Shoe

The threads are coming undone at the front of the shoe and appears to be centered at the seam on the forefoot that I previously pointed out as being rather conspicuous.

The left shoe started unraveling first and I initially thought it was just an isolated issue.  Soon after though, the right shoe started unraveling as well.  The fact that the threads started coming undone at precisely the same place on both shoes indicates that this issue may have something to do with the construction of the shoe.  However, as I mentioned in that post, I know nothing about shoe making, so the aforementioned seam may be have nothing at all to do with the threads unraveling.

I’ve reached out to Stem for some assistance regarding this issue and will report back when I hear from them.

Stem Primal Origins: Unraveling was originally published on Archetyped on January 4, 2012 02:27pm

Details

• Distance: 4.85mi
• Time: 50:51
• Average Speed: 5.73mi/hr
• Socks: No

It was a beautiful, bright night.  The nearly-full moon illuminated the streets in a cool glow as I ran as far west as the local streets would allow.

It was a great run.  Some brief observations

Awesome, Compadre! (The Good)

• Comfort– the Primal Origins were quite comfortable on my feet
• Lightweight– I felt light on my feet as I ran
• Stability/Traction– I trusted the traction of the Primal Origin’s soles as I ran on and over the obstacles in my path
• Ground feel– I’m getting more used to the ground feel of the Primal Origins and it is quite adequate (with the exception noted below)
• Permeability– I never could tell if it was because the Vibram KSO soles were so thin or for some other reason, but moisture seemed to seep in from below if I so much as stepped on wet ground.  Though only a minor inconvenience (and even occasionally refreshing), the Primal Origins did not let any moisture in through the soles as I ran through some puddles and wet grass this evening.

Bummer, Dude! (The Bad)

• Chafing– I experienced some minor– though consistent– running on the outside of both of my big toes against the Primal Origins’ toe box.  I don’t think I’ll develop any blisters from this chaffing, but they do feel a bit rug burned as I write this.
• Ground feel– I was reminded how great running through grass feels in the Vibram KSOs (closest thing to being barefoot) during my recent run, so the difference in ground feel between the KSOs and the Primal Origins was especially evident while running in the grass tonight.

All in all, a very enjoyable run and the Stem Primal Origins contributed quite a bit to that enjoyment.

Stem Primal Origins: Run for the border was originally published on Archetyped on November 8, 2011 08:18pm

Details

• Distance: 5.6mi
• Time: 4:34:25
• Average Speed: 1.22mi/hr
• Socks: No

Photowalk

Speed is not a concern when going on a photowalk, but comfort definitely is since you’re both moving and standing still quite a bit.

After over 4.5 hours of walking and shooting, I can confirm that my feet were indeed tired.  However, I still felt very light on my feet and the shoes remained comfortable.  Despite not having any socks to minimize friction between the shoe and my feet, I felt no hotspots and developed no blisters while walking with the Stem Primal Origins.

In all, the Stem Primal Origins are great walking shoes.

New Balance MT20 (Minimus Trail)

New Balance was one of the first mainstream shoe companies to offer a minimalist shoe for the masses.  The MT20 is New Balance’s trail running model.  My last normal shoe was a New Balance M871, so I’ve been keeping an eye on NB’s progression in the minimalist arena.  I was initially pleased to see that they went with a Vibram sole, but the raised heel of most (if not all) of their minimalist models has kept me away (my knee pain from an old injury finally went away once I started running barefoot, so I’m not going back to a raised heel shoe).

The Comparison

During my walk, I stopped in Sports Authority and tried on a pair of New Balance MT20′s.  I figured this was the perfect opportunity to compare a shoe from one of the “big boys” to the Stem Primal Origins.

Here is a rundown of my observations:

• NB MT20 toe box is much narrower than the Stem Primal Origins.  I had to go 2 sizes up in the MT20′s and my toes were still overlapping.  Not comfortable.
• NB MT20 sole is quite thin and flexible, but the Stem Primal Origins sole is positively floppy by comparison.  I was surprised at the difference in stiffness of the soles of two minimalist shoes
• Ground feel between the two shoes is like night and day!  The NB MT20 is not nearly as sensitive as the Stem Primal Origins.
• Styling of the NB MT20 is more to my liking than the Stem Primal Origins.
• Fit and finish of the NB MT20 is more refined than the Stem Primal Origins.  There are no highly visible seams on the MT20.

Conclusion

The wider toe box and more flexible sole makes the Stem Primal Origins the more comfortable shoes.  However, I do dig the styling  and refinement of the New Balance MT20 and am curious whether my initial misgivings would remain after a run on the trails with a pair.

Stem Primal Origins vs New Balance Minimus Trail (MT20) was originally published on Archetyped on October 27, 2011 05:00pm

Details

• Distance: 2.75mi
• Time: 26:55
• Average Speed: 6.15mi/hr
• Socks: No

Observations

Starting Out

Initially, I had the pretty much the same opinions about the Primal Origins as I did on my first day with them:

• Ground feel is not as “transparent” as the Vibram KSOs
• My toes feel confined when in a standard shoe form-factor (as they always have)
• I’m not totally in love with the level of flexibility the Primal Origins offer

On the 2nd Mile

After a bit of warm up though, the Stem Primal Origins came into their own.  I noticed how incredibly light they felt.  Traction over wet ground was good (whereas the Vibram KSOs turn into a personal slip and slide at the slightest hint of water on the ground) and I’m looking forward to trying them out on more demanding terrain.

Toe confinement was not an issue after I warmed up a bit.  As with most things, it was no longer a problem once I stopped paying attention to it.  Even when I did take a moment to observe my comfort, I found that while running, toe confinement was a non-issue because I am constantly adjusting the splay of my toes as I run.

Ground feel is not as good as the Vibram KSOs, but to be clear, it’s still quite good.  The most important thing while running is that I can feel the ground enough to make moment-by-moment adjustments to my weight distribution and gait based on the feedback from my feet.  The Stem Primal Origins provided good feedback on this short run.  I’m looking forward to trying them on a longer run.

Here’s the thing

Stem is marketing the Primal Origins as casual shoes as opposed to running shoes.  In that respect, they are quite nice.  Even still, I think they are a good shoe for running and though I may prefer the Vibram KSOs for regular running, I would not hesitate to grab the Primal Origins for a run.

Breakdown (Short Run)

• No hot spots
• No shifting/chaffing
• Very lightweight
• Good flexibility
• Good ground feedback

Stem Primal Origins: First Run was originally published on Archetyped on October 24, 2011 07:42pm

This evening after washing off the dried paint and grime, we went out for a bit.  Upon putting on the Stem Primal Origins, I immediately noticed a difference compared the normal shoes I had worn all day.

It was like night and day!

Instead of being confined in a structured shape, I was enveloped in light and airy fabric.

After a full day of clomping around in normal shoes, putting on the Primal Origins were incredibly comfortable.  I felt even more relaxed after putting them on!

I initially compared the Stem Primal Origins to my only other pair of shoes, the Vibram KSO.  While the Primal Origins may be less flexible and have less ground feel than the KSO, the Stem Primal Origins are far and away better than normal shoes.

If you’re coming from normal shoes, the Primal Origins would be a great transition to more minimal footwear.

Stem Primal Origins: A Respite from Normal Shoes was originally published on Archetyped on October 22, 2011 09:00pm

I won a pair Primal Origins in a giveaway by the Barefoot Runners Society.  Big thanks to both BRS and Stem Footwear for providing the shoes.  Though I received the shoes for free, I am evaluating them based on their normal $90 price tag.

I’m also evaluating Stem’s Primal Origins based on my experience with the Vibram KSO, which I’ve used as my primary shoe for running, hiking, walking, etc. over several hundred miles since 2009.  I love the ground feel and lightness of the KSO, but its styling and comfort are not appropriate for all occasions.

Expectations

There’s been a fair bit of buzz about these shoes in the months prior their official release.  I was intrigued because the reports were incredibly positive for the first shoe from a new company, and it sounded like someone was finally creating a casual shoe that had everything I wanted (and nothing I didn’t).  Opinions of comfort were rather hyperbolic, as early reports would have you believe that wearing a pair Stem Primal Origins was akin to having your feet swaddled in puffy white clouds.

Expectations are high as I take these shoes out of the box.

Look & Feel

My first reaction upon removing the shoes from the box was one of surprise; I had requested the Survival Origins (brown color), but as you can see from the title, I received the Primal Origins (slate/blue color).  That was definitely unexpected!

Thankfully, the Primal Origins are not as blue as they appear on the website, and the color in reality is rather nice in its own way.  In any case, I was too curious about these shoes to send them back and wait for Stem to send me the right color, so I guess I’m sticking with grey.

Styling

In stark contrast to the Vibram KSOs I’ve been running in for the past 2.5 years, the Primal Origins look like normal shoes.  It’s nice to wear a shoe that looks like a shoe on some occasions.

I like the look of the Primal Origins.  They have a simple styling with relatively clean lines.  There’s nothing “technical”, “tactical”, or “flashy” about these shoes.  Instead they evoke feelings such as “casual” and “relaxed”, which is exactly what I wanted.

Casual Minimal Shoe

However, I could personally do without the “branches” screen printing on the rear of shoe.  That feature alone causes the Primal Origins to be appropriate for less situations than it otherwise would be.

Flexible Outsole

The outsole is quite flexible, but not as flexible as I expected.  More specifically, the entire outsole flexes upwards quite well with very little resistance, but the forefoot and heel sections of the outsole are rather stiff (likely due to the tread) and do not flex downwards that much.  Only the arch section is fully flexible in both directions.

It looks like curling my forefoot around a rock for added stability when on uneven terrain is out of the question with the Primal Origins.

Stem Primal Origins Outsole

Flexible Outsole

Permanent Insole

Unlike most shoes, the insole in Stem’s Primal Origins is not removable.  This is a good thing because that’s one less thing that can shift around and affect comfort as the shoes are meant to be worn without socks if desired.  I’ve been wearing them without socks since I received them and there is no discomfort with my bare feet being in direct contact with the insole.

Insole for bare feet

Build Quality

Some thoughts on the build quality of Stem’s Primal Origins:

Handmade

Handcrafted in China

I don’t know if the wide stitching pattern used throughout the shoe is decorative or functional, but it does help to evoke a “handmade” feel.  Personally, I like the look.  Time will tell whether being handmade is a positive or a negative thing.

By the way, anyone know what “vagan materials” are?  In any case, you can rest assured that the Primal Origins are made 100% out of them

Seam on forefoot

I realize that the material of the shoe needs to meet at some point, but doing so at the forefoot creates a fairly conspicuous seam right at the front of the shoe.  I know nothing about shoe-making, so it may very well have been the best place to make ends meet.  I’ve never noticed such a seam on other shoes though.

Seam at front of shoe

Quality Control

Both shoes have strange blotches in the forefoot mesh area of the shoe upper.  The marks are not huge, but are darker than the surrounding material, and were immediately noticeable upon taking the shoes out of the box.

I may be nitpicking, but for $90 (plus shipping), I would expect a shoe without noticeable blotches right out of the box.

Blotches

The left shoe also has some strange waviness in the forefoot area that may be due to uneven tension of some of the stitching.

Waviness

Performance

Comfort

The Primal Origins are comfortable.  Not walking-on-clouds comfortable, but comfortable nonetheless.

As I mentioned, I generally don’t like wearing shoes.  This is namely because my toes feel squashed together.  The wider toebox of the Primal Origins does not squash my toes at all, and they feel quite at ease in these shoes.  I do feel a bit confined when I spread my toes out as I am wont to do, but it’s tolerable.  Thankfully, despite the wider toebox, the Primal Origins do not look like clown shoes.  Somehow Stem has managed to provide a spacious toebox while also nicely tapering the shoe at the front so that it looks like a normal shoe.

Ground feel

One of the main benefits of a minimal shoe with a thin outsole is that you can feel the ground.  Once you experience the tactile nature of a shoe with good ground feel, there’s no going back.  The ground feel of the Stem Primal Origins is pretty good, though somewhat less transparent than the Vibram KSOs (which many regard as having ideal ground feel).  You can definitely feel the contours of the ground, but I don’t get that “barely there” feeling when I wear these shoes as I do with the KSOs.

I’ll report back on ground feel when I’ve walked on more surfaces with these shoes.

Running

I went for an impromptu run around the block with the Primal Origins this afternoon.  I meant to go for a walk, but things were passing by too slowly and I broke into a relaxed jog after a few strides.

The fit was good and the shoes didn’t shift as I ran.  This is good.  I also like that the laces can be tightened or loosened to adjust the fit (compared to the Vibram KSO’s single velcro strap).

That’s about all I have to say in regards to running in the Primal Origins so far, as it was just a short run (10 min).  I think I’ll have to run at least 5 miles to know whether I’ll enjoy running in them or not.

Conclusion

I have no conclusions as these are just my first impressions.  However, I find them to be fairly comfortable and I like the styling.  Time will tell whether they are worth $90.

Stem Primal Origins: First Impressions was originally published on Archetyped on October 11, 2011 10:00pm