This review is for the Summer model from Be Lenka (affiliate link) but touches on the newer Grace and Promenade as well. This shoe is the precursor to the current Grace model and comes in 4 colors: tan, black, turquoise, and red.
Technical specifications:
- Leather upper and footbed
- Adjustable front and ankle straps
- 4 mm rubber outsole
Pros:
- Highly flexible. Your foot is completely unrestricted to move as needed with the 4 mm natural rubber outsole.
- Highly adjustable. Each front strap is two separate pieces held together by velcro, allowing you to determine your best fit.
- Wide! Be Lenka makes some of the widest shoes on the market. And while the new models are not always as spacious in overall volume (Promenade, Eazy, and Icon), they always have a very wide toe box and shape.
- Looks elegant with dresses, but still wearable with jeans and other casual looks.
Cons:
- For some, these may be too thin. Depending on your gait, you may find shoes this thin uncomfortable for long walks on pavement.
- The straps are on the thinner side, so these are not rough-riding shoes. Uneven terrain can make them feel insecure.
- The unique shape of the sole does not match many people’s feet. It gives the shoes a nice look, but could be troublesome if you are prone to tripping. I have extra space in front of my first 3 toes and my 4th toe is at or near the edge of every Be Lenka shoe I own (and there are, like, sooo many in my stash). It’s important to adjust the straps properly for a secure fit.
My personal thoughts:
I have this sandal in 2 colors and had a 3rd but sold it just for space and stash balance. I think that Be Lenka Summer is better than the newer models because, even with the unique sole shape, the measurements are more true to size. The double strap can look less neat than the single, elegant strap of the new model Grace, but the adjustability allows me to still get the exact fit I want. I am at the upper end of the ankle strapping length, but it fits and feels secure.
Always check sizing charts carefully on the site if you look at this shoe or any of their models. All the original shoes follow one chart, while new sandals and new closed-toed shoes have their own measurements.
For a further look at this shoe, check out my IGTV video and drop a comment or question below!
Additional sandals options from Be Lenka that I have tried are Grace and Promenade, which appear in IGTV videos here and here, as well on the Obsessed with Barefoot Shoes YouTube channel. I was not able to keep either because their sizing changed and I came out in between sizes. I attempted to size down for Grace and found the ankle strap tight and the sole too short at the 4th toe. My normal size would have left me with too much space in front of my first 3 toes, however, so that was not an option either. Promenade I never got to try because it is not wearable by anyone with high volume feet, sadly. I loved the look of both sandals and if you have more optimal feet for them (lower volume and a matching shape help a lot) then you would have much better luck. I have not tried Flexi but reasonably assume it is also for medium to low volume feet.
If you are in the US and worry about shipping and the lack of returns to Be Lenka, check out Young Sole Shoes. She has become a distributor for Be Lenka and offers free shipping and returns. She’s also extremely helpful with questions, measurements, and more.
Lastly, (can you tell that Be Lenka is my jam?) if you are ordering from BeLenka, be sure you have a 5% code! They give them to you in orders, but you can get started with your first order using the code OWBSHOES (not affiliate). If you are in the US, make sure you ask them to remove VAT using the notes field before you pay for your order.
Want more reviews?
Check out All the Barefoot Shoe Reviews for more in-depth looks.