I've been having bad luck with shoes recently -- even with the expensive comfort brands that I've always counted on (Naot, Danskos, Taos, Gentle Souls, Born). Mostly, if there's a strap or toe-thong, it WILL chafe and give me blisters. The first thing to know about these is that the fabric is VERY soft (while still keeping the footbed exactly where it should be), and although I've only walked about half an hour outside in them, I don't think they'll give me blisters.

Secondly, the footbed is quite cushioned, which is nice when you're walking on pavement. It isn't supportive, though. My arches are average -- I'm definitely not high arched -- but I do appreciate the kind of arch support you find in Naot, Dansko, and Born shoes. If you NEED that kind of arch support, these sandals won't work for you for anything other than shuffling around inside the house. Even for me, that half hour walk on the sidewalk felt effortful enough (the yoga mat soles are a little like walking on cushy quicksand) that I wouldn't choose these sandals for a day spent walking around the city. They're very comfortable, but I have a feeling my shins would ache after a full day walking on asphalt in these.

However, for summery "walk the dog a few blocks to your favorite outdoor cafe" shoes, these are winners.

Finally, I own comfortably-fitting shoes in sizes 9, 9.5, and 10, with 9.5 predominating. My feet are average width -- I've never worn a wide size, though I do wear a narrow in Birkenstocks. I tried both the 9 and 10 in these, and the 10 is far more comfortable. The footbed of the 9 fit perfectly, but when walking, the footbed began to shift *under* my foot so I was stepping partially on the ground. Size up if you've ever found a single pair of 9.5 shoes too snug.