I bought a pair of these about 4 years ago when I was shopping around for "barefoot running" shoes. I was disappointed with the fit of "five finger" shoes but these gave my toes space to spread naturally. Lightweight and breathable mesh, they protect my feet from debris (and love the rubber piece that curls over my toes to protect my Clumsy self from stubs when I trip). The rubbery material and mesh mean that my feet and shoes dry quickly when running in wet conditions and...no lingering funky smell. I typically wear these without any socks ( wouldn't be barefoot if I did) but these shoes are machine washable. My first pair held up under years of marathons and hiking so happy to find a replacement pair exactly like them when the first pair wore out.