I have worn Guide shoes for years. I suffer with plantar fasciitis, but this shoe controls it perfectly. The Guide 9 shoe changed the fit. There is less room in the toe box, with the top of the shoe coming down more closely over the top of the toes. For years, I have put an insert into these shoes that gives extra padding to help with hip pain. Since the change in the fit, I have trimmed the front part of the insert off, and that gives my toes enough room inside even with a thicker sock. This is a great shoe and helps my pain so that I can keep going in my daily life.