First off, I had to replace the laces in order to gauge the proper fit! The original laces not only slip while wearing the hiking shoes, they slip as you are trying to tighten the laces when placing the shoes on your feet. I would have given this product 5 stars, but the laces dropped the rating to a 4 star rating. I replaced the original laces with OrthoStep Flat Athletic brown 40" laces.

Once the laces were replaced, I was able to judge the fit. As several reviewers have stated, this style hiking shoe is for a narrow heel and arch. I normally take a 6-1/2M (preferably with narrow heel and arch), and these fit perfectly. I would advise ordering 1/2 size up if your feet are a normal width. There is plenty of room in the toe box and they have a nice "springy" feel. I did notice an odor when opening the box, similar to recycled tires. This may explain for the "bouncy" feel. I am seriously thinking of buying a second pair, but I plan on wearing these for a few weeks before I make this decision. I have a difficult time finding hiking shoes to fit my narrow feet and that is why I may be purchasing a second pair.