These shoes are like walking on pillows!! There is obvious "squish" to the padding, but my feet feel stable even though my feet tend to roll inwards. They are immediately comfortable, and the very first day I wore them (other than trying on in the house) I walked for one mile without any issues. I have osteoarthritis in my knees and back, and degenerating disks in my back, but with the amazing magic of cushioning and support in these shoes, I am able to be more active without pain. The back of the shoe does go pretty high up the ankle, but it isn't as stiff as some athletic shoes and I have not had any trouble with it rubbing wrong. The body of the shoes are mesh, and are breathable, yet still comfortable in my cold office. Also, the actual color of this purple and green shoe is darker than shown here. I'd call it more of a peacock, and the part along the toes and laces is iridescent, changing from dark green to deep purple. They are gorgeous!! I just wish the white part was black for these shoes, because it looks rather out of place since the rest of the shoe is pretty dark. I have wide feet, but the "medium" width fits me well. I highly recommend these, and will save up to buy another pair!