New balance has really come out of it's conservative shell with the new, various types of shoes they make. They have always been comfortable, though! I have never owned a bad pair of New Balances, but I will say one thing...their looks weren't always the greatest. I know it seems off-putting to buy a shoe for its looks, and when it comes down to it, I don't. However, these shoes now offer the best of both worlds! They are insanely flexible and comfortable when running on the trails. I emphasize though, they are meant for TRAILS. If you wear these on cement sidewalks for a long period of time, your feet will start to hurt. I'm an avid runner and these babies always come with me on the trails! They are insanely light and the bottoms flex with ease to adjust to the twists and turns you'd expect to see on the trail. If you are a fan of running barefoot or with toe shoes, these will be very comfortable for you! Also a note, they seem to run a little small. I wear a size 10.5 or 11 normally, but I have these in an 11.5. Needless to say, these shoes look great, hold up to what they are meant for, and have the comfort we all expect out of new balance.