So, I didn't buy these on Amazon.  I bought them at my local running store.  It's not often that I log on to review a product I didn't buy here.  This time?  This time I have to share.

I am a runner who has struggled with picking the right shoe, staying injury free, and running pain-free.  I over-pronate, and previous to these shoes, I would have sworn I was a solid heel-striker.  That tends to put me on the spectrum of motion-control for shoes.  Previous to this I have run in Nike Equalon 3s and the Nike Zoom Structure Triax.

After a particularly serious injury that had kept me out from running and in Physical Therapy for months, I was looking for a new shoe to start back up running.  My PT had three qualities she wanted to look for in a shoe:  Lightweight, cushioned heel, but with some support for the over-pronation/super flexible ankles.  I took these to my running store and they directed me towards the Cortana, which had just come out.

I tried the shoe on, and I am a believer.  In contrast to a traditional running shoe which normally has a 12mm height difference between the heel and forefoot, the Cortana has a 4mm height difference.  This, for me, leads to less heel striking, better form, and less pain/discomfort, even when I am pushing myself on a run.  There was a period of breaking-in, where I needed to be particularly careful about stretching my calves because of the increased flex while running.  I am two months into these shoes, with multiple runs per week, and I love, love, love them.  I don't have a bad word to say.

Bottom line:  If you can understand the concepts behind the minimalist shoe movement, but either aren't ready for a true minimalist shoe, or, like me, have previous injuries that make the switch a poor idea, these are the shoes for you.  They are a perfect in-between step.  They are worth every penny of the price.

UPDATE:  I do have one complaint about these ... if I didn't love the experience of running in these shoes so much I would downgrade the rating I gave them.  The mesh tops wear through way too fast. I am averaging 150 miles per pair of shoes before I get a hole in the top of the shoe. Unacceptably fast wear.  I hope an updated Cortana addresses this issue.  It's not a sizing issue, either, as I purchased a pair in the next size up and the same issue happened.