First, these shoes look great!  I loved them the moment I opened the box.  Today, I decided to try them on and cruise over to the gym.  The first thing I noticed is the lack of forefoot cushion which is apparent by simply looking at them.  Secondly, if you notice the heel design, the raised areas that would strike the ground first are shifted slightly forward.  So, if you're not running and just walking around, it feels like the pressure point is shifted slightly forward on your heel.  I'd compare it to standing on a padded roll of quarters running across the middle of your heel.  When I came home, I switched back to my Asics Kayano 17s and they feel nice and cushy throughout.  But, for the money and appearence these shoes are fine for the gym.