I wanted a lightweight, flexible shoe for the gym, mostly for the treadmill. I know even some barefoot enthusiasts don't like the vibram soles on the treadmill, so this seemed like a good midway point -- not as barefoot as, say, the&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Merrell-Women-s-Pace-Glove-Trail-Running-Shoe/dp/B000KQZD6A/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Merrell Women's Pace Glove Trail Running Shoe</a>, but far less controlling than a standard athletic sneaker.

When I first put these on, they did feel like they might be perfect -- until I tried to take a step, and my ankle hit the edge of the shoe. I don't have ankles that could even be remotely considered "big", so I'm amazed this isn't an issue for all wearers. I thought, well, maybe it won't be that bad, but after a few more steps, it became clear that they were simply unwearable because of this issue. Too bad, because they're super cute (they are shaped a little funny, but this is true of all barefoot shoes), and otherwise seem great.

Re sizing -- I usually wear a 5.5-6 (almost always an EU 36), and these fit well in the 6.

I ended up returning them in favor of the above mentioned Merrell's, which I LOVE. They also fit well in the 6, and the lesser sole seems fine on the treadmill.