Thanks all for the reviews and they helped me to inform my purchase. I'm very pleased. I'm a semi experienced beginner/intermediate runner on mostly streets and some grass and park tracks. I have run in vibrams five finger but after getting a sharp object surgically removed from the ball of my foot (from the beach with nude feet) , I needed more cusion. I wanted to stay minimal so this seeemed the logical choice. I'm able to wear with or without socks comfortably with no significant chafing/blisters up to 30 minutes of running. I'm slowly building running time to avoid any problems while my foot and leg structures strengthen and my scar tissue heals. There's very little cusion so I think this is very close to the new balance minimus in that regard. If you consider the forces on the landing of a human body, depending on your technique and weight, a few millimeters of material will squish to nothing. I can feel the surfaces well but it isn't painful to land on pebbles and rocks , etc.  I would suggest getting a half to wwhole size larger than your measured size. I am a men's 9 with a very narrow foot/high arch and I bought 9.5  I also have tried the merrel road glove and it didn't feel nearly as good on my foot so I returned it. The size 9 was too snug , not allowing my toes to splay (sp?) I have also purchased a new balance minimus road zero size 10 which is ridiculously comfy. I tried newtons and brooks purecadence which felt ok but quite bulky. Take it slow with the minimal foot gear and I think most of you will be rewarded. Do your stretches kids!!!!Glutes, hammys and hip flexors :)