This is my second pair. I wore the first pair OUT! While it is true that the shoes are stiff just below the ankle in the beginning, they soften up and quickly become your favorite shoe if you just give them a chance.  Buy some blister bandages to put on if you get a sore spot.  I got use to mine in no time and I have delicate feet.  These are great walking shoes - as in Disneyworld, events, taking a child to the zoo, etc. They can be thrown in the washer when they need it.  I also throw mine in the dryer - not sure if that's recommended or not, but it hasn't hurt mine.  This second pair has presented some sizing issues.  I ordered a 7 which is the size of my first pair - and they are too big.  Exchanged them for a 6.5 - they are too small.  I'm questioning the consistency of the sizes of these now.  I am going to order another 7 to see if they fit better. I cannot bear the thought of not having another pair of these shoes, so I am willing to go the extra mile to find a pair that fits as well as my first pair.  If you are lucky enough to live somewhere where you can try them on first, go for it.  Amazon's return process makes this way possible for me.