I have to say that I didn't really believe the hype, thought they looked bizarre, and probably would never have spent the money myself for them - but still...I did wonder. Fiancee overheard me say something about them and ta-da!- he bought me a pair. I have narrow feet, high arches, am prone to corns, and have difficulty with most types of shoes. I'm nowhere near as toned as I was as a younger woman (now 40), so I put them on. I about broke my neck the first few days I tried them. I naturally stand back on my heels and wear the lowest of the lowest flats normally (Chinese Mesh Slippers are my favorites). I would initially just walk from my car to class and back, a walk with some shifting terrain, trying to get used to them because they WERE kinda pricey. I'm glad I stuck with it.

Apparently my posture was so bad that the first two days of wear, my lower back actually hurt. But I noted that my feet did not - AT ALL. That in and of itself blew my mind, because it takes next to no effort to make my feet ache - and much more so all day standing doing anything. The back pain faded as I adjusted to standing straighter and paying attention to each step I was taking. That sounds more cumbersome than it is - you ARE wearing them to help with SOMETHING, no? As time has passed, the attention required significantly decreases and it becomes "how you walk".

About a week ago, I had to make an unexpected 2-hour walk in them. This walk was downhill one-way, and uphill back. I kid you not, I thought my heart was going to burst from my chest. My legs were wobbly on the 2nd part of the journey - but not from pain. They were simply tired and not used of such an effort. I did have to stop a couple of times to let them recover. I noted, even then though that my feet didn't hurt. I then sat in a class for an 1 1/2 hours, and had to walk another half mile (mostly flat terrain) to my car. I was able to do that without croaking (obviously), and while tired, I didn't need to stop for that jaunt at all. I was terrified of how I was going to feel the next morning though.

This deserves all caps: IN THE MORNING, MY LEGS AND BUTT SIMPLY FELT LIKE THEY HAD HAD A GOOD WORKOUT, AND MY FEET DIDN'T HURT AT ALL. That incident has inspired me to walk more and further than I would have ever attempted in any other shoe. When the price of walking for health and fitness is severely aching feet and the reward is minimal muscle development, it just doesn't sound appealing in the least.

I have now been wearing these daily for about 4 weeks. As a woman with a life-long problem developing calf muscles, nevermind being very undertoned anyway, I can say that I'm SHOCKED that my legs are looking as good as they are. I am completely sold on these shoes, and recommend them very highly.