I ordered these when they were a gold box deal, at a fairly low price. I should have adjusted my expectations downward to match the price. I've had Ryka shoes before and liked the fit so I thought I'd try these, sight unseen.

I smelled them before I saw them, as soon as the lid came off the box. An old-rubber-tires kind of smell, that I associate with substandard chemical plants. The shoes reeked of that so strongly that I put them out on the covered porch to sit in the fresh air for about a week. Today I brought them back indoors. They don't stink nearly as much now, so I've put them on.

They are clunky and ugly. They are much less comfortable on my feet than my&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Skechers-Womens-Shape-Ups-XF-Accelerators-Lace-Up-Fashion-Sneaker/dp/B00377GUTI/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Skechers Womens Shape Ups XF - Accelerators Lace-Up Fashion Sneaker</a>, but I'll wear them for a few hours to see if they get any better.