I wear weightlifting shoes for most of my training, but I wear these for cardio, outdoor workouts, and sometimes just running around town. Previously I wore a pair of WT20s to death; these are comparable but more comfortable in some situations. Although the sole is super-light and flat, it does provide some protection if you miss a box jump and land on a rail (not that that would ever happen to me!) A couple of notes, though: 1. The collar area is a lot more substantial than on the WT20s and a little stiff, which is comfortable once everything is settled but I feel like it takes a minute to get there, especially if I'm wearing socks. 2. Unlike the WT20, this shoe comes in 2 widths. For me the B width is perfect barefoot but a little tight with socks; if you plan to wear socks exclusively and have any hesitation about width, go with the C/D.