I bough this shoe b/c I wanted to see what barefoot running shoes were all about. Now I'm a convert. They are light and you feel every little bump and rock on the sidewalks. The first couple of days I walked in these I could feel extra foot muscles working. Those thick soled shoes make your feet lazy; go by these and get a work out by just walking around. Also, the quick tighten mechanism is great!!! They look a bit funny, but I love it when I'm late for classes and need to bolt out the door asap.