I got these rocker-bottom shoes because I'd heard that they help with plantar fasciitis. Well, after about 2 weeks of wearing them (it takes some time to get used to them, so I started slowly), they are very comfortable on my feet for prolonged periods of time. I also use them with an OTC insert (I got it at the supermarket) made by ProFoot specifically for plantar fasciitis, and it is difficult to determine how much of the total improvement I've experienced is due to the shoe and how much is due to the special shape and cushioning of the ProFoot. [Update -- most of the improvement is due to the shoe, not the insert!] But together, they are great. The shoe and insert transfer the heel-strike when you walk to the foot as a whole (including the arch) so there seems to be much less pressure on the heel, and consequently, less pain. Or in my case, almost no pain. This was not, by the way, an overnight result, so don't expect miracles.

These shoes look pretty good, too, even in a size 9.5, thanks to their trim cut. And therein lies the disadvantage: The shoes' soles are quite narrow, and they seem to rock a little bit side-to-side as well as front to back. Add to that the thick soles and the thickness of the insert, and the fact that when you stand you are balanced over the arch, the result is that you feel a little like you are balanced on a 2-inch stilt. I pronate when I walk, and these shoes don't help that and may make it a little worse. In any case, forget about the feeling of having your feet planted solidly on the ground.

So some people talk about these shoes improving your balance, and my thought is you need good balance to wear them. I have gotten quite comfortable in the 2-3 weeks I've had them, but I would never try to use them for aerobics! Think walking. [UPDATE 5-17: I just got back from a vacation where I spent three weeks walking on cobbled streets and hiking over rocks in the mountains. My ankles were twisting and turning the whole time, but thanks to having worn only these shoes for several months, I never experienced any strain or pain. So I think these shoes do a LOT to improve muscle tone related to feet. In addition, after all this walking, my plantar fasciitis is vastly improved, to the point where I can walk barefoot without pain. I am now considering returning to Jazzercise wearing these shoes.]

On the whole, I am very pleased with these shoes and would recommend them to a friend who understood the potential downside. The shoes are very well made.

Update in February 2013: I have hardly worn any other shoes in the last two months. These are so very comfortable, and my heel pain is completely gone in one foot and almost gone in the other. I have gotten quite used to being "on stilts", though I would still not call myself nimble. I highly recommend these shoes if you have heel pain.

Another February update: I just discovered that the cloth/foam material in the heel of the shoe has worn through, exposing the solid plastic heel counter underneath - a very sharp edge! I am astonished that the fabric would wear away in just 1 1/2 months. I will try to put up a picture of the inside of the shoe. I took the shoes to a repair shop, and they glued in a piece of suede, which now makes the heel very stiff and still uncomfortable. These shoes are basically done -- and the rest of the shoe looks like new. Bummer, 1 star.

[Update 5-13: The suede insert in the heel has held up and become comfortable with wearing. The shoes still look good, even after a long time on dusty roads in Turkey. However, don't put them in the washing machine!

I'm upgrading these shoes back to 4 stars]

By the way, MBT went out of business last year (2012) and the brand has been bought by an asian company. The new website is supposed to come up in April. Meanwhile, the shoes are made in China, at least mine were.