I love these shoes.  I normally wear a 7 1/2 and had to order 8 1/2.  I bought my first pair at Famous Footwear.  I don't normally wear shoes where my foot is enclosed because I don't like my foot to be confined.  There is no problem with that in these shoes.  The ball of my foot does not hurt anymore.  These shoes are very comfortable with socks especially.  I can wear these a long time and my feet do not hurt at all. I have 4 pairs of these shoes and the one consistent problem I have found is on the right shoe, the inside upper back is poofier than the other shoe causing my foot to shift forward to the end of the shoe, so it is a little uncomfortable.  I will try the shoe repair store to see if they can fix it.  However, I will continue to buy every shoe like this (SSR) until they are impossible to find.  I really really really love these shoes.  I don't leave home without them.