I am not a competitive runner.  I only run if I am being chased by something or someone but occasionally I want some shoes to play in and my work flats won't cut it.  I also am the type of person that kicks off shoes as soon as I can when I get home.  I don't wear high heels or anything particularly uncomfortable, I just hate feeling bound up in the feet.  These shoes are really the next best thing to being barefoot.  I can wear them all day long and they are comfortable.  I suspect someone that is used to wearing more "supportive" shoes and doesn't like to be barefoot would need to ease into wearing these though.

I have always been intrigued by the barefoot phenomenon but I didn't want any of those toe shoes that make your feet look like gorilla feet.  These are great.  I have gotten them for my kids as well and they LOVE them.  We used to get nothing but Keen's sneakers but I suspect we will be buying Merrills for a long time.