I wanted a good minimalist shoe for both running and walking. I did a lot of research and trying on shoes at places like REI before honing in on this pair. I took a gamble because I had actually tried on the Road Glove shoes, but wanted a shoe with a protective barrier for trail running. There is a park nearby where I live that has a loose gravel trail, which would probably be uncomfortable to run on were it not for the thin plate guard in these shoes. I also don't think the protective feature takes away much from the minimalist feel.

I've worn them both with and without socks and although some might say it takes away from the minimalist appeal, I prefer to wear them with socks to help avoid blisters. The Brooks low-cut tab socks work perfect with these. I put them to the test, though, when I wore them without socks through a rainforest where I had to wade through water frequently, walk down very muddy paths, and climb up rocks and inclines. After rinsing them off and letting them dry, they were back to normal again. It was hard to find a color I liked; I wanted something neutral that I could wear around casually while traveling as well as while running. The black/granite was about as close as I could get to that. My one minor complaint, as some others have mentioned, is that they have a bit of a clown shoe look to them due to the shape of the toe area and how they curve upward a bit. Otherwise, great shoes!