I bought these shoes for a trip to Sicily. I did not experience any foot discomfort before purchasing the shoes. I wanted a pair of shoes that looked in style and that I could change into after long days of walking in my athletic shoes. They were so comfortable that I wore them out and about in Sicily in the evening, often times on cobble stone streets. I would highly recommend these shoes. I will be disappointed when the ice and show of the midwest winters prevents me from wearing them . They will come out of storage on the first nice spring day.