This odd heel broke when I took off my shoes. The forefoot or ball of the shoe is simply wide and soft to the touch. When I walk in it, it feels like my feet are just slapping the ground. Just a lot of staying power. Oh, and I couldn't get the boot tight enough around my foot. My heel moved along the heel of the boot, and when I tightened it enough to stop it, the laces left painful marks on my foot. Definitely not the minimalist, tight, supportive shoe I was expecting.