I'm retired but still active and hiking as much as I can. I've seen this style of minimalist shoes for a long time and always thought they looked just awful. But I don't care what I wear these days, so I ordered these on a whim and was seriously blown away at first sight. I'm sure there are much better and more expensive versions but these fit perfectly and may be the most comfortable shoe I've ever worn. Now I haven't been to the rocks yet, but just wear them around the house, I'm sure there will be plenty of protection from sharp rocks. I'll probably buy another pair.