I had low expectations because similar sock shoes I bought from another manufacturer a few years ago were painful to wear (the textured outsole had the same textured insole so walking in them was more painful than walking barefoot), but it is fantastic. The underside is grippy and, in my opinion, offers the perfect balance between feeling as barefoot as possible and still providing sufficient protection from pebbles and the like. I've only had them a short time so I can't comment on durability, but they seem to be very well made. I've only run in them so far, but I have a lot of experience with different brands of minimalist shoes and I can say that they are good for most types of hiking and running. The only downside is that the size seemed a little small to me (I will increase the size for the next pair) and they breathe so-so - my feet sweat a little in them (however, this applies to many types of shoes).