I've had Herman G6's, and these look somewhat the same, but are stiffer with less padding. The first day it kinda chewed up my left heal, but I laid off them for a few days and now they seem to work well. Skating them wasn't a problem, it was walking in them.They *do* run a little small like some people have reported, and they needed some extra break-in.For the money I think they're fine if you can deal with some growing pains.