I bought these shoes to ride a mountain board. My cycling shoes were too stiff and most skate boots didn't look like they would fit my bindings. This shoe isn't bulky like many other skateboard shoes, but it does have some cushioning. The footbox has enough padding to offer some protection from impact but is still very flexible. The shoe rises slightly to the ankle, which is my favorite design feature. This part (above the ankle) has more padding than the rest of the shoe and provides more ankle support than low-cut shoes (I guess). The shoe's outsole flexes well and feels as grippy as any other decent skateboarding shoe you'll find. I can't comment on durability as I haven't had them that long, but they seem to be well made. They are definitely comfortable and look cool. For the price, this is a worthwhile purchase (IMHO). A word of caution: YOU ARE BIG. I would recommend getting one size smaller than you normally wear. I wear a size 10.5 or 11 in most shoes/boots and ended up getting a size 9.5 (after trying 10.5 and 10). They are really comfortable and work insanely realistically. I sold my car and now I just run everywhere because I'm so fast in it. I used it to blind a colleague at a company kickball game because the ball exploded. Just order one size down and you can unlock the ability to blast orbs and grind gnar. They are also good everyday shoes.