We don’t make any shoes. Which product are you referring to? We can point you in the right direction.

Al

I have already written to Feelmax to suggest that they send a large sized pair for a retesting. It is quite possible that a larger pair will resolve many, of not most of the issues. As you mention, shoe sizing is a difficult issue. Hopefully Feelmax responds to this and sends another pair for testing. I will fully retest the new size and repost all my findings. I would like nothing more than to give a wonderful review for these shoes.

Al

I wonder whether this isn’t really a sizing issue. In general I find sizing shoes very problematic. With some shoe manufacturers I take a 9, others a 9 1/2 or 10 and sometimes even a 10 1/2–same with the European sizing sometimes a 41 and other times upto a 43 1/2. Ordering shoes online makes this problem more prominent because you can’t try a couple of pairs on and then figure out what’s your correct size for this brand.

I suspect that Al’s problems with the Niesa’s would be fixed by trying on a size or two higher. With a larger size I really think he’d start to feel the flexibility and cease to have any discomfort.

My pair of Niesas are size 43 and actually a little too big for me (Extreme Outfitters — http://www.extremeoutfitters.us/feelmax.aspx — where I bought them from, said that 43 was equivalent to a 9), but interestingly being too large doesn’t seem to cause as much of a problem as it would with a normal pair of shoes. I think it’s because the sole is so thin that when your foot hits the ground that’s where it stays within the shoe and doesn’t slide around–thus no blisters or anything that you’d normally get wearing shoes that were too big.

Biggest issue: far too narrow! Hope your other reviews are as informative.

Thank you for your feedback in regards to your experience with the Feelmax shoes. Clearly everyone has a different perspective when it comes to wearing shoes. This is based on the comparisons being made and the experiences of that person as well as the persons own feet. There are quite a few positive reviews of the Feelmax shoes made by well established barefooters, and so I’m happy to see that you are adding your voice to that group. I gave the Feelmax shoes an honest review based on my experience with them, and in comparing them with other shoes, such as the Vibram FiveFingers. I would be interested to know if you also have the same model of Feelmax shoe as was reviewed, as I would suspect that all other Feelmax designs would not have the flexibility problems that I found.

When I first started wearing my Feelmax shoes it was very odd to me as the feeling was unlike any shoe I have ever worn, I am so used to wearing running shoes and sneakers that when my feet finally were in a pair of shoes such as these (Feelmax) they did not know what to do. Then I read the information that comes with the shoes, it explains about the concept of walking barefoot as well as how to walk in the natural way and not as we are trained since birth.

The major difference that I have noticed in wearing the Feelmax shoes is the flexibility that I have with the Feelmax shoes as to wearing sneakers. So you will understand my confusion when I read your article in reference to them not being flexible while wearing. I have had no issues with the seams nor have my shoes had to bend under pressure. In fact my Feelmax shoes are so in tuned with my feet that I hardly notice they are there unless I look down.

In reference to the “support”, if the information card that was sent with your shoes would have been read correctly you would understand the concept of these shoes. The object is to be walking barefoot or simulated barefoot, not pampered or babied as you would get with normal shoes. The only support you need is the natural support your body provides, false support is not what is needed. You stated there was no insole (Sock liner?) I find this hard to believe, the sock liner gives just enough support to keep the feet comfortable, but not enough that it feels pampered.

For the Barefoot feel, I have to disagree with you there as well. As I said before these shoes are very flexible, in my opinion. I have had no problems with them what so ever. These shoes have not only given back to me what I lost with sneakers, but they have made my feet, and muscles around the feet stronger than before. I am not sure what you were talking about with the narrow design, as mine are wide.

Non-Water Resistance I have to agree there, these are not water resistant nor where they designed to be. This is why they are my first choice when I am going to the beach. I can wear them and not worry about stepping on stones or buried rocks and shells. If they get wet in the water, or sea water I take them back to the hotel or my house and clean the salt water from them right away, normally I run them under the water from the sink brushing them to remove any lose sand or dirty. Then hang them out to dry. A few hours later they are looking good as new and dry.

As for your break-in Period you could not be any more wrong in this. The materials in the shoes that I am wearing have become more comfortable than when I first got them. As I said the shoes have formed to my foot in all ways so that I barely notice them. The shoes have become more flexible because the material has learned how I am walking and have become loose in the areas that I need them to be.

So for my summary in testing these shoes as well I cannot agree with your assessment. Feelmax shoes are excellent barefoot simulated shoes, and are flexible when walking among other things. I have had no issues with the narrow width as I have not even noticed this, not with my pair anyway; and there is nothing poor in the design of these shoes. The outsoles of my test pair are still intact despite the abuse I have put them in. So in my opinion someone who is biased towards Vibrams FiveFingers should just stay with that shoe, they can deal with the blisters on the toes, and a few other issues I know about Vibrams, I will stay with my Feelmax shoes.