These were my first pair of shoes - they fit fine in street size and didn't stretch much, and the velcro makes them very easy to get in and out of. The rubber is very sticky - they work quite well in the gym - but the toe boxes are a lot roomier than the heels (which fit my narrow feet nicely), so the shoe would bunch up and slide around the ball of my foot when edging on small holds - grr! Also, they get ridiculously stinky once you've made the fatal error of leaving them in your pack after climbing overnight. Overall, a really great beginner shoe.