This shoe is certainly one of the better ones I've worn lately. Well cushioned and very minimalist, it provides the perfect amount of cushion along the entire length of the shoe, from forefoot to heel, to accommodate any strike pattern (i.e. midfoot, heel, etc.) Also, they prove to be exceptionally light - certainly a benefit when racing longer events such as the 8k XC.
A few things should be pointed out, however. One, though I may run sock-less in all my shoes, the WU3 still seems a bit large, such that my size 11s would probably feel more snug in a 10.5. That said, I do also prefer my shoes to be more of a glove like fit. While on the topic of size, it is probably also important to point out that the shoe, though roomy in the toebox - which is great for that barefoot like feeling - sometimes feels a little to wide, such that my forefoot didn't feel secure and locked down. Again, this may be size related, or a personal preference issue, but in terms of snugness, I like my shoes to basically be form fitting, and this is just a little too spacious for my mid to forefoot striking needs. Nonetheless, the shoe does a great job of holding the heel in place, so there's no worries to be had about the shoe falling off and chafing one's heel.
Colors are not really all that offensive, and the pinkish nature and gold glittery tongue are both hardly noticeable - especially after use in a muddy cross country meet (due to the high amount of asphalt that was also present), the colors become somewhat of a moot point anyway.
In terms of durability, they seem to hold up nicely. The cushioning seems, after 55 miles, nearly as good as when they first arrived at my door. Soles, upper, laces, and interior all seem to hold up to sock-less abuse nicely, too. In short, if there are any durability issues, it's that the exposed foam on the midsole may smooth out rather quickly, but otherwise, the rubber remains firmly attached and whatnot, providing a fair amount of traction.
If it's worth anything, the shoes are certainly worth the price - they are light enough to serve as a great race day shoe, but hold up well enough such that one can do fast speedwork in them - or daily runs, if you find yourself a member of the minimalist ranks. I'm very glad I have them, and look to hold on to them for quite some time - especially after recently coming across a website where a minimalist runner had over 1,000 miles on these, and was still going strong!
