text: Since my favorite, the Walkstar 3, has been discontinued and I prefer the original (slightly wider) type footbed, I decided to give the Surfa a try.  I tried them on and they fit fine BUT are horribly uncomfortable.  The toe strap is a slightly rough piece of ribbon, instead of a smooth or soft strap.  The (upper) band is immediately over the toe strap, which causes rubbing.  The upper band is also rather stiff and hard, which doesn't feel as if it'll soften up, without causing blisters first.<br /><br />I bought my first pair of FitFlops, years ago when they were first introduced.  Over the years, I've bought various styles and have always had at least two pairs, at any given time (they do eventually wear out and need to be replaced).  The original FitFlop was a winner, which is why the brand gained such popularity.  That designed evolved but it was always with an improvement, until now.  The Surfa is nowhere near the quality of the original FitFlops and I'll be sending back the pair I just received.  Words cannot even begin to describe my disappointment.