text: I love FitFlops, and wear the brand year round- sandals in the warm seasons, and boots in the cold seasons.  They make the most comfortable footwear that I have ever worn.  I have been wearing FitFlops exclusively for the past five or six years.  I own over a dozen pairs in various styles.  I was excited to get these sandals in my usual size 9, but my excitement turned to disappointment when I got them and tried them on.  The leather is so stiff and hard that it immediately cut into the top of my feet.  I have sensitive feet, but have never had a pair of sandals actually cut me from just trying them on.  I walked about twenty feet in these, and had to take them off immediately.  They looked like they fit ok.  I will be returning these, along with the Fitflop metallic sling sandals, which also did not fit like the other three pairs of sling sandals that I own.  The footbed on those is much narrower than the other sling sandals I own.