One major retailer had “ultra-light weight” running shoes on sale today for $19.99.  A customer next to me said to her husband “it’s definitely worth a try for the price.”  These shoes were “minimalist” type shoes that were very lightweight, but also extremely flexible.  I could bend and twist them like a towel, just as can be done with a thin flip-flop.  I caution people about these types of footwear, as there is very little protection for your feet.  Therefore, these can place you at higher risk for stress fractures (especially if you’re female), puncture wounds and heel pain and/or pain in the ball of the foot, among other problems.  This is particularly true if you have high arches (as these feet often don’t absorb shock as well) or flat feet (as this foot structure results in extra motion occurring which can mean more stress on your feet.)