I was surprised at how stiff and uncomfortable the back of these were, but I guess it's been a while since I've purchased a new pair of Lo Pros. It took a day or so to break them in, and after that, they were comfy enough. I'm wondering if the stiffness of the sole has changed over the years, but they're not too stiff still. Someone who needs arch support would have to add insoles, but luckily I'm not one of those people.<br />The lightning bolt print is great, I absolutely love it- the quality of the print is clear and better than I expected. I've been wearing them for a few weeks now and they're still in great condition - I'm sure they'll last a while.