I looked all over for some boots like this. I wanted something that wasn't too heavy or combat-like, or wasn't too much like a work boot. Something casual and comfortable enough to wear walking around Europe, but also something nice enough to wear to work sometimes. These were perfect and I ended up getting them in black too. I usually wear a 9.5 and in these, and I ended up keeping the 9.5. Even with thicker socks on they fit fine. The first day I wore them, I walked like 7 miles around Philadelphia, and my feet never hurt.