The leather in these sandals is soft, not scratchy, and the fit feels supportive and loosely cradled - a good thing for doing a lot of walking. If it was a tighter fit, I think the straps would rub. The most exciting thing to me is the velcro closure, as I dislike guessing the right hole each time for buckles! The color say's graphite, which might imply gray, but I consider them a dull black. I have a dozen or more Dansko shoes/sandals/boots and always get a 38. In other brands, I am an 8 (occasionally a 7.5).