I wanted to get waterproof boots for those days when it's pouring rain and I still need to walk the dog. I was having a hard time find ankle boots that were comfortable to walk in. The first day I got them, I went for a 3 mile walk in nothing but puddle after puddle through the woods and these kept my feet warm and dry. The are big at the top so they flung some snow into the heels of them but otherwise I absolutely love these. I'm an 8.5 and they are true to size.