I'm overly picky about boots (or maybe I'm just cheap), especially when shopping online. I hate processing returns. I think I spent two years looking for these. I was partly swayed into buying them by the other glowing reviews. On day one of owning these, I have no complaints--to the point of being motivated (uncharacteristically) to write a review. As in everything's as it should be with no mental adjustments or rationalizations/denial. I had an anxious 5 minutes, though, when I tried them on with the paper-mache insert still in the boot. They're quite uncomfortable that way, predictably. When you remove that and adjust the laces they fit like, somewhat literally, gloves. The zipper adds both another style element and practicality to lace-up boots. I have to take my shoes on and off all day (as a tutor in people's homes), so the zipper initially also sold me on them. I haven't had boots made out of this material before, but I suspect they are not as warm as all-leather boots; if they were, they would most likely cost twice as much. So it fits my assessment when I bought them that they would be a great combination of things I want in a boot. Something more stylish than my super-warm boots, with SOME kind of heel that isn't TOO clunky and with great traction that fits over thermal socks but that I can wear with regular socks in warmer weather. These fit fine either way (remember you can adjust the laces); I ordered my normal shoe size. Despite all those practical requirements, they're sexy (without being tacky-dressy). Yet I don't have to be careful not to get them dirty, because they can still be classified as knock-around boots (and I can tell they'll be easy to clean). Plus they don't make my feet look big. Happy!