I just got these today and I LOVE them!  I read alot about these boots before I ordered them.  I read that the shaft was tight, but I also saw that they have a flexible gored panel on the back of the boot.  Took a chance and went for it.  I normally wear an 8.5 or 9 in most shoes, but I ordered a 9.5 wide, because I read that they are tight.  They fit perfect in the foot area.  I have large, athletic calves 17" at the widest point, and I broke out into a sweat zipping these puppies up, but I did it!  Today we had 2-3 inches of snow that melted and it's been raining ALL day long, so I decided to test the waterproof, and after a trip to the store walking through puddles that would have soaked any of my non waterproof shoes, my feet are dry!  And the leather is starting to conform and stretch already.  The shock absorbing heel is awesome, unlike any other heel I have ever walked in!  And my toes are not all smashed together, which happens to me in almost every other heel I've worn!  Bottom line, don't be too discouraged by the tight shaft, it will stretch.  I can already tell these will be my favorite boots!
**UPDATE**  I went to Walmart and bought a womens 3/4 length insole to put in these since I am on feet alot and always have problems with pain in the ball of my foot.  I have a bunion on the inside of my left foot that always gives me problems in heels, but the soft leather is very forgiving and I have no pain from it in these boots!  After wearing these boots on 4 different days, chasing daycare kids, baking, cooking breakfast lunch and dinner, doing laundry and other household chores, grocery shopping, and splashing through puddings in the rain, they are broke in and SO comfortable!  I ordered them in brown and had some different ones in mind to order for black boots, but changed my mind and ordered these in black for my black boots!  I love how comfortable these are and the fact that they are waterproof has sealed the deal for me, considering we typically get our first snow by Halloween and can still get snow through February and March, and have a couple months of rainy spring weather.  I need to have warm, dry, comfortable feet and don't wanna be stuck wearing ugly, unfashionable snow boots more than half the year!  I only wish these were available in more than just black and brown!  I have several other pairs of boots that I am now getting rid of and will be wearing ONLY my Timberland boots when I need to wear boots!