I always have had Sorel's, but find they don't fit me anymore (in their brand, I really need a 9.5). I needed a new pair of slightly dressier winter boots, and as I have a pair of Keen shoes that I love, I decided to give these a try since they looked nice, and were reasonably priced. When I got them, I was surprised with how nice and supple the leather was considering how inexpensive they were. I've had them for several months now, and wear them all the time! They keep my foot warm, without getting too hot, and they are incredibly comfortable! I bought these in a 10 (same size as my Keen sneakers), and they fit perfectly.

I personally haven't found them to be too tight - I can easily fit my jeans into them. I do have large calves too, so I'm going to guess that the foot size to calf size ratio effects how much room you get there.