Gave the pull loops a workout, but once I got my EE feet through the shaft, they locked in the heel and feel great. I wear a normal US 11EE or 11.5EE, but in regular Docs I wear a UK 10. The color is a nice deep varying walnut, and the the top of the instep, once broken in, will fit well with no sliding. I haven't mink oiled them yet, like I did my DM Allen's so the color may darken. If these get much darker brown they will almost be black. They are not heavy, so don't let the listing of "wood shank" worry you. The soles on these are really light, so the overall boot is light. These have a great price, too. I ordered them with Prime, so I had them in a day, double boxed.