Although I love the inside comfort of the footbed; the rubber itself is extremely soft for my standards. I wear a 7.5, and purchased the 7. It is a snug fitting boot, allover. The 8 would be too large. I will be sending these back, because the bottom sole is soft, and not thick; so I am sure it will flatten out soon; and the top part of the boot will lose it's shape after awhile. The cheques are not charcoal, as shown in the pic; one is a med clay grey, and the other is a darker clay grey. And the lightest shade is not cream, nor white; It's grey as well. If the boot were the shades as the pictured, it would be fabulous. I love the style; but the shades of grey aren't attractive. Kinda lumber jackish.

15" calves don't even bother