I was SO excited about these boots. I have 4 pairs of shoes from Jambu and love them, and other reviews I read said that these were good for those of us with large calves. When they came in, I saw that the mesh part in back doesn't actually stretch...it's just mesh. Sure, there is a teeny bit of give, but I thought it was going to be some kind of elastic, based on reviews that I'd read. I couldn't get them zipped past my high ankle/lower calf. So, with much sorrow I had to return them. They seemed well made, and I'd suggest them for anyone with average or small calves. If you have anything more than 15 inches, I don't think they'd work for you.