I was initially skeptical about these boots as they appeared to be vinyl but stated they were made of leather. As a woman with larger calves, genuine leather boots tend to fit better and stretch, so I avoid synthetics. The are indeed genuine leather, albeit with a treatment that makes them appear questionable. However, they stretch beautifully and adjusted to my leg quickly. They are just below the knee and very cool-I admit these are what I refer to as 'empowerment boots.' They also handle slippery winter conditions well and are surprisingly water-resistant straight from the box.