I love these boots! I have been gathering the courage to invest in Fryes for years, and these were the first pair that I took the plunge on. I originally ordered the 12R, but my calves are somewhere between normal and wide, and I didn't find that length flattering. The 8R hits me at a much better place, and is more versatile anyway I think. After much hemming and hawing, I ordered the tan/dark brown, which was beautiful. I waterproofed them using Frye spray, which has darkened them fairly significantly, so be warned that if you want to preserve the true color of the boots. I didn't mind, and now they appear a bit more like the cognac color. I vacillate between an 8 and 8.5, so I ordered down at an 8. I possibly could have even gone a half size lower but I am not sure I would have been able to slip my foot in! I have very high arches, so it takes a little elbow grease and a lot of foot contortion to get into these boots, but once they are on, they are so comfortable- I would recommend for narrow feet, as the toe box is fairly slim. My heel slips a bit, but I think that is a feature of this style, and not an indication of them being too large. Since buying these a few weeks ago, I have worn them to the office, hiking, moving a friend into college, and so much more. They are incredibly versatile and I get so many compliments. In fact, I am so hooked that I just took the plunge and bought another pair of Fryes... bad for my bank account, great for my wardrobe!