First, these boots are stunning and great quality! They seem built to last a lifetime and are super warm, even without socks. That said, they run narrow, and the tongue runs narrow too, which is a little odd. I have pretty wide feet, a fairly high instep, and broad calves (16" circumference). I typically wear 8.5 or 39. I had to size up to 40, and they're still a hair tight around the instep, which I expect to sort itself out over time through both the leather stretching a bit and the wool packing down a bit. The lacing makes them pretty adjustable if you have wide calves, but the narrow tongue may or may not cover the gap (it barely does on my pair). The laces are also sized for a smaller leg. The leather tab from the heel definitely requires some breaking in. None of these are necessarily complaints, just information for the ladies like me who have solid legs and feet. :)