Well there you go. :-) I had no idea your calves were that large, Rocky. I certainly cannot argue with your personal experience. I just now took a pair of Lewis hose off my shelf and stretched the tops out as far as I could with my hands (the part where the cuff is sewn onto the sock base, which is the important part in determining calf circumference). At the maximum stretch I get 9" across, which means roughly 18" max capacity. So yes, they would fit someone with 18" calves, or possibly a bit larger, but I'd be afraid they would start to feel like they are cutting into your legs if it is too much larger than 18" around.