Military boots sizing starts with your everyday UK shoe size, then gets adjusted for the width letter stamped on the tongue (N, M or W) and the condition grade of the pair you're buying. Buy true to your usual UK size as the default, check the width letter before checkout, and expect New Old Stock to fit tighter than a Grade A used pair in the same size — that gap catches out more buyers than the number on the box ever does.
- Match your normal UK size first, then check the width letter (N, M or W) before ordering.
- Grade A used boots such as the Haix SF GTX Commander usually fit looser than New Old Stock in the same size.
- Continental boots (German, Swedish, Dutch) are sized on the EU scale, not UK — convert before you buy.
- Size up half a UK size only if you're wearing a thick sock or sock liner underneath.
Why this matters
Getting boots sizing wrong on surplus stock costs more than a bad-fit pair of trainers. Full leather uppers on boots like the British Army Iturri Patrol Boot don't flex the way a running shoe does, so a half-size mistake means blisters on day one, not a quiet returns exchange.
MilitaryMart lists boots across British, German, Swedish, French and Dutch surplus ranges, and every force sizes its issue boots slightly differently. That's the bit most buyers skip past — they order their usual size and assume it carries over, and with continental stock it often doesn't.
How do you find your correct military boots size
Work through this before you order, not after the boots arrive:
- Measure your foot length in the evening, when feet have swollen slightly from the day.
- Match that measurement to your usual UK shoe size — most British-issue boots run on standard UK adult sizing, 3 to 13, in whole and half sizes.
- Check the width letter marked on the boot: N for narrow, M for medium (the standard fit on most British Army issue), W for wide.
- If the boot is continental — German AKU or Haix, Swedish, Dutch, French — convert your UK size to EU using the table below rather than guessing.
- Account for sock thickness. Patrol boots are cut with a standard-issue wool sock in mind, so a thin trainer sock leaves noticeable room.
UK to EU boot size conversion
| UK size | EU size |
|---|---|
| 6 | 39 |
| 7 | 41 |
| 8 | 42 |
| 9 | 43 |
| 10 | 44 |
| 11 | 45 |
| 12 | 46 |
This conversion applies to the length of the boot, not the fit through the width or instep — that's controlled separately by the letter fitting.
Why military boot sizing varies
- Width letters aren't universal. British-issue Iturri and Altberg boots mark N/M/W on the tongue, but plenty of surplus brands don't mark width at all.
- Leather stretches with wear. A Grade A used boot has already broken in around a previous owner's foot, so it feels roomier than a New Old Stock pair stamped with the same size.
- Continental sizing runs on the EU scale. German AKU and Haix boots, and most Swedish and Dutch surplus, size in EU numbers, not UK — a straight digit match is wrong.
- Sock systems differ. Boots designed for a thick wool sock or a sock-liner combination run differently to a boot meant for a single thin sock.
- Toe box shape varies by manufacturer. Haix and AKU mountain boots cut narrower through the toe than the British-issue Iturri patrol pattern.
- Grading changes fit, not just cosmetics. MilitaryMart lists used stock as Grade A, Grade A+ or New Old Stock, and that grade shifts how true to size a boot feels.
If you buy New Old Stock, budget time for the leather to soften before trusting the boots on a long walk — the notes on breaking in military surplus boots cover how long that usually takes and how to speed it up without damaging the leather.
Grading tiers and what they mean for fit
- New Old Stock (NOS) — unissued, never worn, stored since manufacture. Closest to a true-to-label fit. Trade-off: no prior wear to soften the leather, so expect a proper break-in period. Buy if you want a predictable fit and don't mind wearing them in yourself.
- Grade A+ — used but very light wear, close to NOS in feel. Trade-off: still limited stock at this grade. Buy if you want near-new comfort at a lower price than NOS.
- Grade A — used, sound and serviceable, already broken in by a previous owner, so it runs slightly roomier than the stated size suggests. Trade-off: you're relying on the grading description rather than trying the boot on. Buy if you'd rather skip the break-in altogether.
Here's how three current MilitaryMart listings compare on grade and price for 2026:
| Boot | Condition grade | Price |
|---|---|---|
| AKU Tactical® KS Schwer 14 GTX® N Boots (dark grey) | Grade A or better | £115 |
| Genuine British Army Iturri Patrol Boots (MOD Brown) | Grade A+ | £45 |
| Haix SF GTX Commander German Army Mountain Boots | Grade A | £59.99 |
Are military surplus boots true to size?
Not consistently — Grade A boots run slightly roomier than New Old Stock in the same stated size, because the leather has already stretched to fit a previous owner. New Old Stock is the closest thing to true-to-size in the surplus market, since it's never been worn. If a listing doesn't state the grade clearly, ask before you order.
Should you size up for military boots?
Size up half a UK size only if you're wearing a thick sock or sock-liner combination, since standard patrol boots are already cut with that sock system in mind. Buyers with wider feet are usually better served by finding a W width fitting than by sizing the length up a full size, which just leaves the heel loose.
What does boot grading mean for fit
Grading tells you how much the leather has already softened, which changes fit more than most buyers expect. Grade A means used, sound and serviceable with light wear; Grade A+ sits closer to unworn condition; New Old Stock (NOS) has never been issued or worn. Fit tightens as you move from Grade A up to NOS, because less of the factory stiffness has worn out of the leather.
FAQ
What UK size should I order in military surplus boots?
Order your normal UK shoe size as the starting point, then check the width letter (N, M or W) marked on the boot before you confirm. British-issue boots use standard UK adult sizing from 3 to 13 in whole and half sizes.
Do German army boots run small?
German army boots like the AKU and Haix models size on the EU scale rather than UK, so they can feel small if you order the same number you'd wear in a UK boot. Convert your UK size to EU first using a standard conversion table.
How much bigger do Grade A boots fit compared to New Old Stock?
Grade A boots typically fit slightly roomier than New Old Stock in the same stated size because a previous owner has already broken in the leather. The difference is enough to notice but not usually a full size.
What does the width letter M mean on military boots?
M stands for medium width, the standard fitting on most British Army issue boots like the Iturri Patrol Boot. N marks narrow and W marks wide, where the manufacturer offers those options.
How long does it take to break in military surplus boots?
New Old Stock boots need a proper break-in period before long wear, since the leather has never flexed to a foot. Grade A used boots need far less time because a previous owner has already softened them.
Are military boots sized differently to civilian hiking boots?
Yes — military boots often use a width letter system (N, M, W) that most civilian hiking boots skip, and continental military stock sizes in EU rather than the UK numbers common on high-street boots.
What sock should I wear with military patrol boots?
A standard-issue wool sock or a liner-and-outer sock combination is what patrol boots are cut for. A thin trainer sock will leave the boot noticeably loose around the foot.
Can I tell my correct size from the stamp inside a used pair?
The stamp inside a used boot shows the size it was originally issued in, not a re-measured size, so treat it as a reference rather than a guarantee. Always cross-check against your own measured foot length first.
One last thing
Check the size stamp inside a used pair yourself before you trust the listing. It shows the size the boot was originally issued in — not a re-measurement done before resale — so it's a useful cross-check against your own foot measurement, not a substitute for it. On a Grade A pair especially, that stamp plus the grade description tells you more about real-world fit in 2026 than the number alone ever will.
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