Most of our boots and shoes — hiking boots, tactical and trekking boots, safety footwear and sports shoes — are made to EU sizing. Use the chart below to convert to NZ / US / UK, but the column that really matters is foot length in centimetres.
How to measure your foot
- Stand on a sheet of paper with your heel against a wall, wearing the socks you'll wear with the boots.
- Mark the paper at the tip of your longest toe.
- Measure from the wall to the mark in centimetres. Do both feet and use the longer one.
- Measure late in the day — feet swell, and a boot that fits at 8am can pinch by 5pm.
Footwear conversion chart
| Foot length (cm) | EU | US men | US women | UK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24.0 | 38 | 6 | 7.5 | 5 |
| 24.5 | 39 | 6.5 | 8 | 6 |
| 25.0 | 40 | 7.5 | 9 | 6.5 |
| 25.5 | 41 | 8 | 9.5 | 7.5 |
| 26.5 | 42 | 9 | 10.5 | 8 |
| 27.5 | 43 | 10 | 11.5 | 9 |
| 28.0 | 44 | 11 | 12.5 | 10 |
| 28.5 | 45 | 11.5 | 13 | 10.5 |
| 29.5 | 46 | 12 | — | 11 |
Imported boots run small. Tactical, trekking and work boots made to Asian or US patterns are usually a snugger fit than a European boot in the same stated size. If you're between sizes, or you wear thick wool socks in winter, go up one size. That extra room is also what stops bruised toenails on long downhill walks.
Fit tips that matter more than the number
- Thumb's width at the toe. With the boot laced and your heel back, you want about 1cm between your longest toe and the end. Downhill, your foot slides forward — that gap is what saves your toes.
- Heel should not lift. A little movement when new is normal; a heel that lifts clear of the footbed gives you blisters.
- Wear the right socks to try them on. A thick wool sock can take up half a size.
- Wide feet: if your foot is broad across the ball, size up rather than trying to stretch the width — most imported boots come in one width only.
- Steel toe safety footwear: the toe cap doesn't give, so never take a snug fit hoping it will break in. Size up if in doubt.
Buying clothing too?
See our men's sizing guide and women's sizing guide.
Still not sure? Just ask us
We'd rather spend two minutes getting it right than have you post something back. Call the shop or send us a message with your measurements and the item you're after and we'll tell you straight which size to take.
Contact Action Outdoors — 1/348 Rosebank Road, Avondale, Auckland.