Use this guide to pick the right size in men's outdoor clothing — cargo pants, tactical trousers, shorts, jackets, base layers and shirts. Every measurement here is a body measurement in centimetres, not a garment measurement.
How to measure
Grab a soft tape measure and take the measurements over light clothing, standing relaxed. Compare your body measurements to the chart below — don't guess from the size on the label of a garment you already own, because sizing varies wildly between brands and countries.
- Chest / bust: around the fullest part, tape level under the arms.
- Waist: around your natural waist — the narrowest point, roughly level with your belly button.
- Hip: around the fullest part of your seat, feet together.
- Inseam: from the crotch seam down to where you want the hem to sit.
If you land between two sizes, take the larger one — especially for outdoor and tactical gear you'll be layering over a base layer or wearing on the boat.
Men's clothing size chart
| Size | NZ / AU | US | Chest (cm) | Waist (cm) | Hip (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XS | 85 | 32 | 84–89 | 71–76 | 86–91 |
| S | 90 | 34 | 89–94 | 76–81 | 91–96 |
| M | 95–100 | 38 | 97–102 | 84–89 | 99–104 |
| L | 105 | 41 | 104–109 | 91–97 | 106–112 |
| XL | 110 | 44 | 112–117 | 99–104 | 114–119 |
| 2XL | 115 | 47 | 119–124 | 107–112 | 122–127 |
| 3XL | 120 | 50 | 127–132 | 114–119 | 129–135 |
Important — imported clothing runs small. A lot of our tactical, cargo and hiking lines are labelled with US or Asian sizing and they typically fit one size smaller than the equivalent New Zealand size. If a product page lists sizes as S / M / L / XL and doesn't give its own measurement chart, order one size up from your usual NZ size.
Trousers and cargo pants
Waist measurement is what matters most. Our cargo and tactical pants are cut loose / regular through the leg, so if you're wearing them for work or on the water you don't need to size up for movement — just match your waist. Most lines are mid-rise with a zip fly.
| Size | Waist (cm) | Waist (inches) |
|---|---|---|
| S | 76–81 | 30–32 |
| M | 84–89 | 33–35 |
| L | 91–97 | 36–38 |
| XL | 99–104 | 39–41 |
| 2XL | 107–112 | 42–44 |
Base layers and thermals
Merino and thermal base layers are meant to sit close to the skin — that's how they wick moisture and regulate temperature. Take your normal size, not a size up. If you want a looser fit for lounging rather than layering, then size up.
Buying footwear?
Boots and shoes are sized differently again — see our footwear sizing guide for the EU to NZ conversion chart.
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.