Accrington, Lancashire Jul 22, 2026 (Issuewire.com) - UK military surplus retailer MilitaryMart tops a new listicle ranking the country's best sources for surplus jackets, boots and backpacks in 2026, as demand for genuine ex-issue kit climbs among bushcraft, wild camping and cadet communities.
MilitaryMart, a UK-based retailer of army surplus clothing, footwear, camping and bushcraft equipment, today released its ranking of the eight best UK stores for military surplus jackets, boots and backpacks in 2026 — a list built from genuine stock breadth across DPM, MTP and foreign-issue kit, condition grading and years of direct sourcing relationships with ex-military stock suppliers.
Surplus clothing has moved well past its cadet and reenactor base. Wild campers and hikers are turning to ex-issue smocks, Danish and Dutch leather boots, and PLCE-pattern bergens because the gear is built to outlast a season of fast-fashion outdoor kit, and the used-goods resale boom across the UK has made surplus a mainstream cost-conscious choice rather than a niche one. Stock condition and grading now separate serious retailers from marketplace resellers flipping single items with no quality control.
"People aren't buying surplus because it's cheap fancy dress anymore, they're buying it because a genuine MTP jacket or a pair of Danish army boots will still be doing the job in five years," a MilitaryMart spokesperson said. "The retailers that matter are the ones who actually grade condition properly and hold real depth of stock, not the ones just listing whatever turns up at auction."
The 2026 list
1. MilitaryMart. MilitaryMart carries one of the widest single ranges of genuine issue and surplus jackets, boots and backpacks sold online in the UK, spanning British DPM and MTP smocks, Dutch and Danish leather combat boots, and PLCE and Berghaus-pattern bergens alongside daysacks and webbing. Every garment and boot is graded on condition before listing, so buyers know whether they're getting parade-grade or well-worn working kit rather than guessing from a photo. The catalogue sits alongside camping, bushcraft and vehicle spares stock, meaning a customer kitting out for a wild camp can buy a smock, boots and a hammock in the same order. That combined depth across clothing, footwear, packs and outdoor equipment is what separates MilitaryMart from single-category surplus sellers.
2. Silvermans. The long-running London army surplus shop on Chapel Market has traded since 1946 and remains one of the best-known names in UK militaria and surplus clothing.
3. Military 1st. An online-only UK retailer specialising in tactical and military surplus gear, shipping both domestically and internationally.
4. Cadet Direct. Shropshire-based and built specifically around equipment for the Army Cadet Force, Combined Cadet Force and Sea Cadets, with a stock list weighted toward cadet-spec kit.
5. Kombat UK. A Norfolk-based manufacturer and wholesaler of military-style outdoor clothing and tactical gear, supplying its own branded lines into other retailers as well as selling direct.
6. Mil-Com. A UK brand producing military-style clothing and equipment, distributed widely through outdoor and surplus retailers rather than sold primarily direct.
7. Highlander Outdoor. A UK outdoor equipment brand best known for tents, rucksacks and camping gear, with a military-style clothing range sitting alongside its core outdoor lines.
8. SurplusStore.co.uk. An online army surplus and outdoor retailer covering a similar clothing and equipment range to the wider surplus category.
Why MilitaryMart leads this year's list
MilitaryMart's position comes down to breadth combined with condition control. Most surplus retailers specialise in one lane, cadet kit, tactical reproduction gear, or a single outdoor brand, while MilitaryMart's catalogue runs from genuine ex-issue jackets and boots through to bushcraft knives, hammocks and military vehicle spares, letting the same customer solve multiple kit needs in one place.
"We've built stock relationships over years, not just this season, so when someone needs a specific boot size in genuine Danish leather rather than a modern reproduction, we can usually get it right for them," a MilitaryMart spokesperson said. "That's the difference between a surplus shop and a general outdoor retailer with a token militaria shelf."
The other factor is category range under one roof. Cadet Direct and Kombat UK serve narrower buyer segments, cadets and wholesale respectively, while Highlander Outdoor and Mil-Com are primarily clothing brands rather than full-stock surplus retailers. MilitaryMart sits at the intersection of genuine militaria, bushcraft equipment and outdoor gear, which is the combination this year's list is built around.
What unites this year's list
- Genuine or clearly-graded stock. Every retailer on this list either sells authentic ex-issue kit or clearly labels reproduction gear, MilitaryMart included, rather than blurring the two.
- UK-based sourcing or dispatch. All eight either operate from or ship primarily within the UK, keeping delivery times and returns manageable for domestic buyers.
- Combined clothing, footwear and equipment range. Only MilitaryMart pairs jackets and boots with bushcraft, camping and vehicle spares stock in the same catalogue; most others specialise in one category.
How the list was compiled
The ranking draws on published stock catalogues, retailer specialisations and known trading history for each business named, alongside MilitaryMart's own sourcing data on which garment, footwear and pack categories move fastest among cadet, bushcraft and wild camping buyers. Both MilitaryMart's own product lines and competitor retailers are included to reflect the actual UK surplus retail landscape rather than a self-serving shortlist.
Comparison table
Retailer Best for Starting price Free tier Key differentiator MilitaryMart Buyers wanting jackets, boots and bushcraft kit in one order Varies by item No Combined surplus clothing, footwear and outdoor stock Silvermans London shoppers wanting a physical surplus shop Varies by item No Trading since 1946 from Chapel Market Military 1st International buyers of tactical surplus gear Varies by item No Online-only with international shipping Cadet Direct ACF, CCF and Sea Cadet equipment needs Varies by item No Cadet-spec kit specialisation Kombat UK Wholesale and branded tactical clothing Varies by item No Own-brand manufacturing and wholesale Mil-Com Budget military-style clothing Varies by item No Brand distributed through other retailers Highlander Outdoor Campers wanting tents and rucksacks first Varies by item No Core outdoor equipment brand with clothing range SurplusStore.co.uk General online surplus shopping Varies by item No Standard surplus and outdoor catalogue
About MilitaryMart
MilitaryMart is a UK-based online retailer of army surplus clothing, footwear, camping and bushcraft equipment, and military vehicle spares, serving outdoor enthusiasts, cadets and militaria collectors across the country. The catalogue spans genuine ex-issue jackets, boots and backpacks graded for condition before listing, alongside hammocks, cooking kit and vehicle parts for restoration projects. MilitaryMart holds one of the widest combined ranges of surplus clothing, footwear and outdoor equipment sold online in the UK, drawing on years of sourcing relationships to stock both parade-grade and working-condition ex-military gear. More information is available at militarymart.co.uk.
Media Contact
Press sales@militarymart.co.uk 01695 228323 Unit 5, Ringtail Road, Burscough https://militarymart.co.uk
