well, i think i measured a 44, but wound up with a 42. They mumbled something about the supplier measuring two different ways and needing to recheck them all, so I don't know the reality. Of course, I think I would go an inch smaller than I measure, since you stick your belly out more when getting measured i think, not to mention when I was measured, i was already normally dressed, I actually tried it on again at home, and was a set of holes on the buckles tighter than I was when I bought it, probably because of the shorts.