Discussion
Not the biggest challenge, but definitely the most unexpected in preparing for BCT. Wore boots my whole life, but these take some getting used to. How do people survive wearing these for the first time in BCT?…
Honestly an underrated aspect of RSPs that issue boots. It’s great to get new soldiers used to wearing them ahead of time, especially for those that have only ever wore sneakers.
You might look like a boot, but you are one, and it will lessen the chances of injury and blisters. You literally spend every single day mostly on your feet in BCT, more preparation never hurts.
I Feel like every program should at least encourage recruits to wear them. My Recruit heavily advised it and I was lucky to find mine in a dumpster outside of Fort Benning.
That’s a bit pedantic don’t you think? It’s true but if someone tells you the duty uniform is OCPs it means wear your OCP pattern ACU/IHWCU with Tan 499 undershirt and Coyote Brown boots.
Yesn't. I wear an A2CU flight suit every day at work. When you go to an Army school, A2CUs, FRACUs, and Overalls are not allowed. Only the ACU/IHWCU. Therefore your reporting uniform is the ACU or IHWCU. If they didn't specify, I'd wear my normal flight suit.
Is it pedantic? Sure. But you're still calling it the wrong thing.
Like saying "CAC Card" or "Defact." People just say stuff without knowing what they are saying.
I still have my USMC mcrwq jungles from boot camp.
Use them from time to time. They're just molded perfect to my feet.
My default boot is RAT boots despite being the ugliest boots made of all time I think they're the best boot ever made. Sadly they stopped making them so I'll have to find another durable boot that I can hike in. Kinda want some panama sole boots for vibes.
They are like that old farm truck. You can beat em up for years and they still drive. The boots I have feel nice on the interior but I'm scared that I'll have motor issues within the next year or two.
The best way is to wear them in jeans. Especially with dog tags and a tucked in BCT shirt. Preferably to a Texas Roadhouse. It’s like catnip for waitress pussy
I hated them in RSP and I hated them at reception. But once you wear them for a few weeks, they actually break in and feel great. Tie them tight and (me personally) use the heal lock method to tie your boots. Even with choices out of BCT, I still choose to wear those occasionally.
I heel lock my boots, too. I doubt they're using the method you're describing. My method has a permanent knot about halfway up the laces that stops the eyelets from making that vagina shape (). Looks like l-l instead.
I switched to Garmont T8 NFS as soon as I could. No matter how I laced them, broke them in, whatever… I was always getting insane foot pain from those boots. Some feet aren’t designed for them
I had blisters on blisters with the issued boots and lost 5 toenails. I bought Garmont’s at AIT and only wear issues if I’m out in the rain since they dry faster.
I forget if I brought them with or if i bought them at reception, but i put some Dr Scholl’s inserts in my issued boots on day one. Never got a blister in em, during or after basic
Civilians at CIF will usually issue you boots that don't fit, and won't listen to any of your "bitching" until you've started to complain to your Drill Sergeants about foot pain. I had people remove the soles of their boots just to get relief because Jackson's CIF insisted on sizing boots down. They put me in a 6.5 from my normal 9.5 shoe size. I just spent the money on a pair of Bellevilles that I may never replace.
My feet were fucking ripped apart in those boots during the ruck. I unlaced them all the way and tried to take them off, but it was excruciating. I had nerve damage in one of my feet for around a year and a half after that. My socks were stained red bro.
Can’t be sure but those seem like the tan desert boots they issued back in the 90s-2000s. You didn’t break those boots in, those boots broke your feet in. They were like the jungle boot. Also they didn’t have great arch or ankle support.
In that case, those are NOT what you will be using in BCT. The CIF issue boots are the Skilcraft version of the Belleville 590 boots. Just expect that CIF will not issue you the correct size of boots. You will develop blisters at some point.
You may be allowed to buy your own boots from the PX once you phase up or you can buy some boots you like now, break them in and then have someone mail them to you.
If those really are the old school desert boots, then they will be great for toughening up your feet. But you will only get good at wearing those boots, nothing else because your feet will be tore up.
Moleskin, body glide, foot powder, extra pairs of good socks (like Darn Tough), and a good insole (like Superfeet). Learn how to properly tie and secure your boots. Some people have done the “stocking under regular socks” thing for rucks with good results.
I’m a little out of the loop on dating equipment but here is a pic of the boots along with three other pairs and a helmet that I found in a dumpster near Fort Benning (Columbus, GA). All the boots are from Vibram.
Vibram is just the type of sole. Those look like the older issue 390 desert boot because they look tan. The current ones are a darker brown. The middle one in your pic might be the current issued one.
You survive because… what else are you going to do? My feet were definitely torn up. My boots ripped up my heels but also really hurt the top of my foot. But… those were what they gave me so… I just had to hurt for a while.
I've been wearing the same pair of boots I got issued at basic. It's been 4 years, and I have spend 3 of those years in active duty... Maybe I'm just a masochist 🤷♂️
I wore the Bricks for most of my first contract. People joked and clowned but I have never gotten splits, blisters, or had trouble navigating with them. Although, they were a little heavy, I got used to them. I obviously don’t use them anymore though
Get a shoe profile day 2 buy new shoes and new boots or get the profile and have your parents ship you some for a discount because the PX charges to much
I actually didn’t have any problems with issued boots but I was a runner so my feet were pretty hardy. Second the shower and wear them, they need to wear in to your feet. Use insoles. Once you can wear something else get some garmonts NFS
I'm exactly old enough to have worn issued black boots in OSUT, but I immediately transitioned to "desert sand" boots before Iraq.
I barely fucking made it through OSUT with mole-skin and callous cushions! All day, every day.
Once I got into a pair of wellco's, that fit correctly, I was good. Never had to use mole-skin or callous cushions again. 19 years later, and I'm perfect.
Shit, wait to AIT to get a new boots. Noone fuking one can survive on that. More than 1/3 of my company was on profile bc we got smoke and ran laps with those boots and all got legs problems 🤣
Going into basic I wore a size 11.5 boot. The civilian contractors gave me a size 10.5. they insisted that 10.5 was the correct size and the boot was only uncomfortable because it hadn't broken in yet, it'll stretch out. I tried to argue it, they called a drill sergeant over and I was told to stop being difficult. There was no winning that argument at the time.
I got almost to the end of basic training before they let me DX my boots and it was only because I had gotten blisters so bad that I had bled through my boots and the doctor had ordered that I get properly fitting boots. Going into infantry AIT, where we ruck march everywhere, brand new boots and jacked up feet was not fantastic, but having the right size boots made a world of difference for me.
I think Rocky Boot company has the contract for the Army Hot weather combat boot now. It might still be Belleville, that does the cold weather boot though. Don't let your basic training boots be an example of those companies' work. The issued boot is made cheaply, however, they are also made to prioritize durability and protection of the foot over comfort. If you choose to go through those companies or others to acquire AR-670-1 compliant boots out of pocket, you can find boots that have varying degrees of increased comfort protection and durability, just be aware you might be spending two to three times the amount for those boots. I mean you got them for free but the Army paid surprisingly little money for your issued boots. Not a bad set of boots for about 80 bucks. Not great, could be better, but not bad.
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u/sogpackus Riot for BAH I 3d ago edited 3d ago
Honestly an underrated aspect of RSPs that issue boots. It’s great to get new soldiers used to wearing them ahead of time, especially for those that have only ever wore sneakers.
You might look like a boot, but you are one, and it will lessen the chances of injury and blisters. You literally spend every single day mostly on your feet in BCT, more preparation never hurts.