Didn't get the buckles on my brown shoes,but those boots weren't very comfortable at all (1954)......... After basic when I was sent to Bragg for my AIT in C Co,505 PIR the guys told me to ditch the boots and get the Cocoran brand jump boots in cordovan( brown or black colors were not allowed)........I wore them in jump school,SFTG and never had a problem with them being able to be worn without approval in any Airborne outfit I served in.................I realize that was quite a few years ago but I really don't understand all this BS about what boots I should be wearing,didn't have them modified(?)just wore them like I got'em .......:rolleyes::eek::mad:

Big Teddy :munchin

In recent SFAS classes they have allowed pretty much any boot. I think the only thing they were concerned with was that the height of the boot was to regulation and it was the right color. Things change every class though. Even though I wore my Nikes to SFAS (11-08) I was sure to bring a couple pairs of my old trusty deserts just in case. I ended up putting one pair with the rest of my personal gear and keeping one pair out as your boots get wet just about every day and it is nice to have 3 pair available.

For what it's worth to all those SF prospects out there, I have been training for months using Army issue Altamas with no insoles or special work done to them and have not had a problem, minus a blister or two. My ruck times are down in the high 13's to low 14's. I just recently bought Sole footbeds and would highly recommend them...AFTER you toughen your feet using what the Army has given you. IMHO, it's better to bust your a$$, work through the pain, and earn what you get than to spend all your time on here digging for another way to make it hurt less when it happens. As a friend of mine once told me, You can't train for a kick in the balls and the weight only gets heavier as you go.

I ruck 3x per week, started out at 3 miles and each week adding a mile. I'm breaking in my feet and my boots. I have 2 pair of Altama boots, both have the SOPC special modifications to them and alternate the pairs. One pair gives me no issues, I honestly feel like I can ruck all day in them, the other pair always feels good till about mile 2. Then on my right heel, the hotspot comes and if I don't notice it quick enough, the blister appears.

Whenever I get the blister, I wear flip-flops until I ruck again (typically a day break between rucking). I do wear moleskin, but the boot still digs into my blister that's there. Here's my question, anyone have a good guess as to why the one pair always gives me a blister starting around mile 2? Should I have those blister causing pair of boots looked at?

http://www.bragg.army.mil/sorb/SELECTED_VIDEOS.htm

Has anyone watched the foot care video on this page?

It's the same overview that's in the "SELECTED" book by Josh Henkin. The guy on there explains how "soft, supple and healthy skin, is your secret to not encountering foot problems durring the selection and assessment course".

He said this right after talking about about filing down calluses completely, and applying lotion to your feet.

I have heard this train of thought before about foot care, but I tend to believe the conventional beliefs most of you here stand by with toughening feet instead. I do think there's a limit, like having overly thick calluses in an area (that could tear off).

My question is, is the whole idea of "soft and supple" just to prevent blisters under calluses, or is there more to it?

Because it just seems to me with "soft supple" feet you would be getting blisters at a much faster rate as opposed to toughend feet. I understand it's harder to treat a blister under a tough layer of skin. That just doesn't seem like a good enough reason to prepare your feet in such a manner. I think I would rather feel blisters coming on half way through the course and at that point start to apply mole skin and tape instead of having issues and taping from day 1.

deleted by author

Building Callouses?
 

This may sound like a really dumb question (I apologize if it is and fully expect to get my ass chewed out) but what about adding short barefoot runs into your prep for bootcamp and selection? I started walking to and from campus barefoot last semester, and then eased into running (I am up to about 2-3 miles). Would the callouses you build from running (which would be solely on the soles of your feet) in addition to the callouses from the approved boots and rucking be sufficient foot prep along with the advice from Get Selected?

What is your analysis?

Wow. I didn't mean to be a thread killer. It was not my intention to insinuate that the ability to think critically was in any way desired. Why be shy? Individual initiative, ability to do a METT-T analysis on the situation and act accordingly in the absence of specific guidence, are no longer qualities that we need. Don't worry about it.

My advice is to rest and spend more time looking for info on the very latest selection class. Do not risk over training. Sleep a lot and eat as much as you can. Drink a lot of beer. Beer has a lot of carbohydrates. You will need those at selection. Do not do any rucking as it will make your feet and your shoulders tired. If you must ruck, just go once around the block twice a week. That was good enough for me, so you should be Good to Go.

ABC, Don't feel bad. I received a PM concerning a post of mine earlier on this thread and had the same thing happen. Apparently asking one to give personal analysis or thought on something is a bygone sport.:boohoo

Trust me, i'm not sitting around waiting for analysis.

Just between us, I'm also not really sorry. And I don't really feel bad if my comment killed this thread for a while or not. It will rise from the dead, no question about it. However, I'm not really sure why.

However since I'm in a good mood, I see that airborne driver has an unanswered question about his second pair of boots. Maybe I can help...

airbornedriver -

- DO NOT have those boots looked at. DO NOT buy another pair. DO NOT continue to work to build a calous on that foot at that spot. What I would do would be to get a calendar and set up a set schedule to rotate your boots. On those days when you wear the boots that give you blisters after 2 miles, ruck 1.99 miles and stop. Never, ever do more than that. OR, stop and put a flip flop on that foot and drive on and complete the distance you would have if it wasn't for the fact that it was your "bad boot" day. The bonus to this COA is that you will build extra calouses inbetween your toes on that foot due to the flip flop. Now, this will have you walking lopsided and promote musculoskeletal injuries, and more importantly, make you look like an imbicile, but hey, whatever.

I suppose one other COA would be to stop and put on your boot from your "good" pair and finish up, but then you'd have to switch and wear your "bad boot" for part of your "good boots" day to even out the wear. Man, what a mess that would be....unless someone has created an app to keep it all straight. but without iPads or iPhones allowed at selection, I don't think that this COA would be very good.

Good luck!

Ok ok ok.

I think i need to start a thread on "HANDS, you Can't Carry Anything or Pleasure Yourself Without Them!" ... Not that I need the advise for selection, but simply to discuss training? Maybe in the PT section?.

I've always wondered if thethe time spent learning how to do backwards walking handstands on a bed of hot coals be a good training method to prevent blisters during SFAS or time spend on deployment...or...

nevermind. :p

I'll stop now.

One thing you don't want to get is a lisfranc dislocation.

I swear that's prolly the worst injury I ever sustained. Never have completely healed from it.

ABC 123: Was that reply of analysis directed at me? I apologize for not being able to get online for the past week. The purpose for my question is that I have searched different forums and have heard mixed reviews on this type of training from doctors and avid runners, also from people who hike all the time. For me personally I have found that my ankles have gotten stronger and more flexible, reducing the risk of rolling. My feet have built pretty thick callouses on the bottom of my feet from trying this out. All I wanted to know was if a QP has tried this type of training and if so what their thoughts were on it.
Here is an article on barefoot running:

http://www.sportsci.org/jour/0103/mw.htm

Also after further reading your comments I fully understand where you are coming from, a bunch of wannabes trying to leech out as much information from you guys (the QPs) without using the search feature or doing any research. Sir, to be completely honest I just wanted to pose a question that allowed for further discussion. If you feel that the question posed is too obvious or that it further hinders the discussion of the topic then I will gladly remove it.

This is a valuable lesson in "some things once done, can't be undone"--a concept often lost on the digital media generation.

Basic Issue
 

CIF at many Basic Training Posts seems to be full of sick individuals who enjoy giving young soldiers poor fitting shoes and boots. My experience was receiving size 10.5 running shoes and size 10W boots. I was recently fitted by a professional, and I am more like a size 13 all around, although size 11.5W boots fit nicely. After purchasing the new footwear, I have been relieved of all shin splint problems.

My point... The boots issued to you in basic are not the only boots you can take to SFAS. Clothing and Sales in the PX will sell nice new Basic Issue Boots in the size you actually need. I am currently breaking mine in with a few 8 mile rucks per week.

Thanks for the post! I will indeed use this advice for my advantage as I am right now suffering a mild inflammation in my plantar fascia. When I walk it feels like I am stepping on dozens of lego blocks.

The MCSS will also sell you plenty of boots that are not issued or authorized for wear at SFAS.

How about saving the advice till you have actually been accepted and successfully completed SFAS?

TR

There is no longer a specific list of boots that are authorized for wear at SFAS. As long as they fall within AR 670-1 standards, they are acceptable for wear. Of course, this could change again at any time. As far as I know this change was made recently because I had two different packing lists given to me within 3 months. Majority of the guys in my class of 07-12 wore the Rocky C4 trainers and Nike SFBs.

Either way, a good set of insoles go a long way for issued boots if you don't have flat feet. I have really high arches. So, I bought a set of Sole brand insoles that are capable of being custom molded after a short amount of time in the oven. Made my issued boots feel like a completely different boot. Did the same for my Nike SFBs and I had no feet issues at SFAS until the last couple of days of team week.

Great Info
 

Great topic, thanks OP.

I bought John Vonhof's "Fixing Your Feet" several months ago. 358 pages of excellent material on everything from foot and footwear basics and fit, injury/blister prevention techniques and ongoing injury treatment. Also provides great resources for follow up.

New Boot Reg?
 

Can anyone else verify Scamilton's above statement. I hear this from my recruiter, I hear this here, I've almost accepted it as truth. I intend to bring one set of issue boots and one set of Danners, if we are allowed non-issue boots.

I just completed the June Class 09-12 and I brought one pair of Nikes one pair of Rocky Sv2's and one issued pair. Both the Nikes and Rockies were allowed.

Also class 09-12. As long are your boots can be worn with an Army uniform they are allowed. I wore Nikes the whole time.

I'm surprised the nike's held up in sfas. I have two pairs of bellevilles and a pair of oakleys but I don't like the oakleys.