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Originally Posted by HOLLiS
I believe I have mentioned this before. When I had my business, Mountaineering, I learned to be a boot fitter. Having been a boot fitter, I fell some sort of complusiveness to write this. Hope it helps some one to avoid feet problems.
Part of the problem is how our feet are designed and the changes in dimension they go through during a stride. Boot manufactures can not make a boot for the general population that works 100%. Each person foot can be very unique in that how it needs to become stabilized in the boot. Blisters are a cause of friction from movement in side the boot. Stabilizing the foot will reduce or eliminate blisters.
A stabilized foot will not pronate more than 1/4 of a size. Non-stabilized feet can pronate up to 3 sizes or more. The best size to buy a boot is your Non-weighted foot length. Then the foot is stabilized by a food bed to prevent pronation. It may be a "trim to fit" or a custom molded insole. Trim to fit, works for people whose feet do no pronate more than 1/2 size.
Generally to allow for pronation, people will buy boots that are too large for their foot. The boot does not support the foot adequately, allowing for movement.
Other issues on boot construction is volume. Manufacturers tend to make boot with a little more than the average in volume. People with bony feet will need to have the volume of the boot reduced to cut down on movement from the larger cavity their foot is in.
The most critical measurement is Arch length. The ball of your foot needs to fit where the widest part of the boot is. If your foot is a 9 1/2 and you buy a 10 1/2 boot the ball of foot will fit behind the widest part of the boot.
A well fitting boot should fit snug with little to no movement.
Good socks help too. Also it is desirable to buy the boot with the socks that you are going to be wearing in those boots. Sock thickness will effect volume. Sock construction is also important as with the material they are made out of.
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Great advice for people who are free to choose their footgear.
Might even be an option for people who have already been selected, and certainly for civilians or other people who do not have UNIFORM requirements.
Those of you prepping for SFAS make sure that both pairs of your ISSUE boots fit properly, have good insoles, are broken in well for your foot, and that you have nearly new ISSUE socks. It is okay to have a favorite pair, but make sure that both pair are equally well fitted and broken in. I have seen plenty of studs on the last day with Bozo boots taped together after the uppers separated completely from the lowers. I would suppose that minor mods like removal of heel cups or toe caps from, an ISSUE boot would be okay, but if you have ripple soles, hospital soles, running shoe soles, etc., they will likely be rejected. Since the List didn't specify ISSUE insoles and laces, I would look for a good pair of Superfeet or SOLE Footbeds and some comfortable, durable black laces that look issue. Bring extra laces as well.
We do not want to hear people commenting that they slipped by and got through the course with non-issue boots. The rules are clear. If the CIF didn't issue it to you, it really isn't ISSUE. If you get caught and returned to your unit or have to borrow an ISSUE pair that are two sizes too small, you will be paying the price for FTFSI.
The Military Clothing Sales Stores sell many things that are not ISSUE, never mind the local surplus store. One of the worst was the Korean and then Chinese knock-offs of the ISSUE jungle boot. Most would not last through the break-in period.
Save the Gucci gear for civilian wear and deployments to remote areas.
Bring ISSUE gear to SFAS.
Are you guys getting the hint here? ISSUE means just that!
TR