<p>haha futurewarrior I just read your post. Yeah, there's this really stiff something in the back of my McRae boots that grinds your heel... but it's worn down now. </p>
<p>also, when I do up my boots, the tongue gets scrunched up and wrinkled, and, to a lesser extent, so does the fabric around the ankle/shin. This doesn't seem very military! I'm thinking I should go down a half size, but before I schlep over to the PX I need to hear somebody say that their boots fit smoothly so I know they aren't all like mine</p>
<p>My boots scrunch up like that too. I still can't walk in them more than 2 miles (even with sockliners) before I get a blister. How long have you been wearing them?</p>
<p>Remember that half of it is breaking in the boots, the other half is toughening up your feet. Blisters are completely normal and are not a problem as long as you keep them clean and will eventually go away as your feet toughen up. The problems start when you come to beast with baby feet because you won't really have a chance to let them heal. I wouldn't suggest going out to buy sockliners b/c you don't need them.</p>
<p>How bad would it be for someone to arrive on R-day not having broken in boots? Would it hurt a cross-country runner if they just waited until they got there to get their boots, or would it be just as painful to break them in?
I'm curious because my friend may be attending West Point and I don't think he has the slightest inkling what he's getting into (and probably doesn't even know he should be training with boots).</p>
<p>Altimas, they are amazing. Its gotten to where I occasionally wear them instead of my running shoes because they are more comfortable. They are pretty dirty though, think I'm going to hold out and just let them issue me the other pair so I can have a slightly prettier pair.</p>
<p>Futurewarrior - where are your hot spots? Are you normally prone to getting blisters? (do you need to condition your feet?) Are you sure your boots fit correctly? Most candidates find the new issue boots really comfortable.</p>
<p>The back of the heel. The only other shoes that have given me blisters are my school uniform shoes, which are like bricks when new. I'm pretty sure the boots fit right, half a size smaller would be way to tight, the ones I have already seem tight around the midfoot.</p>
<p>Are you sure they are not too small?? I know some have said that they do not believe in wearing sockliners, but I think they help reduce friction, wick away sweat etc. Your boots should be big enough to wear two pairs of socks (thin under layer and thicker outer layer) comfortably when your feet are hot and swollen at the end of the day (those are the Beast conditions you need to simulate).
I battled with blisters as a runner and found that rubbing my feet with rubbing alcohol to toughen them up helped.</p>
<p>I don't think they are too small, there tight but I think if they were bigger my heel would get even more friction due to slipping. I can wear two layers ok, but do your feet swell up THAT much? I usually am wearing the boots towards the end of the day when my feet are a little swollen already. I might try the rubbing alcohol. I'm just really frustrated because I don't seem to be making any progress and frijoles said his (different brand) took like 10 minutes.</p>
<p>yeah i got some mae's and they were broke in after like to min... I wear boots all the time and I have to say these are the most comfortable boots I have personally wore... They are great!</p>
<p>When she did her overnight, we looked at the PX. They had a pair of Belleville's that fit her, but one of the boots rubbed her ankle, so we didn't get them.</p>
<p>After going to an AF base exchange 2 hours from home, she found the MacRae's in a size 1 1/2 sizes larger than the Belleville's. Be careful when ordering different brands.</p>
<p>She's worn them to school and she's had no hot spots.</p>
<p>We're still trying to find the low quarters. She has a wide foot, and it's been challenging to say the least. The woman's wide width isn't wide enough. She fit into the man's shoe more comfortably, but WP won't accept a woman wearing the man's shoe. We've ordered an X-wide from the 800 number, and now we'll wait to see if they fit.</p>
<p>I understand Rangers use duct tape in any areas that could irritate before the blister appears. No joke. They just cut a patch that coveres the potentially problem area and stick it onto the skin.</p>