<p>So I just bought all my WP shoes yesterday and to break them in, went on a 2 mile (or so) run today. I now have pretty mean-looking blisters on the back of my feet, right on the heels. Just checking - this is normal, right? I mean, I'll get callouses right around there and that'll be the end of it?</p>
<p>Anyone else have any boot troubles?</p>
<p>Me. Right on the back of the heel, like you. My blisters/hotspots form right around where the stitching on the back of the heel is. Did you get McRae's by any chance?</p>
<p>I had some problems with blister during beast, but I was so preoccupied that I didn't care. I didn't have blisters on my heels. They tended to end up on the tips of my toes. Today, I have calluses on the tips of my toes, on the inside arches of my feet, and the bottom inside front of my big toes have been numb since July.</p>
<p>FYI, you won't have to run in your boots, in case that is why you went on the two miler.</p>
<p>I got the MacRaes and I have not had any problem out of them. I dont think I would have started out with a two mile run in them right off the bat... Its better to wear them to school for a week or two and get used to the rubbing of the different parts of the boot rather than trying to break them in all at once... Make sure they fit properly to... If you keep getting a blister or hotspot that is not usual with normal breaking in then make sure they fit properly... It would suck bad to spend all that time and energy to ensure you have a well broke in boot for beast, just to find out they did not fit right and get issued a new pair at Beast</p>
<p>Hmm, good advice. Thanks to all. </p>
<p>Futurewarrior - yeah, I got McRae's. Spiffy no?</p>
<p>Also, I had no idea that we wouldn't have to run in the things, that is in fact totally why I went on the run. Looking back, probably wasn't the best idea right off the bat. I'll keep it in mind for the second pair.</p>
<p>Totally unrelated boot question - where is a good place to mark your boots (name, last 4 of social)? Any places to avoid?</p>
<p>I have not marked mine, which is bad. Still, for most things marking the tag is a good way to go. Your boots don't have a tag so try where one would be, the inside of the tongue. Don't mark anywhere on the outside. If you do that your boots will be counted as unserviceable.</p>
<p>Our son found breaking the the low quarters harder than the boots. He wished he had broken those in more and the boots less prior to R-day. He said a lot of the initial marching practice was done in the low quarters.</p>
<p>Marking your boots can come in handy. Two years ago our son's Beast Company gathered all boots from the cadets and tossed them in a common pile (Don't know why it was done). Recovering boots was a real challenge if your name wasn't inside them.</p>
<p>I've tagged mine on the top, inside. Right where the boot wraps around the mid-calf. Only thing is, it's kinda visible if the boots are just sitting there. The mark's still on the inside, no doubt, but I'm kinda nervous I might get busted for it. Any thoughts? </p>
<p>Also, blisters suck. >:O</p>
<p>lol yes blisters suck. But hey, you're building character :P</p>
<p>Yeah they are pretty spiffy boots.</p>
<p>has anyone else bought the belleville boots? i love these things. they have really good soles and arch supports. with me having some flatter feet than most people, they work out great.</p>
<p><em>rummages around</em> </p>
<p>I'm wearing the Corcoran women's boots for my day to day pair, quite comfy, too bad about the label on the back. However, I've had mine for about six months now, and you can barely read it any more...I should buy a second pair and rotate them...didn't really have to break them in, either.</p>
<p>I did buy a pair of the Goretex lined Matterhorn boots...but I was hoping to post Lewis/Germany and really thought I'd need it. GREAT BOOT for going to the field in January in Missouri - freaking cold and wet - kinda heavy for day to day. They rubbed a bit at the beginning.</p>
<p>Break your low quarters in really well. The boots will mostly be eased in to... a few hours here, a few hours there. The lowquarters will be 24/7 from the beginning. And WORK ON YOUR SHINES!!!! Having a good base coat will SAVE YOU during Beast.</p>
<p><--- Waving hand furiously from the back of the classroom....</p>
<p>Are you folks able to get your boots and low-quarters (I'm assuming those are the regular Class-A shoe) BEFORE R-Day, or am I losing something in the terminology? :confused:</p>
<p>Running in boots used to be all the rage among the USMC wanna-be's at USNA in my day. Makes sense, if you ask me; you won't be running in sneakers while in combat. I'd have thought that some of that occurred at WP.</p>
<p>Thanks for educating the nosey Squid. :o</p>
<p>Yes, when you accept your appointment you can print off a letter from your candidate website that authorizes you to buy up to two pairs of ACU boots and one pair of low quarters from an AAFES.</p>
<p>Ah! Interesting! Didn't know that...</p>
<p>Thanks! :)</p>
<p>So here's a prime example of stuff that's good to ask the people on CC BEFORE you go shopping/running - I went and bought the shoes, proceeded to run in ones I didn't need to, and on top of it, I bought a care kit for the boots, and not the low quarters. Dammit candidate! </p>
<p>Thanks again for all the help though. :)</p>
<p>I'll see about a low quarters care kit on the 'net...</p>
<p>Low quarters only need a thin rag (very thin), some Kiwi polish, and water. You'll have the Kiwi sitting on your desk when you arrive, and the rag can be improvised by tearing up a t-shirt (though I'd use a hankerchief because it''s thinner). After that it's more about technique, which you'll be taught. Edge dressing is currently banned here (in my barracks at least), but if you need it you can buy it at the C-store during the first few days. Don't worry about this.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Edge dressing is currently banned here
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Good. I hate that crap. :mad:</p>
<p>If you get it caked on, some Lectric Shave or similar worthless alcohol-based stuff will take it right off. Whatever fabric it touches is toast, though.</p>
<p>Put a drop on the floor, and you better get right at cleaning it up with 409, water and a rag, or you'll be using your keys after it dries in two minutes. I had a real good time spending hours at the beginning of this year working on those edge-dressing marks until they said "FRAGO, we'll not worry about the marks or the time you wasted. Clean your rooms."</p>
<p>We now put Kiwi on the soles of our shoes.</p>
<p>I def. did not get my low quarters... I live like four hours away from a military base, so I drove to fort bragg bought my boots, found out that the Army AAFES does not have the cadet low quarters, I try to order a pair from the cataloge but the woman helping me was an army wife from the balkans so... well you know how that one goes... And Now i find out that the low quarters are the ones most important to have :( Does WP issue running shoes or will you need to bring your own... Grrr</p>
<p>
[quote]
Put a drop on the floor, and you better get right at cleaning it up with 409, water and a rag, or you'll be using your keys after it dries in two minutes.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Had a classmate of mine at NAPS spill a bottle of that stuff on his deck. Yeesh! :eek:</p>