Boots for march training

P

PwNex

New Member
The following thread is dealing with the Bates 8 Tactical Sport Boots.

Hi guys.

Since I'm joining the armed forces in about half a year, I'm thinking about starting to train for longer walks. I've bought a rucksack and sewn some sandbags for weight.

My question is:
Would you recommend these boots for 50 km. (31 miles) walks with about a 40 kilo (88 pounds) backpack?

- and if so, would you recommend the full leather version or the leather/nylon version?
I like these because they're affordable, and people seem to like them, but I don't know if they will do the job for my requierments.

Thanks in advance.
 
Overkill mate. If you can walk/jog 10km in under two hrs with a 20kg pack and you will be right up to requirements going into basic training. I would be very careful about overdoing it with the weight and hurting yourself- build up to it slowly and try to minimise jerking around.
So long as the boots give good support youll be right, nylon might breathe a bit better comfort wise for you.
 
Guess I'll have to explain a little bit more :)
I see your point, but I actually have a dream about joining the special forces (called Jægerkorpset in my country), like a lot of boys my age - I'm 20.
I would, of course, start out slowly. Therefore I've made 5x10 kilo (22 pounds) sandbags, so that I can adjust both kilos and kilometers gradually. I'm in a pretty good shape, since I've always dreamed of a military career, but Jægerkorpset (the special forces) recommend that you start march training with backpack early. I'm thinking about applying for admission in like 2 years.
So you see, I'm not really concerned about the basic training, but the training for Jægerkorpset.
- I was just too lazy to give the full explanation the first time. Also, it was a bit more cryptic to write in english, since it's not my native tounge.

Hope you understood this though.
Thanks for the fast answear and sorry for the misleading first post.
 
Good on you, everyone needs a dream. Many people here are far more experienced then I am with regard to the special forces so I will stop giving advice and wish you the best of luck =).
 
PwNex said:
The following thread is dealing with the Bates 8 Tactical Sport Boots.

Hi guys.

Since I'm joining the armed forces in about half a year, I'm thinking about starting to train for longer walks. I've bought a rucksack and sewn some sandbags for weight.

My question is:
Would you recommend these boots for 50 km. (31 miles) walks with about a 40 kilo (88 pounds) backpack?

- and if so, would you recommend the full leather version or the leather/nylon version?
I like these because they're affordable, and people seem to like them, but I don't know if they will do the job for my requierments.

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

Why the Bates? They are with certainty good boots. If you are able to test other brands; do that! I have always liked the German boots (Lowa, Meindl, HanWag) They are good and provide with good stability if you are in rough terrain. I do not know much about the Special Forces, but I have been into hiking for a long time and I use military boots and good boots are worth the money you are spending on them
 
Because they're cheap.
Since I'm still in high school I'm kind of on a low budget, so if these can do the job, I'll prefer not to buy something more expensive.
Besides, people seem to like the Bates 8 Tac Sport, but in their reviews on YouTube ect., they never tell what they like them for. For instance a security guard might not walk as long as a marching soldier, but stands up a lot and therefore require a different type of boots.
 
PwNex said:
Because they're cheap.
Since I'm still in high school I'm kind of on a low budget, so if these can do the job, I'll prefer not to buy something more expensive.
Besides, people seem to like the Bates 8 Tac Sport, but in their reviews on YouTube ect., they never tell what they like them for. For instance a security guard might not walk as long as a marching soldier, but stands up a lot and therefore require a different type of boots.
Click to expand...

I see, I have been there too. What does the Danish army use? They may be even cheaper than the Bates, another thing you can do, but that comes with a risk. Test different boots and see if you can buy them online, which will save you some money. You are carrying a lot of load, when you do and you have less quality boots; you can step through them and after 30km that can be painful, further, good boots will be better for your ankles and knees.
 
No matter what boots you get, make sure you break them in before you go on any march with weight on your back. A method I use every time I get a new pair of boots is I get them completely soaked in the hottest water I can stand, then I wear them around for about 4-6 hours. This allows the leather to expand and then mold to the contours specific to your feet. After this, let them dry and do it again if needed. Make sure to have any specific insoles that you want already in the boot when doing this otherwise it will be ineffective.

Also, when you start to get into your higher mileage of rucking, foot care is essential. If I am marching for 10 or more miles (16 or more km) then I will apply vaseline to my feet and wear pantyhose over them. then, I will wear a black dress sock over the pantyhose. This greatly reduces friction which is your worst enemy when rucking. If that's not your style, then just make sure you change your socks every 4 hours or so they stay dry. It will also give you an oppurtunity to check your feet and identify any blisters or trouble spots.

When wearing a pack, ensure that the weight is centered over your hips as you lean into the march. Basically, the higher you can get the ruck on your back, generally the better. It's all about comfort and pacing yourself. It may seem like you can march much further at the end of conditioning marches when you first start, but don't. Let your muscles and bones gets used to the extra weight and miles you will be marching. Many a soldier went too much, too fast, and ended up with stress fractures or worse because their bone density wasn't where it should have been when they did the extra work. Keep on a schedule and stick with it and you should be doing 20+ miles in no time.
 
PwNex said:
Guess I'll have to explain a little bit more :)
I see your point, but I actually have a dream about joining the special forces (called Jægerkorpset in my country), like a lot of boys my age - I'm 20.
I would, of course, start out slowly. Therefore I've made 5x10 kilo (22 pounds) sandbags, so that I can adjust both kilos and kilometers gradually. I'm in a pretty good shape, since I've always dreamed of a military career, but Jægerkorpset (the special forces) recommend that you start march training with backpack early. I'm thinking about applying for admission in like 2 years.
So you see, I'm not really concerned about the basic training, but the training for Jægerkorpset.
- I was just too lazy to give the full explanation the first time. Also, it was a bit more cryptic to write in english, since it's not my native tounge.

Hope you understood this though.
Thanks for the fast answear and sorry for the misleading first post.
Click to expand...
Hi mate
You make the mistake that all who dream of SF does. It's not just about strength, it´s more about your state of mind. If you want to be in SF then you have to achieve that state of mind.

So how do you achieve this mental focus? It's actually quite simple. You need to know what you want. It can be difficult to figure this out - but once you know what you want, the only thing left to do is focus yourself absolutely and completely to achieving it. Force out all the negative thoughts. The last thing you should be thinking is "I can't do this!". Of course you can. If you focused all of your mental efforts on how you're going to achieve your goals rather than worrying that you can't achieve them, you'll have a lot more success.

If you're still unsure of how to achieve the focused state of mind here is a list of tips to improve your clarity and give you the steely determination you need to succeed:

1. From the moment you wake up each day, focus on what you want to achieve and get motivated to succeed.

2. Cut out (or at least down on) bad habits such as smoking, drinking and eating bad foods. Nothing ruins clarity like impurities in your body.

3. Focus on your short term goals. Your long term goals will materialise as an effect of the short term goals.

4. Be as self sufficient and reliant as possible. There won't always be people around to push you so you'll need to learn to push yourself further.

5. Never be satisfied. Always strive to achieve more.

6. Don't focus on limitations. Focus instead on what you want to achieve and the steps you need to take to get there.

7. Believe in yourself. If you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything.

8. If you struggle or falter, ask for help or advice.

The mental stamina coupled with a high level of physical fitness, is what separates you from the mere mortals. They are both core components to the puzzle. Without fitness, all the mental stamina in the world won't help if every muscle in your body is fully exhausted. Without mental stamina, all the fitness in the world won't be enough when everything in your being is telling you to stop.

If you can achieve this state of mind, then you’re halfway there.
Remember that it is not just a job - it's a lifestyle that will change your life radically. The Royal Marines have a saying that goes: If you want to wear the Green Beret, start with what’s under it. I'm sure that this also applies to the Danish Jaegerkorps.

Good luck and remember – it’s a state of mind!
 
brinktk said:
No matter what boots you get, make sure you break them in before you go on any march with weight on your back. A method I use every time I get a new pair of boots is I get them completely soaked in the hottest water I can stand, then I wear them around for about 4-6 hours. This allows the leather to expand and then mold to the contours specific to your feet. After this, let them dry and do it again if needed. Make sure to have any specific insoles that you want already in the boot when doing this otherwise it will be ineffective.

Also, when you start to get into your higher mileage of rucking, foot care is essential. If I am marching for 10 or more miles (16 or more km) then I will apply vaseline to my feet and wear pantyhose over them. then, I will wear a black dress sock over the pantyhose. This greatly reduces friction which is your worst enemy when rucking. If that's not your style, then just make sure you change your socks every 4 hours or so they stay dry. It will also give you an oppurtunity to check your feet and identify any blisters or trouble spots.

When wearing a pack, ensure that the weight is centered over your hips as you lean into the march. Basically, the higher you can get the ruck on your back, generally the better. It's all about comfort and pacing yourself. It may seem like you can march much further at the end of conditioning marches when you first start, but don't. Let your muscles and bones gets used to the extra weight and miles you will be marching. Many a soldier went too much, too fast, and ended up with stress fractures or worse because their bone density wasn't where it should have been when they did the extra work. Keep on a schedule and stick with it and you should be doing 20+ miles in no time.
Click to expand...

To use water is good method, but very impractical, I have not used it since the 1980s. In Sweden, with the climate (I do not want to ruin the floor either) I used the boots as winter shoes, it is slower, but it works quite well. Take it slow and let your body to get used with the backpack, which you need to be broken in too.
 
@ brinktk: Thanks a lot, seems like a good tip, but as Ghostrider mentioned I can just walk about in the boots - since Denmark is located next to Sweden, we have the same climate (if you already know, don't take offence - most people don't know what Denmark is or where it is. Some french guy once asked me if Denmark was the capital of IKEA -_-) Anyways I've downloaded a guide from Jægerkorpset about foot care before, during and after marches - guess that will teach me what I need to learn so far.

@ 42RM: Thanks for the advice. I've had this dream for a lot of years, and after reading lots of books about the subject and watching a lot of documentaries I've realized that the mental state is as important as the physics, if not more.
But as you said it's a combination of both mentality and physics, which is why I want to start march training. I don't hope I'm "making the mistake that everyone else does", since I'm very aware of the psycological aspects as well - correct me if I've understood your post wrong.
Also, thanks for the mental training tips - good at some of them already, haven't even thought of others.
Edit:
By the way, indeed you can apply the saying to Jægerkorpset. Great phrase.
 
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It's never too early start training. Part of being a soldier is about preparing yourself for any situation to give yourself even the slightest of advantages. This will translate well into anything you do while you're in the military. Anything you do to stack the odds in your favor is a good idea.
 
Remember that no matter how much S*** you are exposed to, be positive and try to have the energy to help those in your team who are not so strong. It will be noticed and that gives plus points on your account.

You know, I have served with Danish soldiers in Helmand province, both with your Life Guard and the Hussar Regiment. The Danes are tough warriors . I'm pretty impressed how well your female soldiers cope. Don´t mess with a Viking maiden - your ass will be fried in seconds.

I've learned a lot about the Danes and I love your humor which is very similar to the British

BTW. I have also learned to eat leverposteg and spegpölse.

And always remember this little rule: "always look on the bright side of life"
 
About the positivity in shitty times, I think the marine in this military comic describes my approach to those pretty well - might even be one of the main reasons why I like the military life style :)http://http//4.bp.blogspot.com/-mwGWkabZTJQ/TZStnqRJRmI/AAAAAAAAIng/qnlKzCQGGRQ/s640/this_sucks.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mwGWkabZTJQ/TZStnqRJRmI/AAAAAAAAIng/qnlKzCQGGRQ/s640/this_sucks.jpg

You should try some real Strühns leverpostej btw., the ones in the field rations are awful ;)
Again, thanks a lot for all of your fast and very helpfull answears, everyone.
 
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PwNex said:
About the positivity in shitty times, I think the marine in this military comic describes my approach to those pretty well - might even be one of the main reasons why I like the military life style :)

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mwGWkabZTJQ/TZStnqRJRmI/AAAAAAAAIng/qnlKzCQGGRQ/s640/this_sucks.jpg

You should try some real Strühns leverpostej btw., the ones in the field rations are awful ;)
Again, thanks a lot for all of your fast and very helpfull answears, everyone.
Click to expand...


1. There is no "Leverpostej" in the new Danish ration.

2. After a few months downrange eating only MRE's and Norwegian rations, a "Faaborg Leverpostej" straight out of the tin can, makes your thoughts race right back home.

KV.
 
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Norwegian rations aren’t so bad.
Isn’t the new Danish ration almost identical to the Norwegian?
 
One of the most important assets a military man/woman can have is a good sense of humour. Humour will get you through a lot of crap.
 
42RM said:
Norwegian rations aren’t so bad.
Isn’t the new Danish ration almost identical to the Norwegian?
Click to expand...


Norwegian rations are alright, but after eating the same 8-10 rations for a few months you get fed up with, but that goes for any rations be it Norwegian, Danish, British, American.

No, the new Danish ration have some common elements from the Norwegian and the British ration. But it is not at all like the Norwegian. Like the British we have small ready-to-eat stuff, easy to put in a thigh pocket for patrols etc. From the Norwegian ration some of the main meals as well as from the British.

The Norwegian rations tend to have a lot of fish in them, which didn't sit to well with most the Danish soldiers who were evaluating the rations, so those meals were cut.

I'll stop hijacking the thread. Further questions send me PM. I can prob scrounge up a ration and take a few pictures if anyone is interested.

KV.
 
When you get your new boots, you have a backpack; do not forget to have fun. Why not take some buddies out for a hiking trip, you are preparing for what you want to do and you have fun at the same time.

Something is so easily ignored when we are talking about different kind of boots and you have the advice from the Danish Special Forces and Brinktk; how to prepare your feet for the beating you will give them. Do not forget the socks; good socks are a good investment.
 
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