APFT Running Shoes

[digitalghost]

Hey guys I need an APFT-type running shoe to run everyday--- What is the Army GI running shoe? Nike and Adidas has to many shoes it confuses the hell out of me--- Is there a "best shoe"? check it out:

NIKE: http://www.nike.com/nikerunning/?ref=global_home

ADIDAS: http://thestore.adidas.com/cgi-bin/adilive/b2c/browse.w?type=dag&code=FM&sport=S02

Be sure to check out Nike's speed commercial called "SPEED CHAIN" or something like that wth the train and dog and human and motorcycle BEST SHOE COMMERCIAL IVE SEEN IN MY ENTIRE LIFE!!!

[Apogee]

Boot, leather, 1 each

[digitalghost]

Check out the Air Zoom Spiridon(LIGHTEST SHOE)-- So far the "lightweight for faster running" feature has impresesd me most becuase you obviously want to get a faster APFT run time to exceed the Army's RANGER SCHOOL standard of 5 miles in 40 minutes :D

[digitalghost]

Your suggesting boots? Well theres a time/place for that. APFT runs are done in running shoes. Boots are for Battle-Focused Physical Training (BFPT); Read more about BFPT here:


BURSTS OF SPEED: JOGGING DOESN'T GIVE IT

All physical fitness should be task specific. The problem with running ( jogging is more like it ) is it teaches you to run slow. The concept of speed marching teaches you to walk fast. Which has the more desired effect in combat. What I'm getting at is your muscles are being trained for a specific activity. Jogging is good for teaching a specific kind of endurance like steady movement but when you have to kick it up a gear ( like when you are under fire ) it is very hard to do. What is more likely to happen is you will crouch and jog. In combat it's inevitable that you will need a burst of speed to avoid being exposed to fire or move to cover under aimed fire. The speed marching concept is better than jogging, no question. It can be used to successfully move forces over large chunks of terrain and still remain alert to your surroundings, very necessary in combat conditions. It is teaching your muscles to move faster than the usual march speed. This is more muscle memory stuff which you're probably tired of but I don't know how else to explain it.

Now examine what happens when you make contact from a jog. One of the most important aspects of foot speed is your ability to pick up your feet quickly so you can marshall the quadriceps and hamstring muscles which push your feet down and back which propels you forward. These two muscles groups ( hamstring and quads with a lot of help from your gluteus ) are the most explosive in your body. You would think that some one with extremely strong thighs would be fast but this isn't true. In order to make your thigh muscles work at their maximum you have to you have to be able to bring your knees up to at least waist high and higher is better. The slower you lift your knees up the longer the it takes to push down with your thighs. You can only go as fast as the up down motion will allow. A person can have tremendous thigh strength (the push cycle) but be totally unable to pick your knees up (the pull cycle) and the result will be slow speed. That's basic stuff that I may not be making totally clear but I can recommend some books if you are really interested.

The muscles that pick up your knee is the Hip Flexor. These are the thin band of muscles that run down the front of the hip from your Abs to the quads. They are not very strong but they are extremely explosive. The problem with jogging is it fatigues the hip flexor severely and does something called short stroking. This is where the muscle does not work through the full range of motion and is constantly fatigued in the partial range. What this means is when you have to run suddenly after jogging for a long time you cannot pick up your knees. The result is slow foot speed and possibly the ultimate sacrifice.

Speed marching is a much better in the sense that you save your legs from the pounding and the fatigue in your hip flexors. It also allows your legs to functions in a more natural manner. This means efficiency which translate into saved energy and more importantly the ability to turn on the speed when it's necessary. Speed marching is definitely tiring but it works the strongest and biggest muscle groups (the thighs) and not one of the weakest ( hip flexor ) which you could need at a moments notice.

Ok, we want the speed march as part of the APFT. But, lets add some other extremely important dimensions like running explosion. This means your ability to sprint. This doesn't mean your 40 yard dash time, it means your ability to run under stress for a given period of time. For example, you have 5 minutes to run ten 100 yard dashes (in combat equipment, weapon, web gear etc. ). You would have to run each, hundreds yard dash in thirty seconds each. these are timed sprints. If you don't believe it's tough enough you can make the time per sprint less.

It works like this. You get thirty seconds two run each sprint. The faster you run the sprint the more rest you get between sprints. This encourages everyone to run there fastest. There is only about a second and a half difference between your slowest and your fastest Soldiers so speed isn't a big factor. You can drop it down to twenty-five seconds and you see that it gets very difficult. Do this after you have the speed march and you will be on your way to some real combat fitness.

The next little drill is the upper body test. Many people can do fifty push ups but lets make it under real conditions. After the speed march and sprint test we go to a sand pit. It should be thirty meters long. You have the Soldiers sprint the thirty yards and do as many push-ups as possible in fifteen seconds. Do that three or four times and then move on to pull-ups and Abs of some kind. I don't know what the standards should be but you can try it and get a base line pretty fast. I would love to see you pick a couple of young studs who think there in shape and see what they can do. I think you'll be amazed.

The point is that no one walks or jogs into war with no equipment and without using many different types of fitness, aerobic, anaerobic, and a combination of the two with the whole body. In most cases an Infantrymen usually has to work hard to get to an objective with all his equipment and them needs a burst of energy to assault it. It can also work the other way as Col. Bernard has written about. You may have to run for your life with all your gear and wounded at a much higher speed than a jog.

COMBAT PT TRAINING

Instead of running around in shorts we could do PT in the actual BDU uniform and LBE that we will use in combat. While ruck marching for time:

*Carry a stretcher with a designated Soldier on it and rotate during the march use rigid and non-rigid litters
*Carry 5 gallon water cans
*Push a HMMWV simulating a disabled vehicle
*Sandbag vehicles for technical skill/upper body strength
*Tow a 120mm Heavy Mortar a distance (U.S. Army Ranger 3-man squad towed a 716 pound mortar for 30 miles re: The Discovery Channel documentary "American Commandos" 1-800-765-0066 $19.95)
*Carry weapons at the ready during a speed march, stop and engage targets with MILES and silhouettes or live fire
*Obstacle courses *Assembly-Disassembly of weapons EIB-style after a speed march or "Battle run"
*Battle runs with LBE (LC-2, ETLBV, TLBV etc), weapon, helmet

The point of all of this is to get better Soldier performance while in combat fighting order.

http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/Quarters/2116/apft.htm

[Seraphim]

Check out some Saucony shoes...I have a pair of Nike Shox but I wish I got some Saucony's instead. Also in the article, I dont know about the whole knee being waist high or higher. The higher it goes the longer the distance for your foot to come back to the ground. In essence, takes more time and energy. Check out the site www.coolrunning.com for some great tips.

Hey ghost...is that 5miles in 40minutes with ruck or just plain jogging?

[virtualpender]

You aren't going to find a proper fitting shoe by taking other people's advice. Ideally you need to be fitted in a specialty running store to make sure you have the right shoe for your build, stature, mileage, and foot shape. If that is not an option, try roadrunnersports.com - they have an at-home fitting test you can do.

Good luck.

BTW, when it comes to running shoes, Nike sucks.

[kyote]

:| Not sure what Sneaks they issue but read this first www.benning.army.mil/usapfs/Training/ShoeSelection.htm -kyote

[Apogee]

Yeah, I know. A little joke. Thanks though.

[Dmitri]

Boot, leather, 1 each

rofl

[DrunkMonkey81488]

Dont ask here, go to the stores and try on all of the shoes that are a possibility. Walk or jog around a little to make sure they are comfortable and that they are the right kind for the distance, terrain, etc that you will be doing. If you have weak ankles then get ones that go up a little higher so you dont risk injuring it. Dont be afraid to spend money on them...if they are the ones you feel are best for you in running then think about getting them, dont not get them becasue they are a little too much

And check out that benning link that ws posted...it is really helpful

[martinexsquaddie]

Virtual Penders right get down to a decent running store.
Avoid the large sports shop find one staffed by runners.
Forget about whats issue or not chances are you can get better.
If you can avoid running in boots do it. Its a good way to injure yourself unless your used to it and even then its not brilliant.
Unless you got plenty of soft ground avoid running in boots altogether great way to get shin splints if you have to wait till your training at least there pay you for being lame :)

[digitalghost]

ah lots of complicating rigid foot crooked foot stuff i'll have to read the uh benning article and decide... another question:

What PT clothing does army wear for all season weather?

Im guessing the cotton shorts and tshirt but what about fall/autumn cold weather? sweatshirt/sweatpants and fleece watch cap? waht about winter? uhhhmmm???

I've seen the new issue 100% nylon jacket/pants used during PT; when does one use those? isnt it bad to keep the moisture in?

check it: http://www.rangerjoes.com/ click catalog click PT UNIFORMS

[martinexsquaddie]

t shirt shorts
You cold run faster :lol:
though may be diffrent matter it it get below -10 :(

[Royal]

Martin & the others are right - go to a good runners shop, get fitted and take their advice - it'll cost you, but in terms of both fitness and injuries it will be worth it. Personally I wear Asics Gel Kayano's - expensive, but good for me.

Also, get 2 pairs if you're running every day - rotate them, day on, day off - they'll last longer and give better protection. Change running shoes every 500km. The spring will have gone, even if they loo okay.

Wear whatever you need to be cool on the warm-up, but not too hot when you're pushing it. Newer 'wicking' fabrics are better than cotton for phys (though they melt, so are no good in the field).

If you need to run in boots, you need to train in boots. You'll do yourself alot less damage off road than on (and get a better workout). For really hard training run on sand.

Finally, warm up, warm down and stay hydrated.

[Duke]

What?! No GOFASTERS.

[Beowulf]

since your so into accuracy and telling us all about how the army trains.....don't forget your road guard vest and/or johnny go fast strap (that stupid reflective one)

oh and you'll need a battle buddy......

-b

[Duke]

Gofasters = Marine Gym Shoes. I don't get your point.

[Scrim]

Think Beowulf was talking to Digighost Duke, not you. Dont forget your glowing donkey ****.

[martinexsquaddie]

Did a TA carde once where our new regular RSM decided to make a mark So Unannonced sunday orgainised 6am PT. By 6.30am we were in some sort of order everybody had been drinking heavily the night before and the MT and Medics were especially not happy. We set off for the run with men puking up on average every 50 yds half a mile later we were lapped by the junior leaders half way through Basic all in identical kit Sober (its illegal for 17year olds to drink in the uk) and looking like soldiers.
result no more early morning PT sessions that week I don't think the Rsm could cope with the humiliation :lol:

[Beowulf]

Yeah, Duke that was directed to Digighost. I know you know your sh*t. I was annoyed that lil' highspeed was trying to tell everyone how the army trains....
All Best
beowulf

[SABER 2-3]

Check out the Air Zoom Spiridon(LIGHTEST SHOE)-- So far the "lightweight for faster running" feature has impresesd me most becuase you obviously want to get a faster APFT run time to exceed the Army's RANGER SCHOOL standard of 5 miles in 40 minutes :D

YEAH BUDDY! It's always a good idea to train w/ gear (footwear) that has no resemblance to what you will wear while doing your job. As for the faster APFT run time to exceed the RTB's 5 mile run, it won't be that big of a deal. When you check into zero week (many years from now) they will issue you your tab due to the fact that you already know every thing and what more could they teach you. Hell, I bet they will make you a RI (choice of RTB and all) if you will show everyone at BLDG 4 your "Air Zoom's".

[SABER 2-3]

HOOAH

[digitalghost]

SABER 2-3: There are 2 types of PT:

1. APFT

2. BFPT

APFT is where they run around in commercial shoes and the army standard PT uniform

BFPT is where they do ruck marches etc. Im fully aware of the ruck march but unfortuantely i cannot afford to purchase the helmet bdus armor with plates boots and a rucksack to do 8 mile road marches so i'll have to do the APFT first dum****

i also 100% fully support the BFPT and doing away with the APFT which has nothing to do with COMBAT FITNESS--- but since the army tests its soldiers on the APFT with running shoes i'll have to wear running shoes and not boots.

Heres a quote from teh website itself:

http://www.geocities.com/equipmentshop/apft.htm


AFGHANISTAN, 2002

The U.S. Army's official After-Action Review for recent Operation Anaconda combat concludes:

"O: The terrain and altitude make combat in mountains extremely physically demanding. D: Units need to get away from the normal PT routines before deploying to the mountains. Pushups, sit-ups and 5-mile runs will not prepare Soldiers. They need to have the ability to spend time in the mountains to physically adapt to the terrain and altitude. Soldiers were not used to steeper slopes and wasted time and energy. LL: Emphasis on ruck marches (6-8 mile) with heavy loads. Cardiovascular training, strength and mountain walking techniques need to be stressed. Subject matter experts (SME?s) need to give blocks of instruction on even the basics of mountain walking techniques."

While we work daily to max the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT), our runs, push-ups and sit-ups betray us when we put our LBE, rucksack, helmet and weapon on. We are barely able to maintain an Expert Infantryman's Badge (EIB) 4 mph pace on foot. We all know of the "jack rabbits" who can run two miles under 12 minutes, but who turn into "slugs" when you put a heavy load with useful equipment on them.

VIOLATING CARDINAL FITNESS PRINCIPLE: SPECIFICITY

The reality is that the APFT is a SPORTS-oriented test not a combat-oriented test of physical fitness. This is a violation of the most basic fitness principles which is to train for the specific tasks to be done. Compounding this, the sit-up exercise is universally recognized by health/sports experts as being harmful to the lower back. What we need is an APFT that will measure combat physical fitness and then encourage the development of combat physical fitness by what we do during daily Physical Training (PT).

I recommend that we change the two-mile run to a three-mile or 6 mile speed march in BDUs, 35-pound rucksack, Kevlar© PASGT helmet and weapon which can be a "rubber duck" or a 2x4 piece of wood cut to a 36" length and spray painted black. To get 100 points, you must do the three miles in less than 30 minutes or 6 miles in 60 minutes for a speed of six miles per hour or better. A tangible goal. A lot of people wail about the "Soldier's Load" problem but do not do anything more than offer a band aid solution of telling leaders not to overload their men. There has to be a yardstick to prove one way or another if men are overloaded or not. If they cannot move at 6 mph with their battle gear they are not "all that they can be". If they cannot even maintain 1-2 mph they are overloaded, not properly conditioned for COMBAT or both.

This would encourage Soldiers/units to examine the gear they take into the field and how it is arranged to achieve maximum mobility. Push-ups (without the ridiculous legalism--place a BDU patrol cap on the ground, you touch it on the way down, its enough) and leg-lifts would be done prior to the speed march in BDUs with jacket removed. Leg-lifts would replace sit-ups for measurement of abdominal physical condition without harmful stress on the lower back.

The combat-oriented APFT as described above would give focus to our training efforts and personal physical fitness. Americans love sports, and running around in thin cotton shorts, t-shirts and running shoes can be fun. But this yields us little in terms of "go-to-war" mobility that needs to be at 4-7 mph-level with useful combat load in hand if we are to be a world-class mobile infantry force that can our-maneuver irregulars on the modern non-linear battlefield.


DARBY'S RANGERS SPEED-MARCHING at Arzew, January 20, 1943


In We Lead the Way by William O. Darby and William Baumer write:


"Speed marches gave maximum development to lungs and legs, and most importantly, to feet. In the early stages we had blisters by the bushel. Finally, though, we became hardened, and our feet were able to stand up under any kind of pounding. On one occasion during the training in speed marching, the Rangers flew across ten miles in eighty-seven minutes, flashing that long stride that was to become our trademark in the Mediterranean war."


Today's Israeli Paratroopers, and our own Darby's Rangers in WWII could go 10 miles in just 87 minutes! This is the kind of battle speed we need to deploy from aircraft, ground Armored Fighting Vehicles in order to stay outside of enemy sensor detection range yet close in fast enough to catch and destroy him by surprise. The IDF Paras practice regularly stretcher carries during PT, note the folding stretcher carried by the Paratrooper in the illustration above. We should likewise insure folding stretchers, or non-rigid types be carried by at least one Soldier in each squad, preferably the Combat LifeSaver assigned to the aid/litter team. Battle physical fitness is what we need to exploit human powered vehicles like the carts Paratroopers/Rangers used in WWII, and the bikes Yama****a used to conquer Malaya/Singapore, and the British Airborne "Cycle-Commandos" to capture Bruneval radar station.



1st TSG (A) member, Andrew Honer, former 2nd Battalion Parachute Regiment writes:

"Pre-1979/80, the British Army APFT was commonly known as the 10 mile bash.

This was particularly reverred by the Airborne Battalions and was part of the final "P" Company period prior to RAF Abingdon for Para training.

The bash consisted of a 10 mile timed speed march in full battle order including weapon, helmet, bergen, simulated ammunition weight and other equipment. The failure rate, was in relation to physical drop out was kept to a minimum from the constant ' beasting ', ie: physical assault from Platoon NCO's and Physical Training Instructors.

In 1979/80, this practice became unused, rumoured to have been stopped by the MoD, exact initiation of this action unknown, and was replaced by a 3 mile timed run/walk in little more than t-shirt, Dennims and boots. As expected the pass rate was 100%.

The Parachute Regiment however realising the need to produce battle ready troops, adhered to the cancellation on the Bash, though instilled a 50 mile overnight march, for us this was an overnight exercise through the streets and forests of former West Berlin.

Although I was not in the Atlantic Campaign, the Falklands although providing difficult conditions, taking into account the terrain, lack of transport, logistics and the distances to be travelled, the men I know would not have been able to succeed under those conditions without adequate battle orientated training, a success, though marred by few fatalities, would have not have been achieved without preparation during and after training."

BURSTS OF SPEED: JOGGING DOESN'T GIVE IT

All physical fitness should be task specific. The problem with running ( jogging is more like it ) is it teaches you to run slow. The concept of speed marching teaches you to walk fast. Which has the more desired effect in combat. What I'm getting at is your muscles are being trained for a specific activity. Jogging is good for teaching a specific kind of endurance like steady movement but when you have to kick it up a gear ( like when you are under fire ) it is very hard to do. What is more likely to happen is you will crouch and jog. In combat it's inevitable that you will need a burst of speed to avoid being exposed to fire or move to cover under aimed fire. The speed marching concept is better than jogging, no question. It can be used to successfully move forces over large chunks of terrain and still remain alert to your surroundings, very necessary in combat conditions. It is teaching your muscles to move faster than the usual march speed. This is more muscle memory stuff which you're probably tired of but I don't know how else to explain it.

Now examine what happens when you make contact from a jog. One of the most important aspects of foot speed is your ability to pick up your feet quickly so you can marshall the quadriceps and hamstring muscles which push your feet down and back which propels you forward. These two muscles groups ( hamstring and quads with a lot of help from your gluteus ) are the most explosive in your body. You would think that some one with extremely strong thighs would be fast but this isn't true. In order to make your thigh muscles work at their maximum you have to you have to be able to bring your knees up to at least waist high and higher is better. The slower you lift your knees up the longer the it takes to push down with your thighs. You can only go as fast as the up down motion will allow. A person can have tremendous thigh strength (the push cycle) but be totally unable to pick your knees up (the pull cycle) and the result will be slow speed. That's basic stuff that I may not be making totally clear but I can recommend some books if you are really interested.

The muscles that pick up your knee is the Hip Flexor. These are the thin band of muscles that run down the front of the hip from your Abs to the quads. They are not very strong but they are extremely explosive. The problem with jogging is it fatigues the hip flexor severely and does something called short stroking. This is where the muscle does not work through the full range of motion and is constantly fatigued in the partial range. What this means is when you have to run suddenly after jogging for a long time you cannot pick up your knees. The result is slow foot speed and possibly the ultimate sacrifice.

Speed marching is a much better in the sense that you save your legs from the pounding and the fatigue in your hip flexors. It also allows your legs to functions in a more natural manner. This means efficiency which translate into saved energy and more importantly the ability to turn on the speed when it's necessary. Speed marching is definitely tiring but it works the strongest and biggest muscle groups (the thighs) and not one of the weakest ( hip flexor ) which you could need at a moments notice.

Ok, we want the speed march as part of the APFT. But, lets add some other extremely important dimensions like running explosion. This means your ability to sprint. This doesn't mean your 40 yard dash time, it means your ability to run under stress for a given period of time. For example, you have 5 minutes to run ten 100 yard dashes (in combat equipment, weapon, web gear etc. ). You would have to run each, hundreds yard dash in thirty seconds each. these are timed sprints. If you don't believe it's tough enough you can make the time per sprint less.

It works like this. You get thirty seconds two run each sprint. The faster you run the sprint the more rest you get between sprints. This encourages everyone to run there fastest. There is only about a second and a half difference between your slowest and your fastest Soldiers so speed isn't a big factor. You can drop it down to twenty-five seconds and you see that it gets very difficult. Do this after you have the speed march and you will be on your way to some real combat fitness.

The next little drill is the upper body test. Many people can do fifty push ups but lets make it under real conditions. After the speed march and sprint test we go to a sand pit. It should be thirty meters long. You have the Soldiers sprint the thirty yards and do as many push-ups as possible in fifteen seconds. Do that three or four times and then move on to pull-ups and Abs of some kind. I don't know what the standards should be but you can try it and get a base line pretty fast. I would love to see you pick a couple of young studs who think there in shape and see what they can do. I think you'll be amazed.

The point is that no one walks or jogs into war with no equipment and without using many different types of fitness, aerobic, anaerobic, and a combination of the two with the whole body. In most cases an Infantrymen usually has to work hard to get to an objective with all his equipment and them needs a burst of energy to assault it. It can also work the other way as Col. Bernard has written about. You may have to run for your life with all your gear and wounded at a much higher speed than a jog.

COMBAT PT TRAINING

Instead of running around in shorts we could do PT in the actual BDU uniform and LBE that we will use in combat. While ruck marching for time:

*Carry a stretcher with a designated Soldier on it and rotate during the march use rigid and non-rigid litters
*Carry 5 gallon water cans
*Push a HMMWV simulating a disabled vehicle
*Sandbag vehicles for technical skill/upper body strength
*Tow a 120mm Heavy Mortar a distance (U.S. Army Ranger 3-man squad towed a 716 pound mortar for 30 miles re: The Discovery Channel documentary "American Commandos" 1-800-765-0066 $19.95)
*Carry weapons at the ready during a speed march, stop and engage targets with MILES and silhouettes or live fire
*Obstacle courses *Assembly-Disassembly of weapons EIB-style after a speed march or "Battle run"
*Battle runs with LBE (LC-2, ETLBV, TLBV etc), weapon, helmet

The point of all of this is to get better Soldier performance while in combat fighting order

http://www.geocities.com/equipmentshop/apft.htm

take taht smartass

[SABER 2-3]

OK, I took that...next. I guess you showed me, I'm gonna start your PT program tomorrow. And to think 13 wasted years of doing PT as directed by my stupid Squad and Team Leaders. Their gonna pay for not showing me how to be a stud at selection. Well thank GOD for digitalghost because now that I'm a team leader my guys are gonna be digitalstuds. To bad they already got selected...oh well, atleast will be up to digitalghost standards (dare I dream)

[USAF G]

I was assisting in teaching a knife defense class, last year, and I suggested that the students might want to stretch before we work out. One of the students spouted, "Why, we're not going to get to stretch in a real defense situation?" I explained that "in a real situation" we wouldn't be worried about strains or injurys, rather saving our ass. However, if you are constantly injured, due to your training practices, you will never progress, or be ready for that actual confrontation. :roll:

Digitalghost's post reminded me of that situation. Training exactly like we fight would induce far too many casualties to be productive. Non combat related fitness does translate onto the battlefield. I saw some PJs running the other day, and low and behold they had running shoes on. I guess they don't know what's good for them, huh? :cantbeli:

[digitalghost]

hey first of all im not against APFT entirely in fact--- the fact that the army is indeed doing the APFT along with stretches means that i WILL DO THAT ALSO--- whats on that geocities website recommends they get rid of the 2 miles run and instead do a speed march etc. so regardless of what the geocities site says im still going to to the standard APFT + BFPT anyway becuase thats what the army does-- want proof? this topic i posted about running shoes is proof

first i get attacked for talking about APFT and not BFPT

then i get attacked for talking about BFPT and not APFT

[SABER 2-3]

I never said that you should do your daily runs in jungle boots!
But, call me old school I just don't advocate tracking down the lightest shoes known to man to help you achive a 300 on your APFT. That extra 4oz.'s in your quality running shoe (whatever the PX is selling at the time) will benifit the troop that is training to be everlasting over hundreds of miles not the APFT 2 mile burnout. The APFT is a detail that that must be done, it does not do a adaquate job of assessing a soldiers combat fitness. Regular Road marchs and periodic Ruck runs are a much better judge(done in boots). Leaders must have an acceptable level of injury ignorance-soldiers that suffer minor non-degrading injuries should be encouraged to treat on-the-spot and drive on. Every thing wedo is for a purpose and almost all of the things we do are some form of drill. As we train so shall we fight.

[digitalghost]

but you see no one would tell me what running shoes the army uses so im left here to guess and wonder what they use--- basicly im getting the message "wear a running shoe" so im off to find a running shoe-- and whats wrong with having the best if there is a best or i duno i just wanta running shoe thats all---

[SABER 2-3]

When you arrive at Ft. Benning (reception bn) you will be given an advance on your first pay to buy running shoes from a PX that is right there at reception. The Army does not issue running shoes or Jump boots you must furnish both (jump boots after ABN school)

[digitalghost]

Ah.. but what running shoes do they sell @ the PX? just one type? or a footlocker variety? if they recommend just that one type i'd like to know what that type is and buy/use it--

[Royal]

Never been to Benning, but if it's like any other PX I've been in, there will be a selection.

It doesn't matter what that selection is - follow the advice earlier in this thread, go to a decent running shop and get fitted.

A pair of running shoes is a pair of running shoes - you attitute is what will get you through (or not). Get a decent pair or two now - you'll soon wear them out. Sort out your fitness and your attitude. That is not a dig, that's friendly advice. If you really want to get into any 'high speed' unit in any decent army, you need to sort your attitude or you will be beasted until you wrap by your training team.

There, advice, and I was civil to you.

[Andyman]

I found that NEW BALANCE made a comfortable running shoe and they are one of the few companies that have size variations based on the width and length of your foot. I bought myself a pair of Nike runners last march and I have never rolled my ankle so much, it seemed as though I only did it in those shoes. But hey everyone has a different shaped foot so I say go with what works brother. ;)

[Beowulf]

When I went to Benning they would give you the advance to buy what you needed from the PX.

However, if you had new shoes they would let you keep the ones you had, but they had to look pretty new. (and be running shoes of course)

The Px carries all types of shoes, but usually a lot of New Balance. The army doesn't tell you what shoe is "best", almost everything they give you was made by the lowest bidder. Don't expect to get issued any high-speed gear at all. You won't need in in OSUT, basic, or AIT anyway.
-b

[digitalghost]

Cool-- Means I can bring my own "new" shoes thats best for me :D

[SABER 2-3]

Yes, you may bring your own shoes. The catch is that like BEOWULF said they must be almost brand new and they must not be outragous in color or design. In other words your Drill SGT must approve them. Asto what brand, go to Foot Locker and try on every type and manufacturer. Go ask the members of your schools Cross Country running team or better yet join your schools CC team (playing baseball and running cross country races helped me get to where I am today-I highly recomend you try-out) they will give you tons of info on the good, bad and ugly shoes.

[digitalghost]

Heh yea I "should have" done track/cross country/swimming in High School-- It's too late now I already graduated--- It wasn't up till recently I suddenly had a strong passion to join the military

[zonk]

adidas, i have used them for years....but i bought new balances and have been using the fool outta them

[djon]

ze adidas for me too ....way more comfortable and flexible than nike