Boots for Beast and Garrison

ACMoodz

5-Year Member
Joined
Sep 28, 2012
Messages
9
DS would like to break in boots before Beast. Any suggestions on what boot is best for Beast and for daily wear around the Garrison?
 
Boots/Shoes

My DS is visiting WP in a couple of weeks and will purchase his on base. I agree that you should break them in, including the dress shoes. Best advice he received was to have them over his shoulder or on his feet on R Day - if you forget and pack them then WP will issue new boots and maybe not your size! I know this because it happened to DS's 2016 bud!
Another suggestion was inserts and good socks. Makes all the difference during BEAST!
Go Army - Beat Navy!
Proud Madre - Class of 2017
 
Get the approved footwear

It's been a couple of years but as I recall there will be a letter published indicating acceptable footwear for Beast. Seems like this is usually a decision of the TACs based on current thinking and current models of footwear. It's more of getting the feet adjusted to the footwear rather than "breaking in" the shoes. Good idea to be thinking ahead, if anything I would think adjustment to the low quarters is primary as most recent acceptable boots are much more comfortable without having to get your foot adjusted to the boot than if you've never worn low quarters for 8 hours and a 10 mile walk (R-Day) before. If it isn't published yet, look for the acceptable models of footwear in the letter.

-RLTW
 
For parents who want to go ahead and get boots/shoes now, the West Point (staff) parent liaison has put out a list of acceptable boots and low quarters for Beast (Bates M-8 Desert Boot (1450); Khyber Mountain Hybrid Boot (tan); and Belleville 310. The low quarters are Bates - oxford, black leather, non-shiny DLA # M206H. This information appears on the "West Point Class of 2017 Moms and Dads" facebook page. To join the page, send a "request to join" from your facebook account. After she verifies the appointment, she will link you to the page. The boot information evidently will also be sent in a direct communication to each appointee. Hope this helps!
 
Last edited:
For parents who want to go ahead and get boots/shoes now, the West Point (staff) parent liaison has put out a list of acceptable boots and low quarters for Beast (Bates M-8 Desert Boot (1450); Khyber Mountain Hybrid Boot (tan); and Belleville 310. The low quarters are Bates - oxford, black leather, non-shiny DLA # M206H. This information appears on the "West Point Class of 2017 Moms and Dads" facebook page. To join the page, send a "request to join" from your facebook account. After she verifies the appointment, she will link you to the page. The boot information evidently will also be sent in a direct communication to each appointee. Hope this helps!

Thank you. I requested membership last week, not long after DS recieved his appointment and accepted. Still have not been acepted to the group.
 
Can you send another request - there are two FB pages - one is NOT the West Point Class of 2017 Moms and Dads but is instead West Point Class of 2017. Only the Moms and Dads page is officially connected to WP and where the info will be distributed. The other is run by a poster on this forum. Otherwise, perhaps your request is just in the queue of the dozens she received this week (which coincides with Plebe Parent Weekend and all the preparations for the events scheduled, and the delays caused by unexpected snowstorm)?
 
The "boot letter" is also one of the items WP will send to accepted candidates. By send, I mean it should eventually get posted to your portal.
 
Another tip... Boots are just like big bad tennis shoes now. It goes by personal preference but in the boot letter last year you had a choice of 3: The Khyber Mountain Hybrid, a Belleville and I forgot what the last one was.

I tried on several and thought I liked my bellevilles till I started walking around in them. They were too heavy for me, and I would have actually liked the smaller amount of support in the Khybers.

Also, you're going to want to size down. I wear a 13 1/2 running shoe and a 12 for boots. Several friends of mine had to size down a size. Make sure you try on a lot before you buy! They last years.
 
personally, I bought the khyber mountain boots and wore them to school at least twice a week to break them in before the summer. Compered to the bells, they need less "breaking in" to feel comfortable. They survived beast beautifully, and are a great boot for just the upcoming summer.

As for garrison, I wear the nike SFB boots, just because they are lighter and are more comfortable to wear. Also, you will notice that most cadets have them. But DO NOT buy/ wear them during beast. They tear easily and do not offer near the amount of support you need for the summer events.

I agree with the above comments, just get boots off the list they sent you. The last thing you need is to be wearing the "issued boots" that are not broken in. BLISTER CITY!

Best of luck this summer, Cheers
 
Rule #1 for boots/shoes - try them on first if at all possible. Sizes and fit all vary from brand to brand and you don't want a pair that doesn't fit comfortably.

With that being said, I recommend the khybers for beast. They are relatively cheap, have a good blend of stability and the athletic shoe feel, and are light. They are not waterproof and they will eventually fall apart (khyber is belleville's made in china brand), but by then, you will have finished beast and have a much wider array of boots to choose from.

If you want to get nikes, wait to buy them from the c-store in mid-September. They are cheaper there than online, and you can avoid the massive line for them on A-day.

I went to beast with two pairs of khybers. It was a pain to carry them on r-day, but it was well worth it when I could rotate boots (wet/dry) without worry while some of my classmates had to switch to issued boots, which tear up most people's feet.

Whatever you decide, try them on first.
 
I went to beast with two pairs of khybers.
Whatever you decide, try them on first.
Just about all on-line companies (my experience is with Patriot Supply) will allow a free one-time or very inexpensive any time size changeout if the size your boot is too big or small.

Agree there is no, zero, nada, point in getting heavier, stiffer, more rugged boots for Beast. Just get the Khybers. Blisters or no blisters, your choice.
 
Boots

Which ever boot your DS decides to go with. I suggest he gets in as much wear as possible.
Took DS for long hikes and he would use them for his daily runs as well..
We are happy to report no blisters were reported :thumb:

p.s.
Welcome to the W.P. family
 
I am going to West Point on the 8th for an overnight. Someone mentioned you can just buy the boots there? Do they sell the kybhers there? Also where do I buy them, c-store?
 
I read on the Class of 2017 Parents FB page last night that, yes, you can buy the Khybers at the Cadet Store.
 
Just to throw in my two cents, I really liked the Belleville 310s. I've had three pairs over my (almost) two years at the Academy and wore them through Beast, Air Assault, and Buckner. Plenty of my friends have Khybers though and like those just fine.

While you can't have Nikes or Oakleys during Beast, they are options for you during the academic year or upperclass summers. I've tried both, and the Nikes weren't my favorite because they're almost too light and don't offer enough support. The Oakleys are hands down the most comfortable boots I've ever had and have a balance between being light and having enough support.
 
I read on the Class of 2017 Parents FB page last night that, yes, you can buy the Khybers at the Cadet Store.

correct. just ask your escort to take you to the c-store. They have them in the back.
 
Bates M-8's are almost identical to the Khybers, and are another good option. DS loves his, and is getting a 2nd pair even over the other options available.

And you can get them through AAFES, etc.

Most important thing is fit & comfort. Second is do they have decent traction. (one of the options for 2015 did not, and cadets regretted their choice)

As the boot letter normally mentions, fit is critical, and most wear 1-2 sizes smaller than they think. If the heel or sole rubs when they walk, the boot is too big! If you scuff your foot on the floor, and your toes hit the front of the boot, it's too loose or too small one.

Most find that if your foot is measured by a Brannock device(???) the fit will be dead on, or very close. And usually smaller than they would normally wear.

The reality is that most of the options are good if it's a modern tennis shoe type construction (Kyhber, M8, Nike, Oakley, etc).

The 2nd pair issued on R-day in past years was a cheap, old style boot. Even the 310's were ahead of them. DS keeps his as inspection boots.

Khybers:
BVTR360-2.jpg


M8:
bates_m8.jpg


310:
340-DES-STWEB2.jpg
 
Oops, posted the wrong link...

Here's the Belleville 310:
belleville-310-big-1.jpg


By all reports a great garrison boot, and good in desert/dry environments, and for vehicle usage. The 310's are also available in steel toe, which makes them very popular in the RA. Some cadets did not care for the 310 in CBT as they loaded up worse than others in mud/obstacle course type activities. It's a milder tread for sure. But other got by fine, your mileage may vary! Batteries not included, etc.

The 3rd boot in my original post is one of the older Belleville/Bates styles. And likely what you'll get issued on R-day. I've only known one cadet that liked theirs, and they were female who had a hard time finding a fit in the other options.

All of these are better than the old black boots!!!!
 
Back
Top