Footwear Questions

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KendrewCodes

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Oct 27, 2023
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Hey y'all, I have a couple questions about footwear at the Naval Academy, especially during Plebe Summer.

To start off, I have very wide feet and even some wide shoes/boots don't fit. Because of this I can only (comfortably) wear certain brands of boots or running shoes (for long periods of time). I understand that you can bring your own running shoes to plebe summer, but I was wondering if you could wear them for times other than PEP instead of your issued ones. I'm also curious if you have to wear your issued boots, or could you get a different pair sent over in a care package?

Thank y'all for all the help!
 
KendrewCodes said:
Hey y'all, I have a couple questions about footwear at the Naval Academy, especially during Plebe Summer.

To start off, I have very wide feet and even some wide shoes/boots don't fit. Because of this I can only (comfortably) wear certain brands of boots or running shoes (for long periods of time). I understand that you can bring your own running shoes to plebe summer, but I was wondering if you could wear them for times other than PEP instead of your issued ones. I'm also curious if you have to wear your issued boots, or could you get a different pair sent over in a care package?

Thank y'all for all the help!
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Though I am not in your particular scenario I hope this incite does help. Unfortunately during my plebe summer for times other than Pep or sports period, we had to all be wearing the same issued footwear which is a bummer. You should get issued brooks which is not a bad brand. As for boots I don't see any issue with getting boots shipped to you so long as they are brown (Garmont Tactical T8 Bifida Coyote). Obviously this isn't the brand that is mandated but as long as they look like that shade of brown you should be fine. I have a marine prior in my class who brought his own boots. Again, there is no guarantee they will let you wear your own boots but if I was a detailer, as long as everyone had the same shade/color of boot it doesn't matter to me. Hope this helped!
 
Conroy04 said:
Though I am not in your particular scenario I hope this incite does help. Unfortunately during my plebe summer for times other than Pep or sports period, we had to all be wearing the same issued footwear which is a bummer. You should get issued brooks which is not a bad brand. As for boots I don't see any issue with getting boots shipped to you so long as they are brown (Garmont Tactical T8 Bifida Coyote). Obviously this isn't the brand that is mandated but as long as they look like that shade of brown you should be fine. I have a marine prior in my class who brought his own boots. Again, there is no guarantee they will let you wear your own boots but if I was a detailer, as long as everyone had the same shade/color of boot it doesn't matter to me. Hope this helped!
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Thank you for letting me know! Fortunately, Brooks is one of the brands that I fit well in so that certainly provides some relief. Also, do you know if they issue wide sizes?
 
KendrewCodes said:
Hey y'all, I have a couple questions about footwear at the Naval Academy, especially during Plebe Summer.

To start off, I have very wide feet and even some wide shoes/boots don't fit. Because of this I can only (comfortably) wear certain brands of boots or running shoes (for long periods of time). I understand that you can bring your own running shoes to plebe summer, but I was wondering if you could wear them for times other than PEP instead of your issued ones. I'm also curious if you have to wear your issued boots, or could you get a different pair sent over in a care package?

Thank y'all for all the help!
Click to expand...
You will wear your personal shoes only during PEP. Otherwise, Brooks all day.
I don't see why you couldn't bring your own shoes but your backpack of personal items is taken on I-day. I didn't see my backpack until 4 weeks in when I needed my COVID vaccination card. I would rather get boots shipped if you really feel the need. But the issued boots are plenty comfortable and you don't run a ton in them. In the AcYear, you run in boots more!
 
When you’re getting fitted for shoes on I-Day, take your time to be sure you get the best fit possible. Even though the NABSD folks have to get through a thousand plebes in one day, they will take the time to help each individual get the right sizes. They’ve been doing it a very long time. The Academy takes this pretty seriously because it’s an important part of preventing injuries which would interfere with training.

Anecdote: I remember talking to one of the tailors during a uniform issue and he mentioned that he’d been at the Academy since before the Supe was a plebe. They know a thing or two about fitting midshipmen for uniforms.
 
As others have said, other than PEP you will be wearing the issued Brooks during plebe summer.

As for boots, a previous post said that all that mattered was the look.
Conroy04 said:
Obviously this isn't the brand that is mandated but as long as they look like that shade of brown you should be fine
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This is not correct. There is a specific list (specific makes and models) of boots authorized for wear in the NWU III uniform. If you google NWU III Approved Boots you can find it easily. If you buy boots then make sure they are on this list. However, as others have mentioned, your detailers will likely require you to wear the issued boots during plebe summer.

The academy carries a wide selection of footwear sizes with options for wide/narrow feet, so I think you will be pleasantly surprised how well your issue gear fits. Just make sure you advocate for yourself during the issue process and communicate if something doesn’t fit so they can get you a different size/width.
 
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