VMI XL flat twin sheets

Goarmymom

5-Year Member
Joined
Apr 4, 2011
Messages
164
So now the search is in full swing for XL twin flat white sheets for VMI. I have seen on old posts that some people bought sheets at www.linensupplier.com. Have you been happy with these? Are they a decent quality? Do they seem like they will last for 4 years? We are at the point where we are going to have to buy complete sets, but I wanted to check this out first.

BTW, "XL" seems to quite variable in lengths, depending on the brand. Does anyone know the minimum number of inches the sheets need to be to fit properly over their hay?

Thanks!
 
Goarmymom, I needed some towels and sheets for my DS to attend STP. I didn't want to buy something sight unseen so I didn't order them online. I ended up buying his sheets at IKEA, along with his towels. The dimensions of the sheets appeared to be as long or longer than the Twin XL sheets I had seen. I will say they are very thin sheets but I figured they'd get him through his first year. I haven't heard any complaints out of STP from him. We got his comforter at Target (plain Navy blue) as well as his fan. What I liked about his towels is they came with little locker loops sewn onto them to hang on hooks. Also got his pillow, two pillow cases and a zip on cover for the pillow at IKEA. I believe I got him the SLUMRA sheet which is 102" long. One thing I didn't see on the packing list and he asked to send were some hangers for his clothes. I don't know if they don't need them because uniforms come from the laundry on hangers or what but there were not any in the room.
 
We were just at IKEA and I saw those sheets, but I was unsure if the dimensions were OK, and my husband wanted to get him more comfortable sheets. I saw those towels, and thought they were really neat, but I had gotten him some towels from Walmart already. They're nice and thin and he said they dry really fast (he's at STP too!). We also found a comforter, fan and safe at Target. These sheets are just a thorn in my side. Thanks so much for your help! Let me know if you find anything else!
 
I have heard from past years' mom that the linen supplier source is very good and all were satifisied - only item that had any question was the blanket -it didnt wear as well as they have expected.
From our experience I purchased a quilt like coverlet - from target, that year 09 - plain black on one side and white with black pinstripe on other. My son found the quilt like cover good and it went thru the laundry system well.
As for the sheets - I can tell you all that whatever the XL twin size is will be good enough. The RATS must learn the VMI way to make their hay - that hay as far as I can tell is a standard twin size. So the flat XL from whereever will be great.
I too have been happy with IKEA - always knew their cabinets rated higher than most other brands on market - but I have discovered that their duvets, duvet covers and sheets really hold up well.
It is real tough to find sheets sold seperately - so IKEA is probably the best bet . Last year I found Wal mart also sold brand think it was better homes, each piece singly - dont know if they have the XL flat twin this summer or not.
If yous cadet has/is attending STP then you now have a real sense of barracks but the laundry isn't operating during STP. The cadets do send their laundry out think its 1/wk, while there is a set or two of washing machines on the Institute, the RATS will hardly have time to go do laundry - so the numbers of items are on high side, but for those first months, with heat and their activity and laundry 1/wk - they will go thru it.
I offer the following:
My son is a 1sr - I can say that I haven't had to purchase any new towels or sheets. Each May, upon his return, I have weeded out those used more during the past year, VMI had new equipment installed in laundry about 1 yr ago, but honestly, this past May cant say that I noticed much improvement. We have had to replace the white tees and most of all the socks each yr. The legend is true - the laundry seems to eat some amount of socks. etc - but really has never been a real issue - certanly not during the year.
We thought STP was well worth the effort, hope your cadet(s) found it so. Historically about 50% of the incoming class attend STP.
So, welcome aboard - look forward to seeing all the new faces next month. larrys mom
 
I have heard from past years' mom that the linen supplier source is very good and all were satifisied - only item that had any question was the blanket -it didnt wear as well as they have expected.
From our experience I purchased a quilt like coverlet - from target, that year 09 - plain black on one side and white with black pinstripe on other. My son found the quilt like cover good and it went thru the laundry system well.
As for the sheets - I can tell you all that whatever the XL twin size is will be good enough. The RATS must learn the VMI way to make their hay - that hay as far as I can tell is a standard twin size. So the flat XL from whereever will be great.
I too have been happy with IKEA - always knew their cabinets rated higher than most other brands on market - but I have discovered that their duvets, duvet covers and sheets really hold up well.
It is real tough to find sheets sold seperately - so IKEA is probably the best bet . Last year I found Wal mart also sold brand think it was better homes, each piece singly - dont know if they have the XL flat twin this summer or not.
If yous cadet has/is attending STP then you now have a real sense of barracks but the laundry isn't operating during STP. The cadets do send their laundry out think its 1/wk, while there is a set or two of washing machines on the Institute, the RATS will hardly have time to go do laundry - so the numbers of items are on high side, but for those first months, with heat and their activity and laundry 1/wk - they will go thru it.
I offer the following:
My son is a 1sr - I can say that I haven't had to purchase any new towels or sheets. Each May, upon his return, I have weeded out those used more during the past year, VMI had new equipment installed in laundry about 1 yr ago, but honestly, this past May cant say that I noticed much improvement. We have had to replace the white tees and most of all the socks each yr. The legend is true - the laundry seems to eat some amount of socks. etc - but really has never been a real issue - certanly not during the year.
We thought STP was well worth the effort, hope your cadet(s) found it so. Historically about 50% of the incoming class attend STP.
So, welcome aboard - look forward to seeing all the new faces next month. larrys mom

Thanks! He is absolutely loving STP and feel like he is home. He said if he had to choose 1000 times over, he would choose it again. He is well aware that the ratline is going to be extremely tough but is determined to work through it. For me, it has taken some trepidation out of the whole thing and I won't be worried when we leave him on matriculation day.
 
linen package

I got the whole cadet package from them. The sheets were the same thing most hospitals use.. very durable. DS said that he only really used 2 sets all year so what you get will last. The ones he did use became really dingy because of the laundry service, but the material held up. I just bleached them to death and they are okay. After Rat year you wont have to return with what you dont need so as far as the sheets go they should last 4 years.
 
I just placed an online order from www.linensupplier.com. They called me within minutes of my order to confirm the order and even suggested a better item which cost less! Great costumer service and very impressed with this level of assistance with prompt attention!
 
I got the whole cadet package from them. The sheets were the same thing most hospitals use.. very durable. DS said that he only really used 2 sets all year so what you get will last. The ones he did use became really dingy because of the laundry service, but the material held up. I just bleached them to death and they are okay. After Rat year you wont have to return with what you dont need so as far as the sheets go they should last 4 years.

Thanks so much for your help! That's very helpful.
 
I just placed an online order from www.linensupplier.com. They called me within minutes of my order to confirm the order and even suggested a better item which cost less! Great costumer service and very impressed with this level of assistance with prompt attention!

OK, I'm convinced. I may even see if the mom of DS' friend wants to split an order of sheets with me. Is shipping expensive? Thanks!
 
OK, I'm convinced. I may even see if the mom of DS' friend wants to split an order of sheets with me. Is shipping expensive? Thanks!

I would call and check ... I don't recall recall it being that much for the weight of the box but the amount I can't remember.. compared to the cost of gas and time running around to find XL twin sheets, I remember thinking the whole package was worth it. It took a week or two to get it so they don't charge top dollar.
RE customer service;
They initially sent us a white blanket and I called them asking where to return it.. I received a Navy Blue one overnight shipping from them the very next day and they said to keep the original one. The blankets are typical hospital bed blankets which caused my DS grief with lint. I bet they would try to improve that if it was brought to their attention. It isn't anything you would pay attention to in a home setting but he had to use a lint roller on his pillow etc because of it so we replaced it with a better material by the time he took his oath at New Market.
 
So, if they don't need all of those towels and sheets that they have to report with, where do they store them. The few pictures I've seen of the rooms/wall lockers it looks like they keep things to a minimum. Do they have to put them in their luggage in the storage room or are they allowed a duffle bag or something in the room. I was one picture of the wall locker with a duffle bag on top but it didn't say what they put in it.
 
So, if they don't need all of those towels and sheets that they have to report with, where do they store them. The few pictures I've seen of the rooms/wall lockers it looks like they keep things to a minimum. Do they have to put them in their luggage in the storage room or are they allowed a duffle bag or something in the room. I was one picture of the wall locker with a duffle bag on top but it didn't say what they put in it.

He use new items for "display" for inspections more than anything, and actually only used a set of sheets and towels every week. They do have a place in their room for them but DS is on his way to class so I can't ask him where exactly that is. DS brought home 2 pair of low quarters as well. 1 for formal inspections and 1 for every day use. I couldnt tell a difference in the shine between the 2 but the wear factor was evident on 1 pair. Not sure how far along in the year the second pair of shoes came into being but it may have been after break out.
Once he set up their locker right he said he didn't mess with it often except to dust. Their was stuff for show and stuff for use .. not sure if that is the normal way of doing it or maybe just his Company giving him some tips on saving time.
 
The duffle bag you see on top of some lockers are for the military stuff - my son has one for his Navy stuff. I was told his RAT year that only the scholarship/ (& am sure the) contract cadets have that duffle and as with everything it has a specific palceon top of locker. Those boxes you see, RATS will learn about them, their purpose and how to properly set up - all during their initial period. As far as I know, nothing is stored down in luggage room expect their bags/lockers. Fro what I learned during first yr, the cadets do not access that luggage room except to arrive and at the end of yr. Obivously the cadets that travel from far away must be allowed acess to luggage for vacation times, since we arer within driving distance, my son would come and go with laundry, book, and computer bags. As RATS they must be in uniform within county, so leaving the Institute and arriving they are in same uniform. So as for the towels and sheets there must be room within the locker/box system.
my intent to be offer our experience and what I know, hope it helps
larrys mom
 
So now the search is in full swing for XL twin flat white sheets for VMI. I have seen on old posts that some people bought sheets at www.linensupplier.com. Have you been happy with these? Are they a decent quality? Do they seem like they will last for 4 years? We are at the point where we are going to have to buy complete sets, but I wanted to check this out first.

BTW, "XL" seems to quite variable in lengths, depending on the brand. Does anyone know the minimum number of inches the sheets need to be to fit properly over their hay?

Thanks!

They just need to be long enough to fit around the hay and be tied off, you can err on the side of big, it doesn't really matter too much, it will look the same unless the sheet is massively too large.
 
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