Kit Question: Socks and boots

[Ajacied34]

To combat the current boot problem we seem to be facing, I was issued SWAT's by my regiment so far they're leaps and bounds over the issued boots I was borrowing from one of the guys at my regiment. I'm just wondering what experience any of you have wearing these boots during the winter with respect to the issued boots?

This leads me into my next question about socks; I have yet to be issued any socks from supply and come time for me to go to the field for my BMQ course I want to limit the extent to which my feet turn to ice cubes. Assuming I don't get the rest of my kit, what socks do you recommend that are warm, somewhat waterproof and hopefully within a student budget.

Thanks for any help! 

 

[Jarnhamar]

Swats are pretty thin and won't do too well in very cold weather on their own. Well maybe walking too and from work but not in the snow or slush. They'll get soaked pretty fast. If you're not given adequate winter footwear and you're unit is okay with store bought kit you should consider a pair of waterproof neos or winter neos.
http://www.neosovershoescanada.com/
They work really well with Swat boots.

 

[Eye In The Sky]

You should be issued the complete combat sock system.  Let your Cpl or MCpl or whoever know ASAP you didn't get socks.  WTF, over. 

If you do not get them issued well...I am not a fan of MAKING people spend money on basic kit so they can complete their training.  Having said that, you could look for something like these items:

http://www.mec.ca/product/4002-218/wigwam-gobi-liner-socks-unisex/?f=10&q=gobi

http://www.mec.ca/product/4008-030/wigwam-40-below-socks-unisex/?h=10+50089+50026+50443&f=10+50006+50089+50443

I own and have used both, decent pieces of kit.


Marks Work Warehouse should also have some decent stuff and regularly have sales, etc.  I like their T-Max socks.

 

[runormal]

Everyone* is entitled to a yearly per annum issue of 5 pairs of socks (5 System + 5 Arctic Socks). You can also purchase additional socks using points through logistik Unicorp. (+5 Sock Systems Max)

I`m sure that someone within your unit or chain of command should be able to order you 5 winter and 5 ``sock systems``.



*I`m not sure what the exact entitlement criteria`s are, but I had coursemates on my basic who were ordering extra socks for people in our section.

 

[Eye In The Sky]

It is done, as you said "per annum".  Are they not, though, for initial issue, given to the member from Clothing Stores?  The mbr may not even be IN the Logistik system when their trg commences.

 

[Ajacied34]

Unfortunately all the instructors on my course know that most of us have deficiencies in kit. At the moment I'm wearing borrowed trousers so that I can even show up to course in uniform. (at least I have two wash basins though :facepalm At my regiment our QM is aware of the problem and is doing his best to get our stuff issued to us but to not expect anything anytime soon.

I'll look into the socks you've recommended and as far as he Neos go I think I was issued something similar to that.

 

[runormal]

It is done, as you said "per annum".  Are they not, though, for initial issue, given to the member from Clothing Stores?  The mbr may not even be IN the Logistik system when their trg commences.

They should be issued when the member get`s all of his kit. I suspect that the member doesn`t have any of his kit at the moment.

This leads me into my next question about socks; I have yet to be issued any socks from supply and come time for me to go to the field for my BMQ course I want to limit the extent to which my feet turn to ice cubes. Assuming I don't get the rest of my kit, what socks do you recommend that are warm, somewhat waterproof and hopefully within a student budget.

Thanks for any help! 

I believe that the member doesn`t have any kit and is loaded on a basic for the winter and has been TI ` ed Swats until he gets his kit issued . It isn`t uncommon for reservists to start the weekend basic without their kit due to delays from getting an appointment from clothing stores (either due to lack of availability or a slow COC). In fact I had people on basic up to I think weekend 6 and not having any kit... It isn`t on, but it does happen. Candidates on my course wore coveralls until they got their kit. When required they`d borrow an instructors ruck, tack vest and helmet.

 

[Eye In The Sky]

To combat the current boot problem we seem to be facing, I was issued SWAT's by my regiment so far they're leaps and bounds over the issued boots I was borrowing from one of the guys at my regiment. I'm just wondering what experience any of you have wearing these boots during the winter with respect to the issued boots?

This leads me into my next question about socks; I have yet to be issued any socks from supply and come time for me to go to the field for my BMQ course I want to limit the extent to which my feet turn to ice cubes. Assuming I don't get the rest of my kit, what socks do you recommend that are warm, somewhat waterproof and hopefully within a student budget.

Thanks for any help! 

Looks to me like he/she has been parading in uniform and has been issued some/most of their kit already.

Unless I read the SAM wrong, special size/order boots aren't TI - the mbr shall retain the boots for their period of service.

 

[chrisf]

It's BMQ, and I'm guessing a weekend BMQ?

Don't go out and spend money on anything (aside from maybe some socks, but any old wool boot sock will do, you can get some decent wool socks from costco http://www.costco.com/Kirkland-Signature%E2%84%A2-Men's-Trail-Sock-4-Pack-BlackBrown.product.100074281.html for $10 for a pack of 4 pairs, marks work warehouse wool work socks as well), it's not as if you're going to be trekking to the arctic any time soon, or even spending more than a few hours outdoors, at least for the next few months.

You will, or at least should, be issued the kit you need somewhere in there somewhere, and FWIW, you could decide it's not for you, and quit. Then you'd just be out money and stuff you didn't need, and still don't need.

 

[Bzzliteyr]

What part of the country are you in?

 

[Ajacied34]

What part of the country are you in?

I'm in southern Ontario, my field training will be in Meaford if I remember correctly.

 

[mariomike]

I was issued SWAT's by my regiment so far they're leaps and bounds over the issued boots I was borrowing from one of the guys at my regiment. I'm just wondering what experience any of you have wearing these boots during the winter with respect to the issued boots?

This may help,

The Great Boot Review 
http://army.ca/forums/threads/54823.100

Anyone have Original SWAT waterproof boots?
http://army.ca/forums/threads/89759.0

SWAT Original 9" boots - Any "reviews"? 
http://army.ca/forums/threads/32029.0

SWAT Tactical Waterproof boot 
https://army.ca/forums/threads/73260.0

what socks do you recommend that are warm, somewhat waterproof and hopefully within a student budget.

All Things Socks (merged)
https://army.ca/forums/threads/1198.0

 

[Bzzliteyr]

I'm in southern Ontario, my field training will be in Meaford if I remember correctly.

So basically Florida?

You should be fine.