A word of caution about using non tactical exercises to stay/get in shape

[Erick]

So during most of my life I've been in pretty good shape.
Even in the military was often the guy who ran the extra mile.. and pumped that extra weight.

But.. as I have been pushing paper for years now its been getting harder.
Due to an injury I fell off the wagon ago.
Been very hard to get back..

Been getting back past few weeks real nicely (or so I thought)
Exercised 8 times a week.. 4 tactical weight room exercises (mostly mobility , core+ legs) and 4 swims for cardio w/ minimal stress on joints.

And I've lost a bit of weight and feel tons better.
Muscles coming back nicely also...

But yesterday I went on a ruck march to test out my newly won cardio and leg/core muscles.

The good : My wind was plenty for very fast walking with a ruck up those hills... my muscles were plenty strong + issued no complaint about the load either.. felt like I had plenty of reserves left, nice..

The Bad: My feet had not been in combat boots in a while and even those are nicely broken boots in my heel skin was chafing badly within a mile or two.
When I got home the skin on my heels had been delaminating and my heels were just big wounds.
If this had been a real world E&E, I would have been mission incapable.

Whats the moral of the story?

Dont think that because you are in decent shape via non real world prepper work-outs such as cardio machines, swimming, rowing -machine, cycling, weight exercises on legs /core that when the chips are down you cna do a Prepper type skill. Even if you so have the wind+ muscles.

if I was engaged in E&E with a ruck during SHTF I simply would not have made it far, even though I've gotten myself back into semi decent shape.

Now I am not saying dont swim or I am definitely not saying dont do big compound muscle exercises in legs/core.. that's key for tactical mobility..

but what I am saying is dont completely skip on the real world mobility

Marching long distances and doing so with a load is a key skill for a prepper , even if you live at your BOL and dont have to E&E but you will have to patrol the area.

So harden those feet by using them in the actual Boots would would E&Eing and /or patrolling.

[JoJo]

You are so right on exercise and walking.

 I would love to walk in a pair of boots but I can't find my size and I know if by chance someone makes them I would have to sell my oldest born.
New Balance is the only one I can get in walking shoes, special order dress cost me $160.00
Size 10EEEE.

I do work out three times a week MWF today we walked for two miles.

[Erick]

You may want to talk to a shoe maker.
Even when buying "off the rack" 150 USD for quality boots is not unusual.

I've been blessed with a pretty common size (10.5 wide) so for me I usually can find 'em for 100-130.
Any good shoe maker will be happy to build you a pair your size.
Will it be expensive , yes, but it will fit supreme and last  a very long time.

Also since shoemakers get such orders so rarely now, the man will likely pour his heart and soul into it, to make it the best possible pair for you.

The current cut of Combat boots w/ its height and lacing is the distillation of decades of experiences in extreme situations by the militaries of the world.

And they all pretty much issue the same type of footwear these days. Russia, Germany, France, US etc..

You need that high leather to protect your ankles from impacts and critically have the confidence to move quickly in broken terrain without risking a twisted ankle with every step.

Every Prepper needs a pair of proper Combat Boots.

PS: I personally own about 5 proper pairs and 2 SWAT type pairs (urban ops only)

[JoJo]

You may want to talk to a shoe maker.
Even when buying "off the rack" 150 USD for quality boots is not unusual.

I've been blessed with a pretty common size (10.5 wide) so for me I usually can find 'em for 100-130.
Any good shoe maker will be happy to build you a pair your size.
Will it be expensive , yes, but it will fit supreme and last  a very long time.

Also since shoemakers get such orders so rarely now, the man will likely pour his heart and soul into it, to make it the best possible pair for you.

The current cut of Combat boots w/ its height and lacing is the distillation of decades of experiences in extreme situations by the militaries of the world.

And they all pretty much issue the same type of footwear these days. Russia, Germany, France, US etc..

You need that high leather to protect your ankles from impacts and critically have the confidence to move quickly in broken terrain without risking a twisted ankle with every step.

Every Prepper needs a pair of proper Combat Boots.

PS: I personally own about 5 proper pairs and 2 SWAT type pairs (urban ops only)

 

My Father and Mother were cobblers and my Father was also a shoe maker. He made shoes for polio victims and sewed them by hand. Special made boots are way way out of my reach even modified boots. 

[Erick]

Here is a 10 EEE.
http://www.workbootsusa.com/come10lefibo.html
I know its a lil tight but this is real leather so it can and will be strechted by the wearer.

When I was younger that used to be my preferred method. Order lightly tight and then stretch it via wear to fit like a glove

[Nemo]

How are places like those on returns?  I wear a 10 for Timberland.  A 10 1/2 in Red Wing and 9 or 9 1/2 in other sizes.  And those change on the model of the boot/shoe from any given maker.  Those things about require an in store size try on before purchase.

For most things I generally get the best wear and fit from Timberland.  Particularly considering a fused ankle subtalar joint on the left foot and artificial hip on the right side.  Especially when the hip ortho said it would take 90-100 minutes start to finish.  And then it taking 135 due to arthritis and joint damage from a car crash dislocation/fracture from 1983.  Things like that make proper footwear beyond critical for anything more than walking in the mall.

Nemo

[Kbop]

zappo's had 2 wolverine boots for under 100USD - i have wide feet too
they are expensive, but i get redwing for site work - they last forever and come in wide sizes.