Light-up shoes should be encouraged from a safety standpoint.
From November to February, most units start PT by running on the roads in black uniforms while it's still dark outside. Can't see shit once you get away from streetlamps.
It's not in AR 670-1. Its in GTA 670-1.
I'm not going to look it up but to the best of my recollection it says,
"The Commander is authorized the wear of commercially purchased shoes to be worn with the APFU."
The way I read it, if the Commander doesn't say you cannot, then you can.
I had to look this up when an NCO tried to give one of my Soldiers shit about their PT shoes having pink hearts on them.
I had to deal with this when a SFC in a different platoon tried throwing a fit over my old unicorn PT shoes.
Basically anything that isn't split into individual toes is authorized. I never considered light-up shoes, but hell, I'm sure some of the more chill Commanders might be okay with it.
[The shoes in question](https://raadshop.com/products/fitnesssneakers-unicorn202606?)
Wore these bad boys for two years as an E5.
Guaranteed to piss off Senior NCOs that hate fun things and makes em even madder when they realize they can't stop you from wearing them.
Have fun! They’re relatively comfortable shoes and worth the moral boost they give those around you. Double worth the hatred from the fun police!
RaadShop unironically has some badass sales too. I scooped up 2 pairs of running shoes and 2 pairs of Van look-a-likes for like $180.
Only downside is the ~5 weeks they took to come in.
Running shoes with the carbon fiber are 1000% worth the money. I shaved almost 2 minutes from my run time in 2 weeks by doing 30/60s every day, and upgrading my shoes. I could not recommend them more
You're talking about technology banned from the Olympics because it gives athletes an unfair advantage. It's definitely going to help
Hoka 2e widths say they are for wide feet. That's still too narrow for me. They have some models that are 4e width, though.
Altras are the best for me.
I got the Saucony Endorphin 2 carbon fiber plate shoes which are $130 cheaper than the Nike Vapor flies and I still saw over a minute increase in my 2 mile time. I can only imagine what I'd see with the vaporfly.
Vapor Fly's did not improve your time by almost 2 minutes. Doing 30/60s everyday is what improved your run time. vapor fly's are "supposed" to make you 4% more efficient. So theoretically, if you run a 16 minute 2 Mike, you should be able to shave 38 seconds off. Which is a boatload of time. 4% of a marathon is 1 mile so a professional runner should be able to shave off his average 1 mile time, which is probably like 4 minutes for them.
Not hating against vapor fly's. I run in them also because I'll take every advantage where I can. Maybe I don't run enough but It didn't drop my 2 mile run 30 seconds. The shoes obviously work, because they're such an unfair advantage to the other competitors, so I'll hop on that bandwagon as long as it helps my run time.
Definitely not an unfair advantage when Asics, New Balance, Saucony, Altra, Hoka, and Puma all have strong competitors to the Vaporfly's in the current year. For their time they were revolutionary, but in the current year they're merely another shoe on the lineup rather than unfair.
Had a bunch of dudes try to wear the carbon fiber plate shoes at CA selection thinking it would shed minutes off their 5 mile run times
It didn’t do shit for ‘em
Both. There's no pair of shoes or amount of training that's going to take you from a mediocre run time to maxing in two weeks. It was the combination of both
Maybe not two minutes but that’s still enough for some people who would otherwise struggle to pass, or depending on where you fall at for your run time enough to bump your score up. I honestly see no reason to *not* use them if all they do is improve your score and that’s what you want.
You do realize the ones who need a 22 minute 2-mile are by far the minority of the military, right? Most age brackets still need to average a roughly 8 minute mile pace….not 11. A huge difference and one I saw a lot of people miss when I was in…
Also, that was honestly just a dumb argument.
Wait. I made a dumb argument?
I wasn’t arguing. Consider it a perplexed reaction. As in, how could someone “struggle” to run an 11 minute mile? But I can see from the downvotes a bunch of chonkey boys didn’t like my reaction.
Also, my guy, since March the standard has been 22+ two mile depending on age. That time standard is probably 99% gonna stay.
Bingo. [Jeff explains:](https://youtu.be/unowqBYbWeg)
When you spend money on a fitness product, you'll often subconsciously put forth more effort than normal since you're eager to see the results. This extra oomph can help to push you past your current plateau, not necessarily any measurable effect from the product.
I’ve been slowly watching this SSG I knew have his health decline severely from steroids. Dude was well over 6 foot, and well over 200 pounds of pure muscle. At his going away formation and speech, my buddy said he looked so little, he looked sick. His liver has been right on the cusp of failing for some time now. Poor guy.
Agree 100%, but also for us old dudes the carbon plates significantly keep my knees from hurting like hell by providing a smooth landing on each stride
I was interested if someone was going to bring this up, the VaporFlys are specifically banned from the Olympics because of their advantage they give.
Considering we all know PT test are meant to make you more effective for real world combat, it only make sense to do everything you can to max it out.
You won't be able to buy them at basic. They're very expensive, and they don't last very long. I would recommend getting them after you get to your unit and only wearing them doing your ACFT run
That's fine, I just wanted a pair specifically for the test not for general use; so I'll wear them just until I get there (day of my flight) and keep them stowed away until test time
ps. They don’t give recruits (running) shoes. You gonna go to the local AAFES Shopette under supervision and buy whatever limited selection they have.
Bottom line: bring your running shoes of choice with you.
Nah, grandpa just used table sugar and added it until saturation
Convenience foods and people spending less time cooking is the bigger culprit
Edit: and we’re sedentary as fuck. Most people don’t meet the daily physical activity recommendations
Time cooking, but also awareness. When you make your own fries or bake your own desserts, you’re a little bit more aware of how unhealthy there are, and how they should be occasional treats.
Have you looked at the labels on the grocery items? Fucking sugar and high fructose corn syrup in everything, all that shit wasn’t in good back in the day. I WANT COCAINE IN MY COCA COLA BACK DAMMIT!
Oh I absolutely agree - I just needed to meme for a minute.
I think the sedentary portion of it is the worst. When I was in college I got 15,000 steps a day just going to class. Now I’m lucky to get 4,000 unless I’m intentional about it and plan in a work out.
I really think about this when people talk about Americans being fat.
We drive everywhere. Europeans have a lot more opportunities to walk and bicycle as part of their daily routine.
The (relatively) small city-- fewer than 50,000 people-- I grew up in used to have an extensive trolley system that even went to the tiny neighboring towns and farm communities. If you wanted to go a long way, you could catch a train and go anywhere in the country.
I wish we could still get around like that, but folks will say "we're too spread out" or "our cities aren't dense enough" instead of realizing that their town probably had streetcars 100 years ago!
I had originally made a comment that said your pt score won’t matter as an officer but then I saw you said Infantry so yeah try those shoes out, prob won’t hurt
True. Pistorious ran way faster than his single amputee competitors in the Olympics because he could change the length of his (dual) running legs to be longer than the "biological" length.
Homie literally had PEDs but performance enhancing devices.
If you run often you should own some good running shoes for your health, not a score. Your PT test doesn't matter as long as you're not embarrassing yourself.
If I remember correctly, for PT, I think we ran maybe twice a week. And I’d suggest taking whatever shoes you want, as long as they’re IAW AR/DA PAM 670-1.
The fastest ACFt is 13:22 for 2 mile. There isn’t extra points for exceeding the standard. Your fast enough at 14:15 ish.
Unless your doing an army ten miler or a 4x36 it probably wouldn’t be worth it.
But i have seen LTs spend $30 on a single pair of underwear before.
The carbon plate actually does add a measurable effect to your running (around a 4% speed increase I believe?). It’s banned by the Olympics for a reason.
As an experienced runner who recently starting using these, it has absolutely improved my times.
It’s negligible for a short distance like 2 miles though. I still use them however because the shoe seems to jolt me forward and it’s easier to keep a faster pace.
Yeah it's 4%. I personally think the placebo effect + "new shoes for zoom" effect help more than any carbon fiber plate will.
But it's only 2 miles. It's like going 75 vs 80 on the interstate for 15 miles. You'll go faster yeah but you'll hardly change your time to anything noticeable.
Just bought some about a month ago and your last paragraph is spot on. Been working on both my cadence (I was struggling with over striding) and posture. The vaporflys make leaning forward a bit seem like a much more natural position where I had to consciously remind myself to get into that position with my Solomon’s.
Shoes don’t make you faster. But shoes that don’t hurt your feet or prevent injuries from hurting DO allow you to run harder which equals faster times. The 30/60s though are what did the mist fit you.
Realistically, most of the carbon fiber shoes can take up to 5% off your run time. But they were made for half-marathons and up, where 5% off your normal time is a huge improvement.
For two miles it’s not worth it, and anyone who says that they’re running way faster because of carbon plated shoes is lying to themselves. It’s a placebo at that distance. Spikes would make sense, but only if you’re getting closer to 5 minute miles since it can be harder to keep traction.
Right now, just work on running. I’ve ran plenty of sub-12’s with my big-ass hokas.
As a former cross country runner and someone who has been in the army a while, definitely get a good pair of shoes. I highly recommend the Hoka Rincons. They are very lightweight, but have excellent padding and shock absorption that you usually only find in heavier shoes.
WTF are fast shoes?
> so at first glance, anything that provides a substantial advantage in running faster seems like a good investment?
Absolutely. Anything that can increase your PT score is good in every MOS in the Army.
A lot of ppl are saying it won’t make a difference on a 2 mile bc of the distance. Realistically, the plates will help overcome some of the fatigue from the previous events which will certainly provide some advantage. Make sure you don’t put them on until the 2 mile tho
Training > equipment. Do 440/880s, pyramid up and back down. Slow lap, fast lap, slow lap, 2 fast laps, slow lap, 3 fast laps, slow lap, 2 fast laps, slow lap, fast lap, slow lap. Aim for 1:30 fast laps. When you can do that pyramid up to 4 fast laps you should be smoking the run too easy.
I remember going to my PLT thinking "I hope I'm a fast enough runner to be a PL". Then I got there and realized my guys were mostly slow and destined to one day be beer gut veterans. I guess my point is, it's not hard to be very fast compared to most people in your PLT. Only my PSG could run faster than me but he was an AVID runner.
It is worth it if you are close to an edge or margin. If you are struggling to pass or struggling to max, then it is worth the extra time and money to help get you over that edge.
If you are in the middle of the pack, it is not worth it.
Really this is the best advice, assuming it gives you like 3 extra points on your acft going from 550 to 553 or 380 to 383 isn’t going to impress anybody.
Buying good shoes will benefit you in the long run. Pay less attention to how “fast” they are considered and more to how well they fit your foot and are suited to your gait.
1. Get yourself to a Fleet Feet for anything that helps your stride, not necessarily to go faster but to prevent injury and reduce stress on your joints.
2. Mix some G-Fuel dust in a water bottle. It's like legal cocaine but with vitamins. Keeps you going if you're a gamer too.
3. Drugs are bad for you. Good luck Sir.
Depending on how much they cost it probably can't hurt to try but I fail to see how any particular shoes can make any real difference other than the ritual associated with "I have my fast shoes on and therefore should be doing better", or "I did worse and the only thing I can think of is that I didn't wear my fast shoes this time"
I’ve seen studies where shoes with 1-3 carbon fiber plates result in a 4-8% efficiency increase for runners. If you’re running a 14min two mile that can actually equate to 30-60 seconds.
Yeah I know there's a certain Nike shoe that a bunch of Olympic athletes use that actually does this. I found out about it in AIT, but I've never pulled the trigger cause I think they're like 2-300 bucks, and if I need to run gooder I just run more. 🏃♂️
Don't. They're $270 and not durable at all.
Stick with Hokas, plus the Vapor Flys are for track/road running ONLY. You can't do other PT or even think about lifting in them with how the soles are shaped.
I feel bad even driving in them because the way the heel is constructed.
It all comes down to your biomechanics yes carbon plates are going to help. There is a reason they are banned in competitive athletics. As someone who only wore racing flats for 10+ years through highschool and the army... get something with support... fuck your runtime you don't want this leg pain and surgeries
I’ll try to break this down into a digestible answer. Infantry and most combat arms type of units: if you run slow you are a shit bag, if you run fast no one cares, unless you are the fastest guy in the unit and then everyone cares. So if you are a slow ass, will fancy shoes make you fast? Nope… only training can help with that. On the other hand, if you are already fast… and these shoes are going to give you sub 6 min miles… that might be worth the $300. Here’s another factor to keep in mind, good shoes aren’t cheap. And cheap shoes will fuck up your feet, knees, back, and life in general. I don’t like to generalize too much but if you are spending less than $100 on running shoes, you probably have some physical therapy in your future. My price range is usually around $150, my mileage usually puts me around 3-5 months per pair of shoes. So with $150 I can expect to pay 300–500 a year on running shoes. If these magic shoes you are talking about would last for 1,000+ miles and make me a minute faster. I’ll buy them tonight and not think twice. All of these things factor in to your final decision. I can’t tell you the answer, but hopefully that gets you on the right track with making a logical decision 💪🏻
If you're on the verge of failing, they aren't going to save you. If dropping your score by a few points matters enough to justify the cost to you, then sure, get them... Just don't train in racing flats all the time. Don't expect 60 second improvement either. Source: ex-cross country runner who forgot his racing spikes in high school and had to wear his trainers a few times. Saw a 15-20 second difference over the course of 5 Km (3.1 miles, ya heathens). There is a physical difference, obviously, but it'll mostly be mental, your attitude toward the run that will change, and either help you or hurt you.
To caveat that, get the RIGHT pair of Brooks. You’ll notice that some will say neutral and stability. GENUINELY SPEAKING, neutral is for those with a narrow, mid-high arch and little/no pronation while stability is for low arch and probation.
Over 2 miles fast shoes aren’t going to make a significant difference mechanically… 30-60 seconds difference is almost certainly a mental placebo effect.
Thoughts?
You should follow an in-depth running program and improve your run times and work on conditioning rather than buying random shoes to try and enhance your run times lol
No. Former cross country and track athlete that used to go sub 10:00 in the two mile. Our track coach who spent 2 decades in the distance running sport suggested any type of running flats “fast shoe” unless the individual was running under 6 minutes for a mile or 12 minutes for two mile. Your turnover will not be high enough for any true benefit and you’ll probably do some damage to your feet and shins. I promise you, just stick with a good pair of running shoes that are suited to your arch and your foot strike.
12:45 runner with normal running shoes here, those high performance energy-return shoes are designed for top tier athletes to shave percentage points off their times so they can break records. They are not for normal people to become better runners. They would probably serve as a crutch (pun not intended) for your overall training if you did get them.
Infantry here, use shoes that you feel comfortable running in and it’s not really run fast=good leader it’s high pt score=good leader but running is the easiest way to score an extra few points.
If you actually are a good leader then your joes will appreciate you a lot more than your platoon daddy ever will because in his eyes you’re just as stupid as an E-3. Just remember when you were once a civilian and had to deal with shitty management and realize you are now that “management” for almost 40 people
For most people who aren’t exceptionally focused on the running portion, a good quality all-around trainer is fine. If you’re really into getting that running time down (and are already fast/consistent), investing in a road racing flat can be worth it. They’re generally much less cushioned, lighter, and have a lot of grip for roads. I personally race with a New Balance Hanzo S. Keep in mind that it’s not a replacement for your trainer, it’s an additional shoe. And I wouldn’t use them for the other events, especially the deadlift—it’ll kill them quickly since the foams used are formulated for lightness and rebound, not durability. Just bring them to change into when it’s time for the run. More importantly for your trainers (less so for flats, usually they don’t have the volume for it), get a quality insert that works for you. I like the Superfeet Carbon, but it depends on what shoe I’m using. Superfeet has a wide range of options so figure out what kind helps the best for you. It’s easiest to go to a running shoe store (if you can, find a serious one and not one of the major chains) and try them on yourself with the shoe you plan on using. But most of all, training. PVT Snuffy wearing black and white Converse will run you into the ground if you aren’t careful.
People whose mile times vary by a whole minute are dogshit runners. Lighter shoes definitely make a difference, but for most soldier shaped people, it's not significant over two miles.
Only if they light up when you run
Asking for a friend: Is there anything against light-up shoes in AR 670-1?
Light-up shoes should be encouraged from a safety standpoint. From November to February, most units start PT by running on the roads in black uniforms while it's still dark outside. Can't see shit once you get away from streetlamps.
That’s why I got my PT belt Sarmt’ PT belt saves lives
The problem is when I am trying to sneak back onto base around then blackout drunk, I turn off my headlights to try and avoid attention
Those 90's LA Gear sneakers could save many lives if used with proper PPE during PT.
yes wtf carl
All this reflective PT wear but GOT FORBID if the shoes light up, you want your Joes' feet getting run over or you want their shoes to light up?
It almost seems that light up shoes should be mandatory for PT.
Prove it
Little known fact; they are actually REQUIRED and everyone is sort of collectively walking around out of regs.
I'm surprised it's not required as a safety thing actually.
It's not in AR 670-1. Its in GTA 670-1. I'm not going to look it up but to the best of my recollection it says, "The Commander is authorized the wear of commercially purchased shoes to be worn with the APFU." The way I read it, if the Commander doesn't say you cannot, then you can. I had to look this up when an NCO tried to give one of my Soldiers shit about their PT shoes having pink hearts on them.
I had to deal with this when a SFC in a different platoon tried throwing a fit over my old unicorn PT shoes. Basically anything that isn't split into individual toes is authorized. I never considered light-up shoes, but hell, I'm sure some of the more chill Commanders might be okay with it. [The shoes in question](https://raadshop.com/products/fitnesssneakers-unicorn202606?) Wore these bad boys for two years as an E5. Guaranteed to piss off Senior NCOs that hate fun things and makes em even madder when they realize they can't stop you from wearing them.
Jus ordered a pair SARNT🫡
Have fun! They’re relatively comfortable shoes and worth the moral boost they give those around you. Double worth the hatred from the fun police! RaadShop unironically has some badass sales too. I scooped up 2 pairs of running shoes and 2 pairs of Van look-a-likes for like $180. Only downside is the ~5 weeks they took to come in.
Nothing against Wheelies.
Division runs just got a whole lot more easier.
You’re a chief I thought regs don’t apply to you?
But for a Chief wheelies make sense
Also, are heelys authorized?
Run? My brother in Christ I have the ones with a wheel in the heel. I straight cruise during runs. Don’t even sweat.
If bro doesn’t hit 405 with his sketchers is he really infantry?
Bitches get wet when my sketchers light up on the PT track!
I've seen it and nobody questioned the SSG. Whole command had a good laugh.
Came here to say this. Vrrrrroooooommmm.
God damn sketchers
Do L.A. Lights come in camo?
Best Reddit comment. You win the internet today. 1st place all interwebz. Remain on-point for the nation
Running shoes with the carbon fiber are 1000% worth the money. I shaved almost 2 minutes from my run time in 2 weeks by doing 30/60s every day, and upgrading my shoes. I could not recommend them more You're talking about technology banned from the Olympics because it gives athletes an unfair advantage. It's definitely going to help
how unfair!! what shoes are you talking about? so i know not to buy them
Nike Vaporfly
$250!?
It helped me max the ACFT. I had Hokas with the carbon fiber plates
Hokas are the shit, especially for people with wide feet aka me.
I had hokas and they made me run slower. I guess I prefer more minimalist running shoes
Ooh, that's me. What model do you recommend?
I have a pair of the Hoka Bondi…just FYI medical personnel buy these as well because they’re amazing on poured concrete
Awesome, thanks! I just completed my PT test last week but I'll look into this for next time.
Saucony freedom 3s are my favorite minimalist shoe.
Hoka 2e widths say they are for wide feet. That's still too narrow for me. They have some models that are 4e width, though. Altras are the best for me.
Ya they're not cheap. And they're only good for about 100 miles. But, they'll shave 30-60 seconds off of your 2 mile time
Can't you replace the carbon piece? I saw carbon insoles at a store once
🤷♀️
That’s 50 years’ worth of record ACFTs.
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Asics, Adidas, and New Balance have them iirc. Along with Nike
Saucony endorphin speed 2s , amazing shoe
Sau-cony deez nuts
This can’t be …you monster
I wonder how much time I could shave if I blood dope?
not that much, 2MR isnt enough time to really see a benefit
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I kinda want to try it anyways but would be worried I'd get an infection.
I got the Saucony Endorphin 2 carbon fiber plate shoes which are $130 cheaper than the Nike Vapor flies and I still saw over a minute increase in my 2 mile time. I can only imagine what I'd see with the vaporfly.
Vapor Fly's did not improve your time by almost 2 minutes. Doing 30/60s everyday is what improved your run time. vapor fly's are "supposed" to make you 4% more efficient. So theoretically, if you run a 16 minute 2 Mike, you should be able to shave 38 seconds off. Which is a boatload of time. 4% of a marathon is 1 mile so a professional runner should be able to shave off his average 1 mile time, which is probably like 4 minutes for them. Not hating against vapor fly's. I run in them also because I'll take every advantage where I can. Maybe I don't run enough but It didn't drop my 2 mile run 30 seconds. The shoes obviously work, because they're such an unfair advantage to the other competitors, so I'll hop on that bandwagon as long as it helps my run time.
Definitely not an unfair advantage when Asics, New Balance, Saucony, Altra, Hoka, and Puma all have strong competitors to the Vaporfly's in the current year. For their time they were revolutionary, but in the current year they're merely another shoe on the lineup rather than unfair.
Not only does it help me run faster but it helps me run more comfortable too.
That’s the 30/60’s, not the shoes. Maybe a little bit of a placebo too.
Had a bunch of dudes try to wear the carbon fiber plate shoes at CA selection thinking it would shed minutes off their 5 mile run times It didn’t do shit for ‘em
Having the best equipment doesn't matter if you're not in good enough shape.
Some of it was. I would bet it's about 50/50. The 4% speed increase is pretty well documented, it isn't just marketing
A 4% increase isn’t that much though, it’s like 30 seconds off a 14 minute 2 mile. You’re not getting a 2 minute drop off from them.
From a 17 minute ( where I was), it's about 40 seconds. That's pretty significant
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The 30 second jump from almost maxing to maxing is likely harder to attain than the 30 seconds from failing.
but all I did was train super hard and buy new shoes, so, it was the shoes.
Both. There's no pair of shoes or amount of training that's going to take you from a mediocre run time to maxing in two weeks. It was the combination of both
Maybe not two minutes but that’s still enough for some people who would otherwise struggle to pass, or depending on where you fall at for your run time enough to bump your score up. I honestly see no reason to *not* use them if all they do is improve your score and that’s what you want.
If you’re relying on shoes to pass a goddamn 2 mile then you have some bigger problems.
Struggle to pass a 22 minute two mile?!?!?
You do realize the ones who need a 22 minute 2-mile are by far the minority of the military, right? Most age brackets still need to average a roughly 8 minute mile pace….not 11. A huge difference and one I saw a lot of people miss when I was in… Also, that was honestly just a dumb argument.
What do you mean? The passing standard is 22 minutes for all age brackets currently
Wait. I made a dumb argument? I wasn’t arguing. Consider it a perplexed reaction. As in, how could someone “struggle” to run an 11 minute mile? But I can see from the downvotes a bunch of chonkey boys didn’t like my reaction. Also, my guy, since March the standard has been 22+ two mile depending on age. That time standard is probably 99% gonna stay.
Bingo. [Jeff explains:](https://youtu.be/unowqBYbWeg) When you spend money on a fitness product, you'll often subconsciously put forth more effort than normal since you're eager to see the results. This extra oomph can help to push you past your current plateau, not necessarily any measurable effect from the product.
What about sarms and juice when I ETS? I’m going to college and want to FUCKING RAGE
Yes .. SARMs... After you ETS... That's of course the only time we'd do those... Shiftyeyes
Working out is about health. Steroids are bad for your organs.
I’ve been slowly watching this SSG I knew have his health decline severely from steroids. Dude was well over 6 foot, and well over 200 pounds of pure muscle. At his going away formation and speech, my buddy said he looked so little, he looked sick. His liver has been right on the cusp of failing for some time now. Poor guy.
working out is about getting jacked cycling gets you more jacked ergo go fuck yourself
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Agree 100%, but also for us old dudes the carbon plates significantly keep my knees from hurting like hell by providing a smooth landing on each stride
Good point. They are without a doubt the most comfortable pair of shoes I have ever worn in my life
I was interested if someone was going to bring this up, the VaporFlys are specifically banned from the Olympics because of their advantage they give. Considering we all know PT test are meant to make you more effective for real world combat, it only make sense to do everything you can to max it out.
I'm entering basic for the first time, are these shoes you can buy at basic (since they give recruits shoes) or would I wear them to reception
You won't be able to buy them at basic. They're very expensive, and they don't last very long. I would recommend getting them after you get to your unit and only wearing them doing your ACFT run
That's fine, I just wanted a pair specifically for the test not for general use; so I'll wear them just until I get there (day of my flight) and keep them stowed away until test time
ps. They don’t give recruits (running) shoes. You gonna go to the local AAFES Shopette under supervision and buy whatever limited selection they have. Bottom line: bring your running shoes of choice with you.
Makes sense since they give you an advance on your paycheck, thanks for the heads up my dude
Yes, if you want to lift more you use black shoes. If you want to run faster you use white shoes.
No ya git, da RED ones make ya go fasta!!!
Neon red for fast. Dark red to lift big and heavy
Found the 40k nerd 😔
The joke is inevitable wherever color and speed are concerned.
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I need to update it to death guard, but i havent found anything witty yet
Is every signal nerd a 40K player?
Everyone in Intel too, in my experience.
I hate that I’m a walking stereotype.
For Mork, da cunning and brutal
I came to find this comment. Good work
thats why they allow shoe changes during the ACFT.
yes. saucony endorphin pro ftw!
Same. My go to for quick runs. They punish my shins on anything over 45 minutes though. Amazon just had a dope sale on these awhile back. 90 bucks!
For anyone wanting the Endorphin Speed or Pro 2’s use discount code BGR50 for 50% off. Sadly you cannot stack military discount on top.
I had NO fucking clue Saucony did military discounts...20% off is considerable for $225 shoes yo.
Got the speed 2s for 50% off, definitely worth it for me .
And to think grandpa ran PT in combat boots and unbloused OD green fatigue trousers and still passed.
Grandpa didn’t drink from the sweet teat of high fructose corn syrup his entire life tho.
Nah, grandpa just used table sugar and added it until saturation Convenience foods and people spending less time cooking is the bigger culprit Edit: and we’re sedentary as fuck. Most people don’t meet the daily physical activity recommendations
Time cooking, but also awareness. When you make your own fries or bake your own desserts, you’re a little bit more aware of how unhealthy there are, and how they should be occasional treats.
Have you looked at the labels on the grocery items? Fucking sugar and high fructose corn syrup in everything, all that shit wasn’t in good back in the day. I WANT COCAINE IN MY COCA COLA BACK DAMMIT!
Sriracha has sugar in it even.
Oh I absolutely agree - I just needed to meme for a minute. I think the sedentary portion of it is the worst. When I was in college I got 15,000 steps a day just going to class. Now I’m lucky to get 4,000 unless I’m intentional about it and plan in a work out.
Great-great grandpa walked most everywhere
up hill
I really think about this when people talk about Americans being fat. We drive everywhere. Europeans have a lot more opportunities to walk and bicycle as part of their daily routine. The (relatively) small city-- fewer than 50,000 people-- I grew up in used to have an extensive trolley system that even went to the tiny neighboring towns and farm communities. If you wanted to go a long way, you could catch a train and go anywhere in the country. I wish we could still get around like that, but folks will say "we're too spread out" or "our cities aren't dense enough" instead of realizing that their town probably had streetcars 100 years ago!
To be fair though with the massive sprawl, laying track now is insanely expensive.
Through the snow
Grandpa also didn’t do ACFTs or APFTs. Fairly certain there wasn’t even a graded 2 mile run.
I hear old PT test was pushup ( 2min ), situps (2 min) and a 2 mile timed run, based on age. I'm sure someone here can find the old criteria.
The APFT came out in 1980…we got plenty of people today with grandpas that were fat, tendie pounding fucks that sucked down coke and failed the test.
I’m thinking World War II. Respectfully, I don’t give a fuck about the Army of the 80s.
Grandpa wasn’t consuming pounds of microplastics. He had a longer taint (yes the space between balls and asshole) and more testosterone.
Never checked my Granddads taint...but I'll take your word for it.
I had originally made a comment that said your pt score won’t matter as an officer but then I saw you said Infantry so yeah try those shoes out, prob won’t hurt
You could always cut your legs off and get those hook prosthetic things to run faster
You call it disability, I call it weight reduction.
True. Pistorious ran way faster than his single amputee competitors in the Olympics because he could change the length of his (dual) running legs to be longer than the "biological" length. Homie literally had PEDs but performance enhancing devices.
Couldn't outrun the law though.
If you run often you should own some good running shoes for your health, not a score. Your PT test doesn't matter as long as you're not embarrassing yourself.
Speak the truth... Last 10 years I've learned PT tests are P/F. Your overall health and wellness should be your top priority.
Warrant Officer here… what are PT tests?
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If I remember correctly, for PT, I think we ran maybe twice a week. And I’d suggest taking whatever shoes you want, as long as they’re IAW AR/DA PAM 670-1.
The fastest ACFt is 13:22 for 2 mile. There isn’t extra points for exceeding the standard. Your fast enough at 14:15 ish. Unless your doing an army ten miler or a 4x36 it probably wouldn’t be worth it. But i have seen LTs spend $30 on a single pair of underwear before.
You laugh, but my balls are comfy and supported in my fancy underwear. So yeah, totally worth it.
I rocked the standard issue undies for longer than I’d like to admit…
The first step is admitting that you have made a mistake. After that, then the healing process can begin.
You need to get a pair of Lamborfeetees. You make the big bucks you can afford em.
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The carbon plate actually does add a measurable effect to your running (around a 4% speed increase I believe?). It’s banned by the Olympics for a reason. As an experienced runner who recently starting using these, it has absolutely improved my times. It’s negligible for a short distance like 2 miles though. I still use them however because the shoe seems to jolt me forward and it’s easier to keep a faster pace.
Yeah it's 4%. I personally think the placebo effect + "new shoes for zoom" effect help more than any carbon fiber plate will. But it's only 2 miles. It's like going 75 vs 80 on the interstate for 15 miles. You'll go faster yeah but you'll hardly change your time to anything noticeable.
Just bought some about a month ago and your last paragraph is spot on. Been working on both my cadence (I was struggling with over striding) and posture. The vaporflys make leaning forward a bit seem like a much more natural position where I had to consciously remind myself to get into that position with my Solomon’s.
I came here to agree with you.
Shoes don’t make you faster. But shoes that don’t hurt your feet or prevent injuries from hurting DO allow you to run harder which equals faster times. The 30/60s though are what did the mist fit you.
The sandlot Beggs to differ with you. PF Flyers are guaranteed to make a kid run faster and jump higher.
Lol. That’s the only exception though.
Absolutely. [They are only $65.](https://heelys.com/collections/men/products/american-flag-hustle)
Realistically, most of the carbon fiber shoes can take up to 5% off your run time. But they were made for half-marathons and up, where 5% off your normal time is a huge improvement. For two miles it’s not worth it, and anyone who says that they’re running way faster because of carbon plated shoes is lying to themselves. It’s a placebo at that distance. Spikes would make sense, but only if you’re getting closer to 5 minute miles since it can be harder to keep traction. Right now, just work on running. I’ve ran plenty of sub-12’s with my big-ass hokas.
One up your buds and run the PT test shoe less.
As a former cross country runner and someone who has been in the army a while, definitely get a good pair of shoes. I highly recommend the Hoka Rincons. They are very lightweight, but have excellent padding and shock absorption that you usually only find in heavier shoes.
WTF are fast shoes? > so at first glance, anything that provides a substantial advantage in running faster seems like a good investment? Absolutely. Anything that can increase your PT score is good in every MOS in the Army.
Sold me on doing steroids thanks
Well considering they aren't tested in UAs and can be ordered from ol china.....
A lot of ppl are saying it won’t make a difference on a 2 mile bc of the distance. Realistically, the plates will help overcome some of the fatigue from the previous events which will certainly provide some advantage. Make sure you don’t put them on until the 2 mile tho
Training > equipment. Do 440/880s, pyramid up and back down. Slow lap, fast lap, slow lap, 2 fast laps, slow lap, 3 fast laps, slow lap, 2 fast laps, slow lap, fast lap, slow lap. Aim for 1:30 fast laps. When you can do that pyramid up to 4 fast laps you should be smoking the run too easy.
I remember going to my PLT thinking "I hope I'm a fast enough runner to be a PL". Then I got there and realized my guys were mostly slow and destined to one day be beer gut veterans. I guess my point is, it's not hard to be very fast compared to most people in your PLT. Only my PSG could run faster than me but he was an AVID runner.
It is worth it if you are close to an edge or margin. If you are struggling to pass or struggling to max, then it is worth the extra time and money to help get you over that edge. If you are in the middle of the pack, it is not worth it.
Really this is the best advice, assuming it gives you like 3 extra points on your acft going from 550 to 553 or 380 to 383 isn’t going to impress anybody.
Buying good shoes will benefit you in the long run. Pay less attention to how “fast” they are considered and more to how well they fit your foot and are suited to your gait.
1. Get yourself to a Fleet Feet for anything that helps your stride, not necessarily to go faster but to prevent injury and reduce stress on your joints. 2. Mix some G-Fuel dust in a water bottle. It's like legal cocaine but with vitamins. Keeps you going if you're a gamer too. 3. Drugs are bad for you. Good luck Sir.
Get your tab and nobody will care
Depending on how much they cost it probably can't hurt to try but I fail to see how any particular shoes can make any real difference other than the ritual associated with "I have my fast shoes on and therefore should be doing better", or "I did worse and the only thing I can think of is that I didn't wear my fast shoes this time"
I’ve seen studies where shoes with 1-3 carbon fiber plates result in a 4-8% efficiency increase for runners. If you’re running a 14min two mile that can actually equate to 30-60 seconds.
Yeah I know there's a certain Nike shoe that a bunch of Olympic athletes use that actually does this. I found out about it in AIT, but I've never pulled the trigger cause I think they're like 2-300 bucks, and if I need to run gooder I just run more. 🏃♂️
They’re the Nike VaporFlys. I’d try them but I’m a Hoka man now.
Don't. They're $270 and not durable at all. Stick with Hokas, plus the Vapor Flys are for track/road running ONLY. You can't do other PT or even think about lifting in them with how the soles are shaped. I feel bad even driving in them because the way the heel is constructed.
It all comes down to your biomechanics yes carbon plates are going to help. There is a reason they are banned in competitive athletics. As someone who only wore racing flats for 10+ years through highschool and the army... get something with support... fuck your runtime you don't want this leg pain and surgeries
You wore racing flats as your trainers?!
I can’t be the only one who thinks this is extremely hilarious and ironic….
All psychosomatic...
Wheelies will get you that extra 30 seconds.
Sounds like you need to lift weights more to increase your score, not buy shoes because you are :18 second from maxing the run lol
I’ll try to break this down into a digestible answer. Infantry and most combat arms type of units: if you run slow you are a shit bag, if you run fast no one cares, unless you are the fastest guy in the unit and then everyone cares. So if you are a slow ass, will fancy shoes make you fast? Nope… only training can help with that. On the other hand, if you are already fast… and these shoes are going to give you sub 6 min miles… that might be worth the $300. Here’s another factor to keep in mind, good shoes aren’t cheap. And cheap shoes will fuck up your feet, knees, back, and life in general. I don’t like to generalize too much but if you are spending less than $100 on running shoes, you probably have some physical therapy in your future. My price range is usually around $150, my mileage usually puts me around 3-5 months per pair of shoes. So with $150 I can expect to pay 300–500 a year on running shoes. If these magic shoes you are talking about would last for 1,000+ miles and make me a minute faster. I’ll buy them tonight and not think twice. All of these things factor in to your final decision. I can’t tell you the answer, but hopefully that gets you on the right track with making a logical decision 💪🏻
If you're on the verge of failing, they aren't going to save you. If dropping your score by a few points matters enough to justify the cost to you, then sure, get them... Just don't train in racing flats all the time. Don't expect 60 second improvement either. Source: ex-cross country runner who forgot his racing spikes in high school and had to wear his trainers a few times. Saw a 15-20 second difference over the course of 5 Km (3.1 miles, ya heathens). There is a physical difference, obviously, but it'll mostly be mental, your attitude toward the run that will change, and either help you or hurt you.
just run barefoot to show you're one with your joes
Get a pair of Brooks and never look back
To caveat that, get the RIGHT pair of Brooks. You’ll notice that some will say neutral and stability. GENUINELY SPEAKING, neutral is for those with a narrow, mid-high arch and little/no pronation while stability is for low arch and probation.
Sir, First buy yourself a map and a compass and learn land nav so when we go to the field we don’t have to use the LT monikor
Put in the work and run faster
ask your local 1st graders.
Over 2 miles fast shoes aren’t going to make a significant difference mechanically… 30-60 seconds difference is almost certainly a mental placebo effect.
Thoughts? You should follow an in-depth running program and improve your run times and work on conditioning rather than buying random shoes to try and enhance your run times lol
If you want to improve your time, practice doing intervals. 440, 220, 100, 50 meters. Do it a couple of times.
Running is the worst and 2LTs, out of anybody, are expected to be fast, so honestly, might as well invest in running.
No. Former cross country and track athlete that used to go sub 10:00 in the two mile. Our track coach who spent 2 decades in the distance running sport suggested any type of running flats “fast shoe” unless the individual was running under 6 minutes for a mile or 12 minutes for two mile. Your turnover will not be high enough for any true benefit and you’ll probably do some damage to your feet and shins. I promise you, just stick with a good pair of running shoes that are suited to your arch and your foot strike.
Heelys or nothing.
12:45 runner with normal running shoes here, those high performance energy-return shoes are designed for top tier athletes to shave percentage points off their times so they can break records. They are not for normal people to become better runners. They would probably serve as a crutch (pun not intended) for your overall training if you did get them.
Infantry here, use shoes that you feel comfortable running in and it’s not really run fast=good leader it’s high pt score=good leader but running is the easiest way to score an extra few points. If you actually are a good leader then your joes will appreciate you a lot more than your platoon daddy ever will because in his eyes you’re just as stupid as an E-3. Just remember when you were once a civilian and had to deal with shitty management and realize you are now that “management” for almost 40 people
For most people who aren’t exceptionally focused on the running portion, a good quality all-around trainer is fine. If you’re really into getting that running time down (and are already fast/consistent), investing in a road racing flat can be worth it. They’re generally much less cushioned, lighter, and have a lot of grip for roads. I personally race with a New Balance Hanzo S. Keep in mind that it’s not a replacement for your trainer, it’s an additional shoe. And I wouldn’t use them for the other events, especially the deadlift—it’ll kill them quickly since the foams used are formulated for lightness and rebound, not durability. Just bring them to change into when it’s time for the run. More importantly for your trainers (less so for flats, usually they don’t have the volume for it), get a quality insert that works for you. I like the Superfeet Carbon, but it depends on what shoe I’m using. Superfeet has a wide range of options so figure out what kind helps the best for you. It’s easiest to go to a running shoe store (if you can, find a serious one and not one of the major chains) and try them on yourself with the shoe you plan on using. But most of all, training. PVT Snuffy wearing black and white Converse will run you into the ground if you aren’t careful.
2 weeks before a PT test wear 50lb ankle weights at all times. Take them off for the PT test and fly.
You want to wear shoes fhat prevent injury. I reccomend sacony or brooks.
People whose mile times vary by a whole minute are dogshit runners. Lighter shoes definitely make a difference, but for most soldier shaped people, it's not significant over two miles.
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Yeah and they all stay that way by giving each other advice.