Tens of thousands of young men designated for security service enlist in the IDF every year. The August cohort is considered one of the three major cohorts for combat service and this year, more than ever, the excitement for the military service is great, the motivation is high and the emotions are mixed.
Preparations for recruitment involve significant financial expenditure. The list of equipment that the IDF provides is comprehensive and apparently sufficient, but in practice, essential additions are needed. In order to improve the service conditions for the conscripts, the IDF gives them a one-time sum of NIS 300, which they receive in advance (combat supporters and fighters will receive an amount additional money during the service period). Since the cost of living does not exceed the designated soldiers, this amount is not enough for the initial purchase, since the cost of the "basket per soldier" ranges from NIS 800-1,500.
It is important to understand that you do not need to buy everything in advance, on your first return home you will know better what you need and what additional equipment will make it easier for you. In addition, the chain of convenience stores Kaveret (formerly Shekem), which is operated by the Association for the Soldier, allows "equipment completion" at 300 points of sale in IDF bases and units throughout the country.
The CEO of the Kaveret network, Zvika Goldenberg, says that in recent months thousands of packages have been ordered for the rookie soldiers - 62% of them to the bases in the south, 25% to the bases in the northern region and 13% to the bases in the central region. The packages mostly include: water, Coca Cola, Bamba, Doritos Hot pickles, Kinder Bueno, Click in the bag, All-In protein bar, wet wipes, shoe polish, shoe brush, bath towel, boxer briefs, socks and shirts.
"In the weeks before the recruitment we see a lot of traffic in the stores and on the website," adds Kobi Tzviali, manager of a chain of stores for travelers. "Since October 7, a different atmosphere has been felt among those enlisting in the IDF, who understand the importance of combat service and the defense of the country. It is exciting to see the mobilization and the willingness to dedicate themselves to combat duties, which indicates a great sense of responsibility and commitment to the country."
Tzviali points out that the most requested items for recruits include: sweat-wicking socks, sweat-wicking boxer briefs with an emphasis on comfort, without seams, breathable fabrics and suitable for challenging sports activities, tactical gloves, a high-quality backpack suitable for heavy weights, watches that do not require charging and connection to a phone, thermal clothing and a headlamp. "Demands for these items increase as the recruitment date approaches, and there are periods when the inventory is quickly depleted," he says.
Chargers in field conditions: The Hamilton company, the official importer of the ANKER brand to Israel, offers a 10,000mAh Anker 323 Power Bank backup battery with PowerIQ technology for fast and two-way charging. You can charge two devices at the same time.
Battery price: NIS 169.
Available on the Hamilton website and at authorized dealers. The backup battery is marketed with an 18-month warranty on behalf of Hamilton.
Fragrances in the air: AX's Premium Collection body spray series offers perfume style, in Ax's section - smells as good as perfume with an invigorating and fresh scent concocted by world-renowned perfumers, for up to 72 hours of freshness, with zinc zap technology to protect against bad odor in fragrances Luxurious in combination with essential oils.
Price ranges: NIS 18-19.
Available in the marketing and pharmacy chains.
Paying in stars: The H&O chain, chosen by the IDF to provide equipment for recruits, offers military personnel and soldiers a fixed discount of 25% in addition to all the promotions in the store, for those who pay in stars and in cash according to the variety approved by the Ministry of Defense. Among the details of the soldiers' collection in the sale: Underwear, breathable and thermal clothing, anti-bacterial socks, backpacks, outdoor equipment, shoe shine kit, socks, underwear, dry fit shirts with tassels, sports shirts, tank tops, shorts, sports shoes, toiletries, towels and more.
Sample prices : Sweat wicking shirt: NIS 30, pack of six antibacterial army socks: NIS 53, pack of seven men's boxers for NIS 75, pack of five white or olive green cotton t-shirts for NIS 98.
Available at all H&O chain stores.
Smart on the wrist: Garmin Instinct2 smart sports watch with durable GPS and adapted to field conditions. The watch has a built-in training profile with a full interface in Hebrew including alerts and notifications. The watch supports iPhone and Android with a full Hebrew app and has American military standard 810G for resistance to high heat, shocks and water (up to 100 meters), built-in compass with barometric altimeter and global satellite navigation systems. The watch includes advanced index monitoring to obtain insights and analyzes for various health indicators such as blood oxygen index, energy level, sleep monitoring and more. Battery time of up to 28 days in smart watch mode and up to 30 hours in GPS mode.
Price in the electrical warehouse network: NIS 1,169, including two years warranty from the official importer.
Illuminates from above: A light and compact PETZL brand headlamp, illuminates with an intensity of 300 lumens and has three lighting modes, a wide light beam and a long lighting time. Equipped with an elastic and comfortable headband that is easily adjustable and removable and washable.
The price: NIS 195. Get it on the Kal Gav website and in travel stores.
A house on the back: An 80-liter porter soldier bag from OUTDOOR REVOLUTION will provide a large volume, carrying comfort and high resistance to field conditions. The backpack is in demand by soldiers and travelers and has an adjustable and ventilated back system and padded shoulder straps for comfortable carrying, Top of Form and uniform weight distribution.
The price: NIS 409. Available at the traveler stores and on the Kal Gav website.
The supplement that takes:
Online travelers recommend adding these items to the basket:
The breathable t-shirt of the WILDCAT brand, which is suitable for strenuous activity, evaporates sweat and blocks the harmful rays of the sun, the price: from NIS 98.
Powerful headlamp model HDL40, durable and waterproof, ideal for long activity in the field thanks to economical LED bulbs and long-term lighting in tactical red light.
The price: NIS 169.
Breathable boxer briefs for men made of breathable NATIVE PLANET antibacterial and quick-drying fabric. Sale price: three pairs for NIS 100.
Available in branches and on the website of a chain of stores for the traveler.
Organized for bathing: Travel Tactic toiletry bag made of extremely durable fabric, light, and with a large volume. The price: NIS 99. Soap and toothbrush cover are included in the price. Get it on the Kal Gav website and in travel stores.
Pleasant rub: Bio Velvet cream is an Israeli patent for accelerating the recovery of skin defects based on an ale's foundation - the only natural source of renewable collagen. The cream is designed to accelerate recovery and relieve pain from cuts, open wounds, burns, seborrhea, pressure sores, herpes, chafing and tripping. The natural and holistic cream, the fruit of Israeli development by Dr. Doron Tzur, the price: NIS 139 for 50 ml, NIS 399 for 200 ml.
Available for purchase on the company's website and in authorized pharmacies throughout the country.
Comfort under the uniform: The INTIMEN brand offers recruits items in the 1+1 sale: rib-knit cotton grandfather tank tops, suitable under the uniform and a pack of three microfiber boxer briefs with high resistance to washing and abrasion in a classic cut, made of high-quality cotton, with a soft elastic waist and rubber bearing the brand's name .
Available in Intima stores throughout the country and on the online website.
From fitness challenges: The running shoe from HOKA, CHLLENGER 7, is suitable for a wide variety of terrain routes; Rocks, stones, gravel, fields, sand, mud, water crossings, as well as for walking and running on the road, tempo training, running on wet and slippery surfaces. The shoe has a thick sole made of recycled compressed EVA, for support, high cushioning and efficient energy return. These characteristics have made it a bestseller among combat fitness trainers and military personnel, who need a pair of shoes that will fit the conditions of the training. The new design of CHALLENGER 7 offers a variety of fashionable colors.
The price: NIS 750. Available at the HOKA concept stores in the Mandarin complex and the M Haregh mall, on the New Run website, the official HOKA importer, in the WeShoes network and in a variety of stores that market the brand in Israel.
Basic to the basic: The Hoodies brand offers quality basic items that will accompany the soldiers throughout the period of service. In the sea, the recommended items: smooth basic shirts in white and olive green colors, underwear, socks, pants, hoodies, etc.
Price range: NIS 33-180 per item. Available at the chain's branches.
Anti-sweat: Tcooldry short t-shirt suitable for any activity, lightweight, ventilated and sweat wicking, made of easy-to-clean fabric that keeps the body dry and protected from the sun's rays.
The price: NIS 59. Get it on the Kal Gav website and in travel stores.