Gramps I phoned supply they don't have any laces and they are expecting their order in by next week. However the Sgt there is going through his scrap bin to get us some pre owned laces.
For the others.
The lack of equipment I think is a result of our new standards. How many of the dinosaurs out there remember the days when you would go to supply hoping to get some second hand boots. "Please" you would say" don't let them be new" You wanted used ones because some other guy worked them in for you.
Yesterday I turned in kit I didn't need. One of them was combat boots. Worn 4 times and they went to the scrap bin. AFV jacket and parrka with a worn zipper and winter whites, clean servicable and never worn. in the scrap bin.
We would have a lot more kit and a lot more money if we were not so picky or quick to scrap perfectly good equipmet.