How to Tie Hiking Boots – The Ultimate Guide

We’re here with another topic regarding hiking, and that is “How to Tie Hiking Boots.” Tying shoelaces is easy, isn’t it? We’ve been doing it for years.

Most of us master the shoe-tying or the standard lacing technique in elementary school and never really thought about it twice. But when it comes to lacing up and knotting hiking boots, it’s a little bit different.

The standard lacing technique may work well for many people, but it doesn’t work for everyone. So, the question stands “What is the correct way to tie hiking boots?” or “How to lace hiking boots?”

To answer that, correct lacing should be taut but not too tight from the toe up to the top of the shoe or boot. No loose lacing is allowed, and the lacing should bind the boot firmly but evenly.

You may also ask, what about the blisters, “How to tie hiking boots to prevent blisters?” Well, we have to make sure that our foot is securely fastened inside the boot. So that the boot doesn’t slip and cause blisters. 

Should also pay careful attention to the dimensions of your foot and places that tend to swell the most while lacing hiking boots. It may all sound overly complicated, so overwhelming. 

But in reality, it’s everything about listening to your body. Giving it what it wants or needs can be provided with something as simple as lacing hiking boots.

If the hiking boot or shoe wear on your feet uncomfortably, you’ll be glad to learn a few new tricks about lacing that could help improve your comfort.

After trying a few techniques on tying hiking boots, we’ve listed our favorites based on what is valued most while we’re out on the trail: 

Secure fit, lacing for different feet types, and simplicity. We have decided to share our favorites and the best way to lace hiking boots with our beloved reads.

Hiking Boot Knots

To tie hiking boots is not that complicated at all. Tying boots will be super easy if you have a hiking boot guide to walk you through the process. Today, I’ll be your guide.

There are a lot of knots to tie hiking boots to try on while trying your boots. All of them are customizable for different situations and feet types. Let’s discuss them all. 

Loop 

Boot lacing with the loop technique is quite easy. If you feel your laces are slipping on a hook, what you do is:

1. Lace up the shoe like you normally would.
2. Go to the next hook when you reach the ankle part of the boot, rather than crossing over like you normally would.
3. Now cross over but don’t go into the next.
4. Lace “down” a hook instead of going “up.”
5. Feed the laces from outside inwards. Do it for each side.
6. Pull the laces upwards and cross over.
7. Before up, go up to the next pull really tight. Now tie them up as you like. 

D-ring Lock

D-ring lock isn’t that hard. In fact, it’s a pretty easy technique to tie hiking boots. It’s also one that’s well worth knowing. 

Normally, you’ll pull the laces upwards through the eyelets. Which may sometimes mean they’re still not that secure if the terrain is rough. In that case, a D-ring lock is a much safer option. For D-ring lock, you’ll have to do:

1. First, you’ll take the two laces, pull them upwards and make sure they are equal on both sides.
2. Now pull the laces downwards through the eyelets from above instead of going up from below.
3. Pull them real tight. This way, the laces are now under more pressure to secure the boots more tightly to your feet.
4. Repeat the process to the top and tie it off with a knot of your choice.

There are a lot of ways to tie a D-Ring shoe, so the laces do not slip. Another way of doing D-ring lock is,

1. Start lacing like normal, from the outside of the boot to the inside, then cross over and thread the laces through the second one going from inside to the outside.
2. Now come through the same eyelet or D-ring and pull but don’t pull all the way through. Just enough to create a loop.
3. Then run your laces through the loops you just created. 
4. Continue the pattern and just top the pattern off with your favorite knot. 

Be careful though, with this type of lacing, it is easy to over tighten the laces and bend the D-Ring!

Overhand Knot

This is the most commonly used way of locking tension around a knot. We are likely to learn it when we learned to tie our hiking boots or shoes. Basically, what you do is: 

1. You will take the two laces and cross one over the other.
2. Now loop it underneath the X you just made and pull. 
3. Pull the ends away from each other, as far away as possible. This’ll create a loop that will hold all your lacing in place below it.
4. You may tie it off however you like.  

Surgeon’s Knot Sliding Forward

To tie hiking boots with a surgeon’s knot is easy. A surgeon’s knot carries out the same goal as the overhand knot but is a little more secure. For that:

1. Basically, first, you make an overhand knot.
2. Now loop a lace underneath one more time. The second loop creates more friction, and more the friction, more the tension, which holds it together. 
3. It’s a very secure and reliable option if your goal is to lock off the tension below the knot. 
4. You can also use the Surgeon’s Knot throughout the tying process after looping around each hook.
5. Just be careful to make sure you leave an adequate amount of space between each knot to avoid cutting off circulation.  

Marathon Loop or Lock Lacing no Heel Slip

Tying a marathon loop is also quite easy. This technique is also known as “Marathon Lace” or “Runner’s Loop.” This loop is a little different from the normal one. For this technique:

1. Start with a normal lacing technique.
2. Make sure to tighten from the bottom up.
3. Find the back eyelet.
4. Lace it through the back eyelet and create a loop.
5. Use a finger to allow for room.
6. Do the same to the other side.
7. Insert the laces into adjacent loopholes.
8. When tightening the laces, pull the left lace then the right lace back and forth until it’s tight.
9. Pull the laces snug but not too snug.
10. Finish it off with a knot of your liking.

The Marathon loop technique takes the pressure off the top of the foot, allowing more blood flow to your toes and foot.

Reef Knot

This particular knot got its name from its daily use on ships. It was mostly used for tying up bundles of loos sail cloth whenever a reef was taken in. This one is easy to remember and extremely tight.

1. Grab the two ends of the lace and cross them
2. Now cross the lower end back over the upper one.
3. Tuck the one which just went over the other one, back under and up.
4. Again, overlap the ends. Notice, this time, the opposite end is on top.

If you had right over left overlapped in the first step, in this one, they’re left over right. And this creates a hole.

Granny Knot and Square Knot

The granny or square knot is the finishing touch on either an overhand knot or a surgeon’s knot. A Granny knot is a very common knot, but it’s a little bit less secure than a square knot.

1. Once you’ve pulled your laces tight, take one of them and double it back on itself, creating a “bunny ear”
2. Now wrap the other lace around the bunny ear.
3. Use your thumb to create a loop under it.
4. Hold the loose end of the lace against your thumb with your index finger.
5. Then use your index finger to push the lace through the loop, creating a second “bunny ear”
6. Take hold of one bunny ear with one hand and the other with the opposite hand, then tighten it.
7. If the bunny ears run lengthwise along your foot or if you end up with a knot where the bow loops point up and down, then you’ve tied a granny knot.

Now, to tie a square knot,

1. Begin with an overhand knot or a surgeon’s knot and proceed as we did in the granny knot technique.
2. Take the two loops and pass them “right over left and then left over right” and you should have a square knot.
3. The finished product should have bow loops that point to the sides. This means, if they run across your foot width-wise, then you’ve tied a square knot.

Aiming for a square knot is ideal. We’ll advise you to choose the square knot— it’s the more secure knot of the two. 

Quick-Pull Knot

Some hiking boots provide a pull-cord lacing system, like La Sportiva Synthesis Mid GORE-TEX SURROUND® Boot, you’ll get the pull-cord lacing system with them. 

1. First, start by looping around the quick lace hook.
2. After that, all there’s left to do is pull. It’s truly as simple as that.

Low-Cut Shoe Heel Lock

A heel lock lacing technique can also be modified for a low-cut shoe or boot with eyelets. Low-cut shoe heel lock requires to:

1. In these types of shoes, the last two eyelets should be next to each other instead of one on top of the other.
2. Start lacing as you would normally do. Make sure it’s tight, like really tight. The lacing should feel very similar to when you pluck the strings on a guitar, movable but never loose.
3. When you reach the second last eyelet, don’t cross over. Instead, go back in on the same side and feed the lace through the last eyelet.
4. But don’t pull tight. Leave a little loop.
5.  Do the same on the other side.
6. And from there, you just have to cross over through the loop and pull up against the loo to snug your heel in the heel pocket.
7. Finish the lacing with a knot.

Boot Heel Lock

There are plenty of methods for doing a boot heel lock. Three of them are mostly used and knows as more effective. So today, we’re going to discuss the three.

Method 1 to tie hiking boots

1. Get your lacing up to the bottom of the ankle at the top of the foot.
2. And then we’re going to do something called a surgeon’s bottom which is, where you cross your lace over and pass one lace through one more time, and you clamp this down.
3. This will just bring a lot of tension around the bottom of the foot.
4. From there, we actually shoot all the way up the top rung. We’re essentially skipping one of the crisscross steps here.
5. Then we even our way back down to the cross and over the laces. 
6. Go into the second top one, crossing over again. 
7. Down to the third one that we’ve left clear. 
8. We do this because now it means our tie-off point is much lower down in the foot, which helps keep the whole boot tight across the top, and it keeps the ankle really tight in place as well.
9. At this point, we’re just going to tie the boot off like you normally would.

Method 2 to tie hiking boots

1. Pass the lace through the eyelets, make sure the lace is the equal length on both sides, and then start crisscrossing toward your ankle.
2. Once you have reached your ankle, at this point, we’re going to use the surgeon’s knot, taking each lace and loop it under its opposing side. 
3. Pull the laces through and tighten until your heel feels secure.
4. Then go to the next eyelet and do another surgeon’s knot.
5. Do normal crisscross lacing through the last two eyelets and finish it with a knot.

Method 3 to tie hiking boots

1. Lace-up normally using crisscross lacing to the eyelets that are just below the setback eyelets.
2. Now you’re going to run your lace straight up to that setback eyelet on each side.
3. Once you’ve run the laces straight up, give them your regular crisscross.
4. Now take the end of your lace and run it up underneath the line you’ve just created. Be sure to come out under the laces.
5. Do the same on the other side, and make sure both the laces come out on the bottom side. Not on the top side of the cross.
6. It should look something like a frog’s face.
7. At this point, take the laces and pull them forward towards your toe. Don’t make the mistake of pulling them upwards towards your face.
8. Pull them straight out towards your toes tight.
9. Then you can crisscross back to the last hooks of your boots and tie it off.

Or, When the laces are long enough, I like to wrap my laces around the back of the boots and finish the knot. I think that looks pretty cool and provides a bit more support above the ankle.

Alright, you’re done. Now walk around and make sure it feels comfortable. Adjust your laces accordingly. This is one of the simplest ways to lace your boots, one of the most crucial. You may also know it as “lace lock”.

Lacing Technique for Unique feet

Every foot in this world can never be the exact same size. Each one is unique and a little bit different. Luckily there are lacing techniques for each and every type of foot. 

High Insteps

This is usually caused by bone or nerve conditions. Which results in our body weight being localized on the ball and heel. 

The reason for this is the arch of the foot is higher than usual. It doesn’t distribute weight the way it should. This can cause a great deal of pain. Even may sometimes lead to plantar fasciitis. 

Lacing windows help relieve the pressure on the arch and creates relief. A window lacing is just a fancy name for “not crossing your laces over a particular part of your foot.” 

1. Basically, you need to find the part of your foot that feels compressed or prone to sore spots. 
2. Instead of lacing diagonally over that area, you should vertically pass the laces up an eyelet or a hook. This creates a space in your lacing and helps alleviates the pressure of a high arch. 

Lacing windows are also really effective for other kinds of swelling across the top part of your feet, no matter what the cause is.

Another way to alleviate pressure in your foot is to use a parallel lacing technique. If you have high arches, you might want to consider learning this one. 

In this particular technique, instead of your hiking boot laces crossing back and forth over each other, they run in parallel lines across the width of your hiking boot. 

1. Start by running the lace through the first eyelet, which is right next to your big toe. Then you go straight up to the next eyelet on top of the first one. This way, you’ll have both your laces on the same side.
2. Now bring the first lace across and run it through the first eyelet of the other side. Then skip one eyelet and bring the lace up through the third one, staying on the same side of the boot. 
3. Again, we go across and staying on the same side of the boot, skip one eyelet and run through the next one.
4. Repeat this pattern with both laces of the shoe until you’ve laced the entire boot, then tie it off with a knot.  

One more way of lacing to feel comfortable in your boots or shoes. This technique also works great if you have wide feet. 

In order to accomplish this particular lacing, you start by completely unlacing your hiking boots except for the line that runs across the toe.

1. Now take the lace from the right side, go to the left side, and feed the lace through the second pair of eyelets underneath. 
2. Instead of crossing over, go back to the same side, the third eyelet, feed the lace through.
3. Then take the same lace, go to the left side of the shoe, skip two eyelets, and run the lace through the fourth one, again through the fifth one from the same side.
4. After that, come to the right side again with the same lace and skip two eyelets as we did on the other side. Repeat the process till the end of the boot.
5. Do the same with the other lace and tie them securely at the end. 

This technique reduces the number of crisscrosses and gives you comfort as well as a great fit.

Toe-Relief Lacing

It’s quite common that after a while spent hiking, your toes may feel like they’re being squeezed even if your hiking boots generally fit you well.

By using a toe-relief technique, you will be able to relieve some of the pressure. But remember, though, that this’s not a quick fix for the boots that don’t fit well in the first place.

1. First, you’ll need to untie your laces completely. Just like we did in parallel lacing. We will use a combination of parallel and diagonal cross lacing patterns to help lift the toe box up.
2. Slip one end of the lace through the eyelet closest to the toe and come diagonally through the last eyelet on the opposite side, skipping the holes in the middle.
3. Take the toe lace and pull so it’s longer than the other side, and slip it through the opposite eyelet.
4. Slip the same lace diagonally across and then through the eyelet to the opposite side.
5. Repeat the same process until you have reached the last eyelet opposite to the other end of the lace.
6. Finish off by locking your laces.

This shoelace technique will help you avoid toe jams to minimize toe pain. 

You can also alleviate toe pressure by unlacing your hiking boot completely, then re-lacing it again, skipping the bottom eyelets, and starting up the second one.  

1. To achieve this particular toe-relief lacing, you’ll need to unlace your shoe completely. 
2. Then ignore the first pair of eyelets and instead thread directly through the second pair.
3. Continue tying the laces towards the top of the boot.

These methods are really easy yet effective.

If you feel like your toes are being squished, you can also fix this by tying your shoe twice.

1. Untie your hiking shoe laces all the way down to the line running across the toe. 
2. Now re-lace your boot halfway up, whichever way feels best to you.
3. Then tie them off. 
4. Then take a second shoelace and start lacing again at the next eyelet up where we tied our first shoelace. 
5. Now lace the boot all the way to the top with the second shoelace.
6. Then tie it off at the top using a heel lock. 

This technique allows you to adjust the tension on the toe laces without retying the entire boot. But we generally don’t recommend this technique cause you need to have an extra pair of shoelaces on hand for this one, which is not easy to find during a hike.

Ankle-Relief Lacing

Suppose you’re someone who has particularly prominent ankle bones and finds that wearing hiking boots can feel a little uncomfortable. In that case, this technique is the one for you.

1. First, by catching the top hook eyelets, you will work your way down.
2. You’ll secure the laces more tightly opposite your heel.
3. This process then redirects the pressure away from the protruding parts of your ankles.
4. Tie a knot for a more secure fit.

Using this technique, your ankle support will still be maintained, and the back of your boot will also be snug to the back of your foot, so no sliding around.

Cuff Pressure

While on a hike, if you feel excess pressure in the upper part of your foot, above the ankle, you should consider an alternate method of lacing. Which will help reduce skin irritation there. 

In order to alleviate the cuff pressure, finish lacing by bringing the laces over the top of the final hooks of the boots and then tying them off.

1. To start, you’ll need to untie your laces and loosen them right off. So pull them all the way through the eyelets, right down to the bottom of the boots.
2. Before we start to tie our laces, we need to make sure that the tongue is central and all tucked in as well as the cuff. It will stop water ingress debris ingress and also much more comfortable.
3.  Next, pop your foot in the boot and tap the heel right into the back so that way your foot is in the right position before we’ve even started to tie your laces.
4. Position your foot and leg at a ninety-degree angle.
5. So, starting at the bottom of your boot, pull the laces through the eyelets towards the top of the boot.
6. Now, you don’t want them so tight that they cut off circulation and cause discomfort. But you don’t want them, so loose that they’re not supportive at all. So a general rule of thumb is that you shouldn’t be able to get your finger underneath the laces.
7. If you can maintain the tension going through to the lace loops on the top of the ankle cuff, then great. But for some people, it may be really beneficial just to pop a simple knot in at this point. So this point where the diagonal tension holds your heel in the heel cup of the boot.
8. Next, moving up to the lace loops on the ankle cuffs. So we’re going to pull the laces through the lace loops like we would if we were normally tying our walking boots. 
9. But this time, we’re going to start from the very top, crossing them over every lace loop. Again, making sure that they’re tight but not restrictive.
10. At this point, you should be getting ready to tie your double knot at the bottom to the lace loops rather than at the top of the ankle cuffs.
11. Before the final knot, I like to wrap the laces under and over twice. It just stops the laces from slipping while you tie the rest of the knot.
12. Now finish the lacing with your favorite knot.

Tie Hiking Boots Low Volume / Narrow Feet

Well, you’ll know if you have narrow feet if you feel them move around in your shoes during your run or hike. To keep them in place, you should create a lock with your laces. For this technique,

1. Thread your laces through the first and second eyelets as usual. 
2. Then pass them through the eyelets on the same side between the second and third eyelets in order to create a lock.

Or, 

You can also create the lock if you like by running the laces back through the same eyelets, making a small loop. Make the loop as small as you can get, but don’t pull it all the way through.

1. Now cross your laces back through the lock.
2. Repeat this technique all the way up to the top of the tongue pulling the laces tight.
3. Tie a knot to finish it off.

Now your foot will be firmly held in your shoe.

You can also use different versions of this method. Like, you can start the locks or loops from the middle of your foot. You can also increase or decrease the number of locks or loops while tying your boot laces. You must listen to your body. Whatever feels most comfortable on is best for you.

For those of you that have narrow feet, consider using another special technique, the low volume knot. It’ll help you to create a cushion for your feet. 

1. Start by tightening all the laces, like guitar strings. 
2. Where the boot laces first loop out, tie a surgeon’s knot. That’ll secure the top of your foot. 
3. Now lace around the first hook top-down. 
4. Then move on to the next hook, continue looping your laces top-down.
5. At this point, tie a second surgeon’s knot.
6. Follow this procedure until you’ve reached the top hook and tighten your laces properly. 

Notice how these simple techniques help you hold your foot securely without causing excessive pressure or irritation. Yeah, I know, it’s a life-changer, right?

Tie Hiking Boots With Wide Feet / Wide Forefoot

You’ll know if you have wide feet if they feel squashed or pinched when you run or walk. So, to create space and let your feet breathe, you need to tie your hiking boots the proper way. You should cross over the laces as little as possible.

1. Start to tie hiking boots as you’ll usually do.
2. Cross over your laces between the first and second eyelets.
3. Now thread them through on the same side between the second and third.
4. Cross them over again between the third and fourth eyelets.
5. Thread them through on the same side between the fourth and fifth.
6. Then cross them over between the fifth and sixth.
7. Continue the pattern to the top of your boot. By doing this, your foot can use all the space available in the shoe.
8. Don’t forget to do a double knot to avoid having retied your laces in the middle of your run or hike.

We have another cool technique to tie hiking boots for our wide forefoot buddies. Now, this technique is really very easy. For this one,

1. You’re going to start out with your shoe lacing as you would normally do.
2. Now what you’re going to do is you’re going to go up to the middle of your shoe, lacing up the sides. We’re not crossing over yet.
3. So, staying on the same side, thread your lace through the second eyelet and then the third. You can go even higher if you feel comfortable. Do what works best for you.
4. Do the same to the other side of your boot.
5. We’re laced to the middle of the shoe. Now, simply all we’re going to do is start crossing over.
6. Just cross over and lace your shoe as you would normally till you get to the top.
7. Remember to double knot at the end.

This is why these lacing techniques work, these give your forefoot and your toes room to spread while running or walking. They also help with ball foot problems.

These methods allow for wide forefoot, a little more space, and a little more comfort. If you have a wide forefoot or your toes feel cramped, you can try these techniques.

Know What ‘Type’ of Feet You Have!

Everyone is unique so as their feet, especially when it comes to the length and volume of the feet.

Think of your own feet carefully and ask yourself: 

Do I have high-volume feet or low-volume feet? 

Are they both identical?

Are my feet of equal length?

How do I feel in a hiking boot or shoe, and how are my arches structured?

Looking at our feet and noticing every detail is not something we do every day.

In the cycle of our daily lives, we may not always be doing 10-mile walks or long runs and the comfy trainers you wear every day at work tend to be much more forgiving.

But when we hike regularly, especially over the rough terrain or carrying heavyweight, these factors become rather more important than ever.

Understanding the nature of your feet and all things like your pressure points and gait will help you decide the best way to tie up your hiking boots.

For example, if you have lower volume feet with low arches, you would most likely benefit from a tighter fit and plenty of support.

On the other hand, if you have high-volume feet or high arches, you may find too snug boots to reduce circulation and increase pressure. In short, not comfy!

So, you must know your feet. How it reacts in a particular fit or a particular shoe. Only then can you find the perfect technique to tie hiking boots for yourself.

Stylish Yet Practical Lacing Techniques To Tie Hiking Boots

Now, for my lovely reads, here are some of my personal favorite lacing techniques, which are equally stylish and practical. These lacing techniques are stylish, great fitted, and comfy.

Tie Hiking Boots With Criss-Cross Standard

The first lacing style is called the crisscross standard, and basically, this is the most common way to tie your hiking boots.

1. Start with your lace, and you go from the outside if you have an odd number of eyelets. You go from the outside of the boot to the inside.
2. Lift both the laces up and make sure that your laces are an even length; otherwise, it’s going to be weird at the end.
3. From there, you just choose aside and take the lace across. You go from the outside of the boot to the inside. Take the other side of the lace and do the same.
4. Tighten up the laces and repeat the process but always starting on the same side of the eyelets. Otherwise, you’re going to get some mixed-up pattern, and it won’t look good.
5. Continue over the top until you are finished and tie a securing knot.

Tie Hiking Boots With Army Method

This is the second one to tie hiking boots, and it’s called the army method. The reason why it’s called the army method is that most of the time, military boots are not really known for their comfort. So army men developed this lacing technique over time, which allows for extra flexibility in the leather and prevents blisters. It adds a little extra room to the boot.

1. Like we did before, you’re going to start the same way. So you’re going to go from outside to inside on the bottom eyelet.
2. Now do a simple cross, bring the lace diagonally over and through the inside to the outside. Do the same thing with the other lace.
3. You don’t always have to go from the inside of the boot, though. But once you pick a side, just stick with it. Otherwise, it’s going to look odd.
4. Tighten it up. Make sure it’s even.
5. Then you go to the next vertical eyelet without crossing over. Repeat that to the other side as well.
6. Now again, picking the same side you’re going to cross over through the inside of the next eyelet, the same thing on the opposite side, tighten it up.
7. Then again, going vertical eyelet up, cross it over, repeat those steps until the end, and tie it off.

Tie Hiking Boots With Over-Under

Method number three is called over-under. This one is very similar to the crisscross standard but with a little twist. It has less friction on the boot, so it’ll save your laces and save some time.

1. If you have an odd number of eyelets, you’re going to start going from outside to in and the next what you’ll go under. This is the opposite if you have an even number of eyelets. 
2. Assuming you have an odd number of eyelets, start by going from the outside in, and next, you’re going from the inside to the outside diagonally. 
3. Do the same on both sides.
4. Again always starting with the same side and then the next one over. You’re gonna go diagonally across and over, but this time is going outside in. Repeat on the other side.
5. Then to the next eyelet going inside out, same on the other side.
6. Again on the next one outside in and then to the next, inside out.
7. Continue that until you’re done.
8. Suppose you have an even number of eyelets. In that case, you’re gonna start by threading the lace through the bottom eyelet coming outside, and the whole process is reversed. Just remember, if you come out through a hole, the next one, you’re gonna be going down.

Hiking / Biking Lacing

The next one is hiking/biking lacing. To tie hiking boots with this technique is a pretty unusual one. 

The reason it’s called hiking biking lacing is, in this particular lacing style, we have all the cord or nodding on one side that keeps it from getting caught in things like underbrush when you’re hiking or like your bike chains if you’re biking.

If you’re biking, you want to be laced the inside of the boot, so the lacing or the nodding is on the outside, and it doesn’t get caught in your gear. If you are hiking, you can do it the other way around so that it doesn’t get caught in the underbrush and has Canadian thistles and things all over it.

1. You’re gonna take both ends and start them on the same side in two adjacent holes. 
2. Then you’re gonna move it across to the other side, keeping the cords parallel.
3. Now you’re gonna take the bottom one and move it up to the next hole. Then the same with the next one up to the next free hole.
4. Then just move them parallel across again and do this all the way up to the top.
5. Once it’s laced, you can tie it off like you would a normal shoe.

Tie Hiking Boots With Paratrooper’s Ladder

Lacing style number five is called paratrooper’s ladder. The reason why this is good to tie hiking boots like this, and you might like this. It adds a lot of security. So it puts your heel into the heel of the boot. It really reduces a lot of friction and keeps your foot very secure.

You know paratroopers, if they’re going out, they’re gonna be landing, they’re gonna be at a full sprint as soon as they land. So they’re gonna need something that’s very much secure, and this is the best option for them.

This one’s a little different because we’re gonna start off by going inside to outside on the bottom eyelets.

1. Lace them through and make sure you have an even amount of lace on both sides.
2. The next step is, choose aside. You lace it through from the outside into the next vertical eyelet. Now do the other side as well.
3. Once you’ve done that, you’re gonna bring the lace over horizontally, and you’re gonna go under the little eyelet that you just created. So you’re not actually going through the eyelet across. You’re going through the lace. Do that for both sides.

In easier words, when you bring the lace diagonally across, you do not go through an eyelet. You go through the little loop that you created on both sides.

1. Now you’re gonna go through the next vertical eyelet from outside, creating a loop. Same on the other side as well.
2. Then again, you go under the new eyelet or loop you created as you go across.
3. Now just continue that process to the top and tie a knot.

Tie Hiking Boots With Rope Ladder

The sixth one is called the rope ladder. This one also keeps the heel pushed back into the heel of the boot, so if you struggle with blisters or you’re breaking in a pair of boots, this is a good lacing style for keeping it very secure.

And the laces are gonna last longer because they don’t have much friction on the boot itself.

This style looks really good with larger boots or work boots. The key to this particular technique is you’re always gonna go through the bottom of the hole or eyelet to the outside.

1. Like we did in paratrooper’s ladder, you are gonna start by going from inside to outside at the bottom eyelet and then make sure the laces are evenly spaced.
2. Now you’re gonna cross the laces over twice to make a loop.

In other words, you’re gonna take the two laces and cross them over until they tangled with themselves.

1. Then pull it down and thread the lace through the next eyelet from inside.
2. Again you’re gonna start that same process, bring the laces up, make sure they are even, cross them over twice or until it tangles upon itself, and then you’re going to cross it through, thread from inside on the next hole.
3. Continue that pattern until you’re finished.
4. One thing to note on this technique is that you want to space all your loops, knots, or tangles in the middle; otherwise, you’ll have them off to either side, and it just looks funky. It doesn’t look uniformed.

Tie Hiking Boots With Diagonal-Parallel Lacing

The next one we have is called diagonal-parallel lacing. To tie hiking boots with this style is a combination of both diagonal and parallel lacing, hence the name.

If you have really tight boots that are hard to get on, this way, it’s really easy to unlace or undo and then redo because you don’t have to fuss with two strings. You’ll have to work with only one.

The secret to this one is that you’re going to make one side extremely short, long enough only to go diagonally at the top eyelet and tie a knot.

1. You’re gonna start off on the bottom rung by going both sides from the outside in, and then you go all the way from the bottom diagonally through the top eyelet from inside, skipping all the eyelets in between.

This lace will be the short one. You can make whatever side you want to be the short one, but choosing the side opposite to your big toe is ideal. That means the shorter one will be hanging at the top eyelet of your boot’s outer side.

1. Now you’re gonna take the long end of the string, and you’re gonna go across from outside to the second bottom eyelet or the next available horizontal eyelet.
2. From there, you’re gonna go straight across going outside to in.
3. You’re going to repeat that same motion over and over again like it’s a corkscrew.
4. Then at the end, you’re gonna notice that you have your lace on the inside, and you don’t have an eyelet across to go to. So you’re gonna go vertically up to the next eyelet and tie a knot.

Tie Hiking Boots With Parallel lacing

We have the parallel shoe lacing technique that will help reduce pain from common foot problems or if your foot feels constricted inside your shoe while running or hiking. 

This will help your foot feel a little roomier but still secure. If you have any foot injuries, this will help with that too.

1. You start with the eyelet on the side next to your big toe going from outside in, and then you go straight up vertically to the next eyelet going from inside out.
2. Make sure the laces are even.
3. Then you grab the lace on the bottom eyelet and bring it across, thread it through the bottom eyelet. 
4. Now skip the next eyelet vertically and go to the third one from inside out.
5. Then go across horizontally come out through a third eyelet from outside in.
6. Again skip an eyelet vertically and thread through the next one from inside, then go across horizontally.
7. Follow this pattern to the top.
8. Now grab the lace from the second bottom eyelet and follow the same pattern of across and skip.
9. Suppose you have an odd number of eyelets at the end. In that case, you’re gonna notice that you don’t have enough eyelets vertically to skip and go through with your second shoelace. In that case, just go across.
10. Tie a knot at the end to secure it.

Ladder Lacing

The last one we have is called ladder lacing. So basic concept to tie hiking boots with this one is you run one lace-up through underneath and behind all the eyelets and then out on your top or second to top eyelet, and the lace just hangs there. 

Remember, this should be the inner side of your boot, meaning the eyelets next to your big toe.

And the other lace, you just wrap, zigzag it behind underneath back and forth, so it stays square and looks like the ladder.

1. Grab your lace, and you poke them through the first two eyelets of your boot from outside in.
2. Now you pull the inside one, so if you are on the right foot, it’ll be the left side or on the side of your big toe.
3. On the inside, you pull the lace-up, and you’ll put it through vertically the top eyelet or second to top eyelet, whatever is easier for you.
4. You give the lace a length of the foot or so, and you grab the other one.
5. Now you tug it right up so that it’s a straight line across. This will be the more longer one, and we’re gonna work with only this lace.
6. So you bring the lace across to the second to bottom eyelet, thread it through from inside, then go across to the second to the bottom eyelet of another side, thread it through outside. So you go over and under.

Just remember, when you’re inside, come out from inside and when you’re outside, go in from outside. It’ll make it a little easier to understand.

1. Now go across diagonally to the third eyelet, come out from inside, then go across horizontally to the third eyelet of another side, go in from outside and tight.
2. Continue this motion till you reach the top.
3. Once you’ve reached the top, if you don’t have an eyelet to go across, just go vertically up an eyelet.
4. Now hold your first lace and pull the horizontal lines all the way to the top to make the boot tight and tie a knot.

Or,

You can tie them once, wrap them around your ankle and come to the front. Make a reef knot or a square knot. Two knots will also work fine.

Conclusion

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial on how to tie hiking boots. I’ve included a few methods so that you can know what it looks like when done correctly. If you have any questions about how to tie hiking boots, please leave them below and I will get back to you as soon as possible!