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Last week we took an in depth look at everything you need to know when choosing the right hiking boots. So, now that you have your perfect new boots, and you're ready to hit the trails, let's take a look at various ways to lace your boots. The right lacing techniques can make those new boots feel just perfect. There is no better feeling than having your footwear dialed in.
Most of us master shoe-tying in elementary school and don’t give our laces much thought after that. If your hiking boots start to wear on your feet in uncomfortable ways, though, you’ll be glad to learn a few new lacing tricks that could help improve your comfort.
In this article, we cover three ways to re-lace your boots to help relieve foot discomfort:
Surgeon’s Knot: Simple and versatile, it can keep your heel from slipping.
Window Lacing: Alleviates pressure points on the top of your foot.
Toe-Relief Lacing: A stopgap remedy to get you back to the trailhead.
It's important to note that the lacing techniques described here aren’t a substitute for getting the right fit when you buy your boots. For that you need to see a footwear specialist at an your local outdoor store.
N.A.C. Note: For help in getting the right fit, visit our NAC Partners at Outdoors Oriented in St.Catharines, Ontario or Hiker's Haven in Oakville, Ontario. The skilled staff will make sure you get the proper boot for you and NAC Season Pass Holder's can use their benefits to save on costs. If you don't live in those areas, then visit your nearest MEC store or local Outdoor Store for help.
Video: How to Lace Hiking Boot
Surgeon's Knot
When your heel is slipping excessively as you hike, you probably have too much interior volume at the top of your foot. Cinch down your boot and hold it in place with two surgeon’s knots: Once secured, these hold fast where they’re placed and won’t work themselves loose.
Pull out any slack in the laces, snugging the boot over the top of your foot.
Locate the two pairs of lace hooks closest to the point where the top of your foot begins to flex forward; you’ll be tying a surgeon’s knot at each of these pairs.
Wrap the laces around each other twice, then pull them tight; be sure to run the lace directly up to the next hook to “lock” in the knot’s tension.
Repeat Step 3 at the next highest set of lace hooks.
Finish lacing the rest of your boot in your usual way.
Window Lacing
If your well-tied boots start to create a pressure point on the top of your foot, window lacing (aka “box lacing”) can help alleviate the problem:
Unlace the boot down to the hooks that are just below the pressure point.
Re-lace by going straight up to the next hook and then crossing the laces over.
Finish lacing the rest of your boot in your usual way; alternatively, you can tie a surgeon’s knot at the lower and upper edge of your window for a snugger hold.
Toe-Relief Lacing
If your toes are in a world of hurt, this stopgap measure can help you make it back to the trailhead. This trick works by relieving pressure in the toe box:
Completely unlace your boot.
Lace it back up, but skip the first set of hooks; this opens up the toe box and takes some pressure off your digits.
If your toes always hurt when you hike, it’s time to get a different pair of boots.
Boot Laces
Most boots come with long laces to allow for different techniques, so you should be able to do any of these lacing tricks using your current laces.
If your laces are worn out, be sure to replace them with ones that match both the shape (round, oval or flat) and length of your previous pair.
Origionally featered on REI Expert AdviceN.A.C. News
(Sunday, February 13, 2022)
Good Morning,
Happy Valentines Day!
A day to celebrate the loves we have in our lives. Be it a spouse, boyfriend, girlfriend, or that one awesome friend, we all have someone we truly love and are very grateful for. Make sure you call that special someone and let them know, or better yet, spend the day with them doing something you both love to do. This week is a rest week, no hikes scheduled. But be sure to check out next week's hike in the Halton Hills area. It will be our last Loop Hike for a while. We will be hiking through Scotsdale Farm along the Bruce Trail and side trails. It makes for a very beautiful hike with beautiful scenery. If the snow holds out, it will just add to the experience. There are 8 hikers registered so far, and room for 15, so get your spot now. In March there will be two hikes and three hikes in April. I will plan and post these in the near future. Most likely, these will be End2End hikes, which require ride sharing. And of course, we are stil in the depths of a pandemic, so all participants in E2E hikes are required to be vaccinated (2 doses minimum). A very large percentage of Ontario's population is already vaccinated, and more are getting there every day. Hopefully soon, we will overcome this virus, and life can go back to normal for all to enjoy.
That's all the news for this week. As always, stay safe, and happy hiking! Lenny Burch Niagara Adventure Club