How to Lace up Boots

Similar to lacing, but boots with more space will give you more choices in terms of function and style of lacing. Not only do they offer a variety of unique styles to boots, some specific tying styles also help your foot feel more comfortable or supportive.

Table of Contents

Diagonal knot (Diagonal style)

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Choose shoelaces. Almost everyone has a pair of boots that are at least ankle-high. You need to check to make sure that the shoelaces are long enough for the boots. ^{[1] X Research Source}

Ask the salesperson or read the packaging to determine the length of the shoelace.
If you’re buying new laces, use the length of the laces that came with the boots as the standard.
The right length depends on many factors, including the number of pairs of eyelets on the shoe, the distance between the holes vertically and horizontally, and finally the style of lacing you apply. ^{[2] X Research Source} However, on average you can choose a length of about 115 cm for shoes with 5-6 pairs of holes, 135 cm for shoes with 6-7 pairs of holes, 160 cm for shoes with 7-8 pairs of holes, 185 cm for shoes with 8-9 pairs of holes, and 245 cm or more if shoes have more than 10 pairs of holes. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

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Start lacing your shoes. The basic way to tie shoelaces is in a criss-cross pattern. Starting at the bottom, thread the string through each hole at the end. Fully stretch the shoelaces lengthwise and align both sides.

Now the shoelace will be on the outside of the eyelet.
With a basic crisscross pattern, you need to thread the string from the outside into the holes, not from the inside out.

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Cross one end of the string over the reed. From the bottom, you thread the rope into the second hole and up.

After threading the wire through the next hole, repeat the same with the other hole.
The shoelace should now be on the outside of the boot.

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Continue piercing. You must maintain a uniform pattern by putting on one side first and then the other until you reach the top of the shoe.

If you cross from left to right from the first hole, keep this structure.
To make the shoe look proportionate, you can do the opposite with the other. If on the last one you started by crossing from left to right, on the second, cross from right to left.
By maintaining consistency, the boot not only looks neat and beautiful, but the laces are also easier to tie.

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Pierce up to the top. If you want to save some space and laces, you can skip the last pair of holes. At the top, tie the string into a bow, or tie it all up and tuck it inside.

Depending on how long you have left over, you can even wrap it around your shoe before tying the knot.

Military style (Army)

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Prepare shoelaces. This is a method of lacing military boots, you can apply it with shoelaces that come with boots or other laces of the same length. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

If the shoe has an even number of pairs of eyelets, you’ll need to start by threading the laces from the inside out through the bottom pair of holes and up.
If the shoe has an odd number of eyelets, you will lace the shoe from the outside to the inside through the bottom pair of holes.

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Start lacing your shoes. Starting with one end of the string, thread it diagonally from the inside out through the next hole. With the second pair of holes closest to the bottom, you’ll cross stitch the same way. Repeat with the other end of the shoelace.

You need to make sure that the cross wire is underneath and not on top of the bottom string.
The shoelaces will now cross each other and sit on the outside of the shoe.

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Thread the shoelace through the next vertical hole (same side). On a row of holes, thread the shoelace directly into the hole directly above. Do the same with the other side.

Thread the shoelace through the next hole by threading it from the outside to the inside.
You should now have a horizontal lace section in the bottom hole, a cross section at the top, and two side holes with vertical laces.
At this point, the shoelace will be on the outside of the boot.

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Repeat this criss-and-cross method all the way up to the top hole. Alternately cross and thread the shoelaces upwards.

Maintain a consistent threading order. If you are piercing from the right hole through the left hole from the inside out, do the same with each diagonal, and vice versa if you are starting from left to right.

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Tie the shoelaces into a bow, or tie a knot and tuck the rest in. When the shoe reaches the top, the laces will be on the outside of the shoe. At this point, you can tie the bow as usual, or tuck the excess cord into the boot if you want to look neater.

If the laces are long enough, you can even wrap them around the shoe and tie a knot in the front, then tuck it under the tongue.

Trapezoidal knot (Ladder style)

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Prepare shoelaces. You need to use laces of the appropriate length for the height of the boots. You can use the included shoelaces, or buy new ones that are at least as long as the original laces. The trapezoidal method of tying is sometimes called the straight across method. This type of shoelace is very popular among American paratroopers due to its safety and certainty.

This method works best for high boots with lots of eyelets.

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Start by threading the string straight across the bottom pair of holes. Similar to the criss-cross pattern, you need to thread the rope under the bottom two holes.

At this point, the laces will be on the outside of the shoe.

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Thread the string vertically up through the next hole in the same row. Now, instead of crisscrossing, you thread each string up through the next hole in the same row. This time the end of the wire will go from the outside to the inside.

The laces will now be inside the shoe.

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Thread the string across the top of the reed. Thread the end of the cord under the piece of wire connecting the two vertical holes in the same row. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

In this step, we won’t thread the string through the hole because you’re threading it horizontally, not diagonally.
Instead of threading the laces through the holes, you need to thread them underneath the laces that are running along the outside of the shoe.
Do it with both ends of the wire. At this point, the laces will be on the outside of the shoe.

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Continue pulling up and threading the string into the next hole in the same row. Pull the string up from the bottom and thread it through the hole directly above in that row. Lace your shoes from the outside to the inside. Do the same on the other side before crossing the laces again and threading through the opposite hole from the bottom up.

Always keep the same order as when you started. If you have pierced from right to left first, continue in that order.

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Continue threading from the outside to the inside and thread each end down again. Repeat this process until you tie up to the top.

With this method, the only time the shoelace will go through the hole is when you are facing the upper hole in the same row and threading it from the outside in.
Once worn all the way to the top, the laces will point in and stay inside the boot.

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Tie shoelaces. After you’ve gotten to the top, tie a bow or knot and tuck the rest under the tongue.

Advice

Different lacing techniques provide stability and even greater comfort, depending on the shape and size of the boot. The criss-cross style is suitable for feet that are narrow in width. If your feet have a wide width, you should wear a military style because the distance between the ropes will be wider, providing a comfortable feeling.
Don’t forget to maintain the knotted shape. Always start on the same side as you did at the beginning.
It can take quite a while to lace up new shoes, especially with high boots, so you should spend a reasonable amount of time on this.
When the laces are tightened, the shoe can rub against the heel when worn. You can purchase additional heel pads to keep your feet in place inside the boots.

Steps

Diagonal knot (Diagonal style)

Military style (Army)

Trapezoidal knot (Ladder style)

Advice

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