How to Tie Your Hiking Boots for the Perfect Fit

You learned to tie your shoelaces at five years old and never looked back. There’s a good chance you learned with the classic criss-cross, overhand knots and square knot to finish it off. If that is still working for you and your feet feel great on a hike, there’s no need to change your ways. However, did you know that there are multiple ways to tie your shoes? Specifically, your hiking boots. Perhaps your heels are notoriously blistered or you struggle to relieve pressure from the top of your feet. Maybe you are a victim of slippery laces that won’t - stay - tied! 

Whichever antics you’ve been tolerating from your hiking boots, you don't need to grin and bear them any longer. They may be solved by applying a different shoelace tying technique! Keep reading to see which one is right for you.

Disclaimer: Of course, your boots should fit properly first but these tying techniques can help you perfect your fit or provide some temporary relief if discomfort arises.

Surgeon’s Knot

The Surgeon's Knot is a secure knot that can keep slippery, stubborn laces from coming undone or loosening. This knot is helpful in a variety of boot tying techniques including the Heel Lock and Foot Lock Down lacing (more on those below).

1. Wrap the ends of your laces around each other as you would to tie off, but don’t pull the laces tight.
2. Cross the laces again to create another twist, then pull the laces tight, and continue to tie your shoe normally or repeat.
3. Experiment to find your perfect fit.

Additional tips for keeping laces secure found here:

Heel Lock Lacing

The Heel Lock, or Lace Lock, prevents your heel from lifting and your foot from sliding inside the boot. This could keep nasty heel blisters at bay as well as keep your toes from hitting the front of your boot when walking downhill

1. Put your foot in your boot and place your heel as far down to the back of your boot as possible.
2. Lace your boots normally up to the front of your ankle, where your foot meets your leg, and then tie a surgeon’s knot.
3. Run the laces up to the next hook to lock off the knot and tie another surgeon’s knot.
4. Finish lacing as normal up to the top of the boot.

This video covers the technique for locking your foot down:

Foot Lock Down Lacing

Further to the Heel Lock is the Foot Lock Down. This is a series of surgeon’s knots that you customize to your feet for the best fit. If you find your feet are moving around in your boots too much (but your boots aren’t too big), this could help. This may be a challenge you’ve encountered if you have narrow feet.

1. Identify the points in your boots that feel especially spacious.
2. Unlace to the lowest point and add a surgeon’s knot at this point and continue lacing.
3. Repeat the surgeon’s knot in any other spots that you feel need to be extra secure.

Window Lacing

The Window Lacing technique can assist in relieving pressure on the top of your feet. You may find this particularly helpful if you have a high arch or high instep.

1. Identify the main point of pressure and untie your laces to just below this point
2. Re-lace by going straight up the next hook above this point (instead of straight crossing over)
3. Now cross the laces and continue lacing up to the top of the boot as normal

Here's another video from Oboz demonstration the Window Lacing technique:

Relaxed Ankle Lacing

Relaxes Ankle Lacing creates some space and movement at the top of the boot which is helpful if you find your boots rubbing at your calf or adding pressure to your ankle bones. For even more movement, pair this technique with Window Lacing.

1. Lace your boots as normal.
2. Bring the laces over the top of the final hooks.
3. Tie off as normal but below the top loop.

Toe Relief Lacing

As you walk, you may find pressure builds around your toes - even if you have boots with a wide toe box. This approach can help bring some relief on the fly.

1. Completely un-lace your boots.
2. Skip the first eyelets and then re-lace your boots as normal.

Now you know!

Give these techniques a try to see if they work for your feet. As we mentioned above, if you find that the same discomforts continue to arise consistently - it may be time to invest in some new and different hiking shoes!

REFERENCES

https://coolofthewild.com/how-to-tie-hiking-boots/

https://www.backpacker.com/skills/beginner-skills/how-to-tie-hiking-boots/

https://www.youtube.com/@truetothetrail/videos

https://www.gore-tex.com/blog/how-to-lace-hiking-boots

https://explorerchick.com/journal/how-to-lace-boots-for-hiking/