We learned how to tie laces when we were children and left them there. We knew the basics and thought that was it. If you haven’t learned different hiking boot lacing methods, you shouldn’t be surprised with having to deal with toe pain often.
This pain should lead you to question how to tie hiking boots. It’s simple: tie your laces until your foot feels snug, and off you go.
Until this may not work for everyone, we are here with all the methods to tie hiking boots so you never have to feel toe pain or blisters again.
Contents
Key Takeaways:
- Multiple lacing methods are needed for different hiking occasions.
- Military knot decreases pressure from the toes.
- Re-adjusting your lacing knots can prevent potential injuries.
Advantages of Different Tying Methods
If we could have the perfect boots for hiking, we would have to go to the shoe factory and make the boots ourselves. Because no matter how expensive or premium quality your hiking boot is, it will always be a challenging fit.
This is something that’s beyond our control. So we have to work with what we have. The first way is using multiple lacing methods for our boots.
The classic knot will get you through casual hiking. It won’t help if you’re doing hardcore hiking for long hours. Then you will need a robust lacing method like the military or surgeon’s knot.
The Best Boot-Tying Methods for Hiking
Having a suitable lacing method is crucial. But having multiple is always better. Because you’ll never know when you will need which, so learning different techniques won’t hurt. There are many boot-tying methods for hiking, some people make it complicated for views, but we are here to make things easier.
Here are the 5 best lacing system methods for hiking that are easy and take faster than you finish in bed.
1. Classic Knot
The classic knot is the most basic boot-tying method. You take the laces from the bottom of the boot and continue til you have tied the last hook in the boot. This knot is a crisscross pattern; you must ensure it goes through every opposite hook diagonally.
A classic knot is precisely like tying shoe laces. This is good for casual hiking. Ideal for beginners, especially if you don’t have any foot problems such as bunions or blisters.
2. Bunny Around the Tree Knot
The bunny around the tree knot is also known as the “standard knot.” It’s one of the easiest lacing techniques.
- Make the first loop known as the tree.
- Take the second loop and wrap it around the first loop.
- The first loop is the tree and the second loop is the bunny.
- Make a bow.
This knot is simple and easy, great for a hike on your nearest mountain.
3. Surgeon’s Knot
The surgeon’s knot works fantastic if you have heel placement problems. If you struggle with your heels staying in place or being a lousy fit, surgeon’s knot is for you.
- Take your laces and tie them to the boot’s hook.
- Find the place where your heel starts; this is where you should tie your knot.
- Take the laces and wrap them around each other twice or more if your boot is wide enough.
- Tie the laces as usual.
- We recommend securing the laces at the last hook or where it’s up the most.
A surgeon’s knot can keep your heels snug and tight. They make your heel lock and lace your boots securely.
4. Toe-Relief Lacing
Indeed, we want our toes and foot to be perfectly fit and protected. But sometimes, this snug fit can cause toe problems. The pain can originate from somewhere else, but you can feel less hurt while wearing boots when your toes are screaming at you.
- Untie your boot’s laces, top to bottom.
- Tie your hiking boots again, but leave the first two hooks empty.
Having no laces on the first two hooks can reduce pressure from your toes. Therefore giving them some relief, they also fit well with loose boots.
5. Military Knot
Military knots took the phrase “less is more” too seriously. It is best for long hiking times and in extreme conditions.
- Start from the first eyelet and thread the first lace horizontally.
- Thread the second lace diagonally on the next eyelet; you will not crisscross just yet.
- On the third eyelet, you will crisscross like regular shoes.
- Repeat the second and third processes until the last hook.
The military knot is similar to the traditional lacing style, except it takes less eyelet space. The benefit is giving your boot a more snug fit and less tension on your toes.
Wanna more? Ya, I know, if there is a step-by-step video tutorial then it would be so much helpful for you. Here is that, how to tie hiking boots. Wanna learn the heel lock lacing method? Here is another one: the heel lock lacing method.
Why Should I Adjust My Laces While Hiking?
The answer is simple, to prevent injuries. We’re not telling you to adjust your laces every fifteen minutes. We are saying if you are hiking for a long time, consider adjusting your laces.
As your foot might start to hurt from the pressure of the laces. Your toe might suffer too. That’s why you should re-adjust your laces and tie them every two hours; the time depends from person to person. Sometimes you can lose your knots, and they don’t have to stay tied always.
A loosened knot on your hiking shoes prevents your foot from being hurt. On high arches, this helps prevent pressure on the foot.
Wrap Up
Tying knots is one of the basics of hiking; you shouldn’t have to worry about it. If you’re still confused about how to tie hiking boots, here’s a quick answer; test the knots mentioned above and see which works best for you.
Knots and tying hiking boots are connected. If you still feel uncomfortable after using different knots, perhaps it’s time to get a new pair of boots.
Have enjoyed this blog? Read ‘how should hiking boots fit?‘, another detailed blog post on hiking boots fit.
