How to Lace Hiking Boots

Whether you’re going for a casual hike, bushwalking through a national park or taking on a mountain, there are a few tips you can do with the laces of your hiking boots to optimise your performance and comfort.

Below are three different styles for how to lace hiking boots – recommended for certain terrains and relieving pressure on your foot, which can be crucial for hiking longer or harder.

Reducing top of foot pressure

If you have a high instep or simply pain across the top of your foot then this is the one for you. This technique can also be beneficial for long descents, where we aggressively flex our foot inside the boot. It is important to note that the ‘window’ can be moved one eyelet down if your foot pressure tends to be lower.

Heel lock technique

This technique is ideal if you’re prone to heel slip, blisters or you simply need extra support when hiking up or down hills, when the heel can be subjected to high forces. However, it does mean that your shoes will be a bit trickier to take off, as you need to properly loosen the laces.

Parallel Lacing

This is an alternative to the first technique as it removes pressure from the top of your foot – something that can occur when breaking in new shoes.