There are endless ways to lace your boots. Here are three classics: Classic, Straight Bar and Bow Tie.
Limber up your fingers and find your style.
METHOD 1
THE CLASSIC CROSS LACE
ONE: Start with two even lengths of lace. Thread each side through the bottom two eyelets from outside the boot to in, leaving you with a horizontal lace ‘bar’ inside the shoe.
TWO: Cross each end of lace over the top of the shoe as you go up to the next pair of eyelets. Pull the lace through the from the inside on either side, then cross over the top of the boot again as you make your way up.
THREE: Just keep lacing your boots up to the top, and knot.
Or you could try the classic Doc’s wraparound. Leave the top two eyelets free to give yourself some excess lace, then wrap the two lengths around the back of the boot, through the heel loop, and around to the front again. Tie a firm knot to keep it in place.
METHOD 2
THE STRAIGHT BAR LACE
ONE: Start with two lace lengths threaded through the bottom two eyelets. Make sure they’re roughly even.
TWO: Now go asymmetrical. Take the lace on one side and skip the eyelet directly above, instead threading through the next-but-one eyelet on the same side. On the other side, your lace should run vertically up the inside of the shoe and out through the eyelet directly above, then across the top in a horizontal ‘bar’ to the eyelet on the other side.
THREE: On shoes, that’ll see you through to the top.
But on boots with more eyelets, repeat this process on alternate sides until you hit the last two eyelets. Tie a solid knot to finish.
METHOD 3
THE BOW TIE LACE
ONE: Begin with two even lengths of lace through the bottom two eyelets. If your shoes have an even number of eyelets, skip the first ‘bows’ by running a vertical lace up the inside of the boot on either side. For an odd number of eyelets, begin the ‘bow tie’ straight away.
TWO: To tie the bows, alternate between crossing the lace over as you go to the next higher eyelets, then running a straight vertical lace up the inside to the next set of eyelets. There should be a one-eyelet gap between each of your bow ties.
THREE: You'll know if you've done it right when you reach the top two eyelets: the laces should go from inside to out. Finish with a sturdy knot.
