Let’s Get Tactical: How To Tie Combat Boots?

Military boots, army boots, combat boots, or however you prefer to call them, were designed for combat. They are meant to be comfortable, supportive, and protective when you’re fighting the bad guys. We’re here to offer you a few tips and tricks on how to tie combat boots the right way and make your life easier!

Right off the bat, combat boots aren’t a top priority when you’re getting ready for the military.

More times than not, the military provides you with combat boots you need to wear while you’re there, so you don’t have to beat your head over choosing which ones will provide you with everything you need.

But, you do need to worry about securing them correctly.

Before you argue how combat boots don’t affect the way you perform, remember that military saying of how a soldier might trip over an untied shoelace and fall, another soldier might step away to help him, disregard his duties, and compromise the entire unit.

Sure, a simple shoelace might not appear as important as a soldier’s skills, loyalty, and integrity. But that doesn’t mean badly tied combat boots don’t affect the soldier’s performance and the safety of the entire unit.

So, how do you tie combat boots the right way? And why should you in the first place?

Why do you need to tie your combat boots the right way?

Now, combat boots aren’t reserved for the military only. Nowadays, combat boots are a fashion-forward wardrobe must-have that goes with pretty much everything you own.

Men and women have been rockin’ these for years and years, and there’s a chance you might be wondering how to tie combat boots because you’re trying to ace the outfit on your next date.

Whether you’re getting ready for the military or a date night, the way you tie your combat boots can change everything.

Right away, you can make your combat boots more attractive by opting for a fresh, on-trend method. Or you can make them more comfortable and wearable by choosing a method that’ll offer you more support and protection.

For example, when you tie your boots tighter around the ankle and looser around the foot, you’re providing your feet with more wiggle room without compromising the necessary support.

Furthermore, when you tighten every other eyelet, you’re making sure you’ve got enough room for your high arches. What does that mean? Well, there’s no right or wrong way to tie your combat boots – you just need to find whichever way works for you and your feet.

How to tie combat boots: 5 different methods

When trying to figure out how to tie combat boots, know that different techniques come with different advantages and drawbacks (depending on what you’re searching for).

On one hand, you can opt for a method that affords you enough foot and ankle support. On the other, you can choose a technique guaranteed to protect your feet when you’re fighting or practicing on rough outdoor terrain.

Whichever you decide to go for, make sure you’re working with strong, sturdy laces that aren’t going to break apart while trying to tie them. And, don’t forget to get your hands on longer laces because you’re going to need enough length to practice these techniques.

We’re going to focus on the most popular methods, though, namely ladder lacing, army lacing, bow tie lacing, straight-bar lacing, and cross lacing. Let’s get started with ladder lacing.

1. Ladder lacing

Starting with the most popular technique, ladder lacing is great for people who need extra support and stability around the ankles. Paratroopers are known to opt for ladder lacing because they need their boots to hold their feet in place.

But, even paratroopers admit that ladder lacing can be challenging and time-consuming, which means you might not want to choose that method when you’re running late.

Additionally, ladder lacing works on taller boots that are equipped with numerous eyelets and longer laces (the length of the laces depends on the number of eyelets).

And, ladder lacing shouldn’t be your go-to on a regular but rather when you’re marching, parachuting, or performing ankle-intensive activities. It might be attractive, but for the average step-out, you’re better off going for something a little more simple.

With ladder lacing, you start at the bottom of the combat boot and work your way up. Feed the laces through from the inside out and ensure that both ends of the laces come out upwards.

After that, feed each end through the eyelet that’s above it from the outside in. And, cross the laces at the tongue, feed them under each other on each side, and repeat the process all the way to the top of your boots. Ugh, that sounds complicated, but you’ll get the gist when you start practicing!

2. Army lacing

Army lacing is much more minimalistic than ladder lacing – probably the reason most military personnel opt for that technique. When practicing the army method, make sure you’ve got the right boots and the appropriate laces to ensure you don’t start on the wrong foot (pun intended!)

This technique is great for heavy, hard-wearing boots that are already supportive, protective, and restrictive. And, because of that, you might not need to tie your boots as tightly as you would with ladder lacing.

Ladder lacing and army lacing are quite similar, except for the fact that in the latter, you don’t feed the laces under each other before you tighten them.

You start at the bottom and feed the laces from the inside out. Once you do that, feed both ends of the lace through the eyelets that are right above time from the outside in. Cross the laces at the tongue, and rather than feeding them under each other, continue feeding them up. Repeat the process for the rest of the eyelets and knot the laces when you’re done.

3. Bow tie lacing

Whether you’re a military man or a guy who wears combat boots just because you like them (we’re all guilty of that), you’ve probably tried the bow tie lacing system.

Bow tie lacing is one of the easiest ways to tie your boots when working with shorter laces. Begin at the bottom of your boots and work your way up from the inside out rather than the outside in. Cross the laces at the tongue and move on to the higher eyelets.

Remember, there should be a one-eyelet gap between each bow. Repeat the process and knot the ends of your laces when you’re done. Bow tie lacing is the opposite of army lacing, but that doesn’t mean that you’ll have to worry about blistered feet and swollen ankles.

4. Straight-bar lacing

Straight-bar lacing, or Lydiard lacing, alleviates pressure off of your feet and offers you enough support to perform numerous activities.

This lacing technique is much more elegant and effortless than the rest we mentioned beforehand, and you might want to opt for this one when you’re getting ready for special celebrations, marches, and performances.

But, your combat boots need to have an even number of eyelets for the straight-bar technique to work. Begin at the bottom of your boots, but feed your laces from the outside in rather than inside out.

Feed the end of your right lace through the eyelet that’s right above and go over the tongue through the available eyelet.

Repeat the same thing with the end of your left lace, but make sure to not cross the two laces together. Remember, you’re going vertically at all times. When you reach the end of your boots, you should have a set of vertical lines.

5. Criss-cross lacing

This one you’ve probably done before. Sure, the criss-cross technique is the most common for everyday shoes. But there are times when you need to tie your combat boots quickly and without the hassle of trying to figure out the ladder or army technique.

Criss-cross lacing is simple – start at the bottom of your boots and feed your laces through the eyelets from the inside toward the outside, again and again. Remember to cross your laces every time you’re going over the tongue, repeat the process, and knot them once you’re done.

Other things to remember when lacing your combat boots

Now that you know how to tie combat boots, there are a few things to keep an eye on to make sure nothing knocks them off your feet.

Number one, practice makes perfect. No matter how hard these techniques seem right now, they’re guaranteed to become easier and easier with time.

Number two, get the right length of laces to prevent them from falling off your boots and making you trip over them.

Miscly Round Boot Laces are a great option if you need to replace your used, poor-quality laces. A fresh new pair of shoestrings is more likely to keep your feet safe, supported, and protected; and they’re easier to work with when you’re trying to tie them the right way.

Whichever technique you decide to go with, good luck!

Read more: 10 Best Police Boots So Comfy They’re Practically Illegal