Combat and Tactical Boot Lacing

schematic

Army Lacing

Army lacing is straight bar lacing applied to a tall boot: horizontal bars visible on the outside, diagonals hidden underneath. It is the pattern most commonly specified in dress regulations.

Best for: Regulation straight-bar military look

Steps

1. Bar the lace across the bottom pair, both ends emerging underneath.
2. Take the left end up two eyelets on the inside and out.
3. Bar it across and back down the opposite eyelet.
4. Alternate ends, each skipping one row, to the top.

Tip
On an even eyelet count both ends finish at the top. Odd counts need one end started a row higher.

schematic

Ladder Lacing (Military)

Military ladder lacing is the dress version of ladder lacing, with taut vertical runs on the outside and horizontal rungs tucked beneath them. It gives an extremely uniform appearance under inspection.

Best for: Parade appearance and shaft rigidity

Steps

1. Run a straight bar across the bottom pair with ends underneath.
2. Feed each end straight up the outside of the boot and into the next eyelet on its own side.
3. Cross the ends and tuck each one under the vertical run on the opposite side.
4. Repeat, keeping every vertical under equal tension.

Tip
The rungs must be dead level to pass inspection. Lace it wet and let it dry on the boot.

schematic

Commando Lacing

Commando lacing crosses to every second eyelet, halving the number of crossings on a tall boot. It laces and unlaces very fast at the cost of some fine tension control.

Best for: Fast field lacing on long shafts

Steps

1. Lace the bottom two rows normally to anchor the boot.
2. Cross the ends up to the second eyelet above, skipping one row.
3. Continue skipping to the top.
4. Tie a surgeon's knot at the ankle if you need to hold tension.

Tip
Uses roughly a third less lace, so a 213 cm lace becomes far too long. Size down.

schematic

Jump Boot Lacing

Jump boot lacing cinches hard through the ankle rows with a surgeon's knot at the flex point, then eases off up the shaft, which is the traditional airborne approach to ankle protection on landing.

Best for: Airborne-style tight ankle

Steps

1. Lace the forefoot at moderate tension.
2. Tie a surgeon's knot at the ankle flex row.
3. Cinch the next three rows very tight.
4. Ease off for the top rows and tie.

Tip
Very tight ankle lacing restricts circulation. Loosen it as soon as you are off your feet.

schematic

Blousing Lacing

Blousing lacing finishes with the lace ends wrapped around the top of the shaft and tucked, which gives the trouser blouse something to sit on and keeps lace ends out of the way.

Best for: Keeping trousers bloused over the boot

Steps

1. Lace the boot in your normal pattern to the top.
2. Wrap each end around the shaft in opposite directions.
3. Meet at the front and tie a flat square knot.
4. Tuck both ends down inside the shaft.

Tip
Tucking ends inside is faster than double knotting and cannot catch on brush.

schematic

Field Repair Lacing

Field repair lacing salvages a snapped lace by re-lacing only the eyelets the remaining length reaches, prioritising the ankle rows over the forefoot.

Best for: A broken lace, miles from anywhere

Steps

1. Join the broken ends with a double fisherman's bend if both pieces are usable.
2. If not, lace only from the midfoot upward and skip the forefoot rows.
3. Anchor the bottom of the run with a surgeon's knot.
4. Tie off with whatever length remains.

Tip
A short lace laced high beats a full lace laced low. Ankle hold matters more than forefoot hold.