Keith's Advice For: Coddling tender feet Halting tongue drift Protecting boot bumpers Lacing with oomph Keeping toes warm

Not exactly. Peaceful coexistence with boots requires staying one step ahead of fitting problems and mechanical breakdowns that might mar an otherwise perfect relationship, even one that's well established. Use these tricks of the trade to go the distance with your boots.

Relief for Sensitive Feet

Bypassing some of the lacing rings lets
you reduce pressure over sore spots

		Tender area on top of your foot? You can reduce the local pressure if you bypass the lace rings that would guide the laces over that tender spot.
		Tight over the toes? Remove the laces from the bottom rings.

Locking hooks (left) or an extra turn
of lacing (right) allow different tension
over forefoot and ankle

		Need a tighter fit over the forefoot and looser fit over the ankles, or vice-versa? Good boots will usually have locking hooks at the bend of the ankle to grip the laces and allow you to have different tensions above and below the hooks. Use them!
		If locking hooks are absent or don't lock, or are positioned in the wrong place for you, take an extra turn of the laces around the hooks or through the rings. Perhaps tie a half-knot as well before you continue lacing to the top.

Stop tongue drift

A button and spacer will keep your
boot tongue on the straight and narrow

		Train the tongue to lie correctly, right from the very first time you put the boots on. Do this by taking special care to make the first folds in the tongue gussets in the correct position.
		If the tongue still proves to be a wanderer, stitch on a button in the center of the tongue to block its wandering. A button shaped like a"mushroom" and has a "stalk" works best.
		Position the button carefully so that it will not be under a lace and be pushed down into the tongue and your leg. Stitch only through the outer leather of the tongue.

Move on to Bumper Protection

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