Achieving Booted Bliss

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

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

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

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When it came down to finding your current pair of boots, you did everything right. You researched the boot universe to zero in on the models suited to your peculiar needs. You made sure you found boots that fit properly: they cradle your heel just so while giving your arch proper support and your toes room to wiggle. Then you carefully broke in the boots before hitting the trail. End of a very happy story?

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

• The inside of a hiking boot can be an inhospitable environment for sensitive feet. With skillful lacing, you can fine tune the pressure on specific areas of the foot offer a looser fit where needed without sacrificing overall fit. Here's how:
• 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.
• 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

• Boot tongues can develop a habit of drifting off to one side as you walk, which can be uncomfortable and frustrating. Here's an easy solution:
• 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.