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Riding Boot Lacing
Often referred to as "Bal-Lacing"
This method is for riding boots (motorbike or equestrian) that are joined at the top and that loosen near the ankle. The laces zig-zag from both ends and are tied in the middle.
Riding Boot Lacing diagram
Riding Boot Lacing picture 1
Riding Boot Lacing picture 2
Dehner Blucher field boot with Riding Boot Lacing. Picture from www.dehner.com.
More Lacing Photos
Lacing Technique:
1. The lace is run diagonally (grey section) and emerges through the bottom-left and top-right eyelets.

2. The left (blue) end is run straight across on the outside and is fed in through the opposite eyelet on the right side, then diagonally on the inside to emerge through the next eyelet up the left side.

3. Repeat step (2), zig-zagging upwards until the left (blue) end reaches the middle-left eyelet.

4. The right (yellow) end is run straight across on the outside and is fed in through the opposite eyelet on the left side, then diagonally on the inside to emerge through the next eyelet down the right side.

5. Repeat step (4), zig-zagging downwards until the right (yellow) end reaches the middle-right eyelet.


Features:
Neat look
Unusual layout
Special purpose

Comparative Length = 109%
Laced area uses more (about +9%)
Longer laces needed (about +4%)
Shortens lace ends (about −9%)
More details


NOTE:
This method is not really meant to be used on normal shoes, boots or sneakers, although it can be used on them to achieve an unusual look (such as shown in the first picture at left). It's specifically intended for riding boots (as shown in the second picture) in which the part that is tightened and loosened is at the middle of the boot (near the ankle). This means that they lace up from both ends and fasten in the middle. On boots such as these, the sides come completely together, hiding all the angled underlying sections of shoelace.

This method is shown on the Dehner Boot site for lacing their 9 Eyelet Field Boots:
www.dehner.com/lacing_guide.html

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This page last updated: 10-Jun-2009. Copyright © 2004-2009 by Ian W. Fieggen. All rights reserved.
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