Commando Lacing

I've tried the commando and Ukrainian lacing methods, but those made tying the shoe cumbersome.

– Adrian D., Romania, Apr-2022

When I was in the OTC (UK Army's Officer Training Corps) at university back in the late 70's, one of the tying methods was using the old fashioned single leather bootlace. This was in conjunction with a puttee style gaiter, which helped restrain the tied end.

(...description of lacing, then...)

The trick was then to loop the end of the lace with a single wrap around the ankle and tie a slip knot on its return. I had notched the top edge of the boot so that the loop stayed over the boot. I certainly found the lacing method effective as it was easy to tie and safe. It would still work without the puttee.

– Philip O., Glasgow, UK, Jul-2012

Australian Vietnam Infantry Boot Lacing (Never Loosens)

(...diagram of lacing, then...)

Wrap lace around boot top toward outside of leg. leave sufficient end at Aglet to twist through wraps 2 or 3 times. This never comes loose “ever”

– Steven B, Apr-2012

... used on the first generation of high leg combat boots 9 eyelet issued to us in the early 1980's when swapping from 6 hole ankle boots and putteees.

(...description of lacing, then...)

... you are left with one end at top, wrap around boot then use last hole to put lace through and daisy chain to secure, easy to undo when cold wet and covered in mud, very quick to do up in a hurry, you just pull the horizontal in sequence quickly,

So you snake up the boot vertical on inside horizontal on outside, keeps boot sturdy for rough ground but gives enough to flex avoiding pressure points.

– Mark B., formerly of The Royal Anglian Regiment (British Army), UK, Mar-2012

Israeli Defense Force’s paratrooper boot-lacing technique:

(...description of lacing, then...)

At the top, run the cord through both eyelets twice, and stuff excess cord into the boot top. The lace will be secure and will not come undone during strenuous movement.

– Norvin A., USA, Aug-2008

The IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) prefer to use a somewhat different method of lacing. I’m not sure that it can be called “proper” lacing, since only one end of the lace is strung through the holes. Nevertheless, it’s a durable lace, and the preferred tying method is very easy to loosen, while being durable.

(...description of lacing + securing with a “Chain Sinnet”.)

– Alex, Oct-2007

I have a comment about the Straight Lacing method, as a variant of it is also the standard military method in the Israely Defense forces (not just in Canada it turns out). For the same reasons you mention in your comments, being easy to cut fast and etc ... its used everywhere where army boots are used, both combat and non-combat.

(...description of lacing + securing with a “Chain Sinnet”, then...)

Since usually basic training is a time when seconds matter, both creating and undoing the braid is very quick.

1. veteran soldiers usually have the braid done very quickly, with one hand pulling on the edge of the lace and the other forming the loops.

2. the “braid” opens easily, or to be more precise, just pulling on its edge will untie it all the way to the boot and untie the one-handed knot (if it was tied properly).

– Evgeny Z., Israel, Jun-2007

I thought you'd like this, this tying is called “Nachlawi”, which is very common in the Israeli Defense Forces. The name originates from the Brigade called “Nachal”, who are elite infantry troops and are probably the pioneers of this method.

(...description of lacing, then the following description of securing with a “Chain Sinnet”...)

You take the loose end, fold it so that it makes (sort of) a cycle, and pass it through the first hole. When you pull up and enlarge the first cycle, this will tighten up the hole, and eventually close it over the second cycle. Now, again, you have a loose end and a cycle, so repeat, until you “run out” of loose ends. That's ought to be 6-7 repetitions.

– Israel S., Israel, Jun-2007

oddly you didn't include british paratrooper lacing.

for tall military boots.

[tie] a knot at one end of the lace and feed in a spiral from the bottom holes around and around [until] you get to the top.

then pass the lace around the calf, through the last hole and tie it off on itself.

As a life long Doc Marten's wearer I heartily recommend it.

– Pol S., UK, Jun-2007

One method of lacing that you didn't mention, I think, is that used by the British Army - I quote,

The King's Tie or Lace

(...description of lacing, then...)

Tighten and wrap the loose end around the top of the boot, tucking the loose end under itself to secure.

When I was issued with my old ankle, or DMS boots, the above was the method taught.There were a number of benefits-

1. If the boot had to be removed quickly, a simple knife cut would cut the lace so it could be removed.

2. The lacing pattern was unique to the British & Commonwealth Armies. Therefore, it was possible to identify the nationality of the wearer. The story does that in Italy and elsewhere in World War 2, the Gurkha soldiers of the Indian army, renowned for their night patrolling, would crawl up to sentries and if their boots weren't laced up the British way, dispose of them!

– Alun T., Staffordshire, UK, Jan-2006

Israeli troops (and I believe troops in other countries too) usually use a *single lace* in a way similar to the Straight [Easy] Lacing pattern you listed (only without the blue lace looping around in the back). The extraneous length of the lace is then rolled up, knotted in a very simple fashion and stuffed inside the boots.

– Shachar T, Israel, Feb-2005