Commando Lacing (lug version)

Lacing Technique

• Take a shoelace that's shorter than usual and begin by tying a stopper-knot in one end.

• Feed the un-knotted end of the lace up through the bottom-left lug and pull it through until stopped with the knot snug against the lug.

• Run the loose end diagonally across and down, then feed up through the adjacent lug.

• Continue straight up through the next higher lug.

• Continue snaking the loose end up the shoe, each time running diagonally across and down to the adjacent lug, then feeding straight up through two lugs.

• At the top of the shoe, the loose end is tied off as detailed below.

Features

Simplified tightening

Unfamiliar knotting

“Lengthens” one end

Notes

• Also known as “Nachlawi Lacing” or “King's Tie (or Lace)”, the eyelet version of this lacing is – or was – used by various military, including the Israeli, British, Australian and South African armies.

• This method is non-symmetrical. Lacing the left and right shoes in reverse (flipped horizontally) results in a symmetrical looking pair.

Tying Off

With one end permanently anchored at the bottom, only one end remains at the top with which to tie off or otherwise secure the lacing. Various tying techniques are in use by the different military forces, including:

• Wrap end several times around the calf, then tuck in the loose end;
• Wrap end several times around the calf, then weave the loose end through those wraps;
• Wrap end around the calf, then feed the loose end back in for the second time through one of the top lugs;
• A long loose end is commonly tied with a series of slip-knots to form a “Chain Sinnet” (a long, thick braid), which is then tucked into the top of the boot or tucked under a section of the lacing, and which can be untied with one long pull of the loose end;
• A medium length loose end can be tied with a One Handed Shoelace Knot;
• A short loose end can be tied off with a single slip knot against the top lug.

Many of these techniques can be seen in the photo gallery of the regular eyelet version of Commando Lacing.

Commando Lacing

Same lacing method for shoes with eyelets instead of lugs.