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The Best Laces for Hiking Boots: Length and Knot
A hiking boot is only as good as its lace. If the tension slackens halfway through the hike, your foot starts to slide and you get blisters. If the lace snaps on a mountain path, you have a real problem. Yet most hikers only think about their laces when something goes wrong. This blog explains which are the best laces for hiking boots, which length you need and how to tie them so the boot stays snug all day.
In short
- Hiking boots use round laces: they slide well through eyelets and hooks and wear slowly.
- For low hiking shoes, 120 cm is the standard. Mid-height and high models call for 140 or 160 cm.
- With high mountain boots, always measure your old lace. Veter.nl carries lengths up to 180 cm.
- An extra turn in the knot locks in the tension between foot and shaft.
- Take a spare pair on a multi-day hike.
The best laces for hiking boots: an overview
| Type | Shape and width | Good at | Lengths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outdoor laces | Round, 5 mm | Sturdy cord, made for the outdoors. Also available in two-tone | 120 cm |
| Basic round laces | Round, 5 mm | The same thickness, in more lengths | 100, 120, 140 and 160 cm |
| Reflective round laces | Round, 5 mm | Visible at dusk | 100, 120 and 140 cm |
All three are 5 mm thick. That is the size that fits through most eyelets and hooks on hiking boots. A round cord has two advantages over a flat lace: it slides smoothly through the hooks and it wears less quickly against the metal. That lets you tighten the boot evenly.
Which length do you need?
Count the eyelets and hooks on one side of your boot. Hooks count as eyelets.
| Type of boot | Eyelets and hooks per side | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Low hiking shoe | 5 to 7 | 120 cm |
| Mid-height hiking boot | 8 | 140 cm |
| High hiking boot | 9 | 160 cm |
| High mountain boot | 10 or more | 180 cm or longer: measure your old lace |
Hiking boots are often tied with an extra turn or a double bow. That uses up length. If you are torn between two lengths, choose the longer one. If you still have the old lace, measure it from aglet to aglet. That is more reliable than counting, because the distance between the hooks differs from brand to brand.
One honest caveat: the range at Veter.nl goes up to 180 cm and round laces mostly stop at 160 cm. If your high mountain boot needs a longer lace, we do not carry that length. The calculator in the shoelaces length guide shows which length you end up with.
How do you tie hiking boots so they stay put?
With a hiking boot you want a different tension at the bottom than at the top. Around your forefoot the boot can be a little roomier, around your ankle it should be firm. You take care of that with an extra turn.
- Lace the boot up to the last eyelet before the hooks and tighten until your forefoot feels comfortable.
- Wrap the ends around each other twice there instead of once. This double turn grips itself and holds the tension in the lower part.
- Run the lace around the hooks and tighten the shaft to the tension you want there.
- Finish at the top with a double bow.
On a long descent, tighten the shaft more so your toes do not slide against the front of the boot. Uphill the shaft can be a little looser. Thanks to the double turn, the tension around your foot stays exactly as it was.
If your heel lifts or the boot presses on your instep, you can change the lacing. See lacing for a high instep. The lacing methods themselves are in how to lace shoes.
When should you replace hiking boot laces?
Before they snap. Before every longer hike, check your laces for these signs:
- Thin or fuzzy spots, especially where the lace runs past the hooks.
- An outer layer that has split open, so you can see the core.
- An aglet that is coming loose. Without an aglet you will not get the lace back through an eyelet out on the trail.
- A lace that stays hard and stiff after drying.
If you spot one of these signs, replace both laces. Always take a spare pair on a multi-day hike. It weighs next to nothing and out on the trail a lace is useful for far more than your boot alone.
How do you look after hiking boot laces?
After a wet or muddy hike, take the laces out of the boots. Rinse them with lukewarm water and let them air dry, not on the heater. Sand between the fibres acts as an abrasive, so rinsing extends their life. Without laces the boot itself dries faster too. Read more about washing in how to wash shoelaces.
Once they are dry, it is a good moment to protect your boots against rain again. How that works is explained in how to waterproof shoes.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use flat laces in hiking boots?
In low hiking shoes with eyelets only, you can. With hooks a round cord works better: a flat lace twists and catches in them less easily.
How thick should laces for hiking boots be?
About 5 mm. That fits through the eyelets and hooks of most hiking boots and is sturdy enough for heavy use.
Why do my laces come undone while hiking?
A round cord is smoother in the knot than a flat lace. Tie a double bow or check whether your bow sits straight. More fixes are in laces keep coming undone.
How do they differ from laces for work shoes?
Very little. Both call for a sturdy round cord. Read more in the best laces for work shoes.
Browse all laces for hiking boots or go straight to the outdoor laces.
