In the mountains, it is crucial to adjust and lace your shoes correctly, for your comfort and safety. To be well supported during the entire hike, uphill and downhill.
In the mountains, it is crucial to adjust and lace your shoes correctly, for your comfort and safety. To be well supported during the entire hike, uphill and downhill. Indeed, having the right shoes isn't enough, you must also check that they are correctly fitted and laced up.
Once your foot is in the shoe, lightly tap the ground to place your heel at the beck of the shoe. It will enable you to keep a comfort zone in front of the toes, so that they don't press on the front of the shoe.
It is very important to start lacing from the bottom and not by pulling on the end of the laces, as we often do. Ring by ring, tighten the shoe, checking that you have a certain flexibility inside.
Warning, do not tighten too much, you risk cutting off blood circulation in the foot. It is important to feel comfortable in your shoes. Find the fit that is best for you!
It will enable you to adjust the lacing to the shape of your foot and give your ankle more or less freedom of movement. To lock the first lacing on the lower part, tie a first simple knot on the instep or use the locks on the shoes if they have them.
Cross your laces in the usual manner on the lowest hooks.
TIP: for the top hooks pass the laces from top to bottom, not from bottom to top!
This tip has 2 advantages: the knot will be lower and will not hinder you on steep slopes. Moreover, if the knot loosens slightly, your laces will not come out of the hooks as easily.
Start your knot as if you were tying a classic knot but before pulling on the 2 loops, pass one of the loops through the knot.
This knot will prevent your laces from untightening by themselves and is easy to undo at the end of your hike.
With high boots fitted with hooks, the hooks on one shoe can catch the loops on the other, depending on how you walk, the terrain, etc.
To prevent a fall, check that your hooks are not damaged or bent, if they are too "open", this can increase the risk.
You can also cover the top of your boots with your trousers or a pair of gaiters, or tuck your laces inside the boot (but this last option isn't the most comfortable).
