Not a sexy topic but they are a can’t do without item in the field. I always purchase and carry spares but it seems like I am going through them fast lately. Brambles and briars snag the laces and it is not long until they break at one of the snags.
I have a very new pair of Asolo boots that are just broken in and the original laces have already bitten the dust alreay. Freezing my fingers changing the lace the other day got this subject going in my head so I thought I would share my oddball inquiry.
There are plenty of people here who spend extended time in the boonies and have to count on their boots to hold up. Does anyone carry/use something other than commercial laces for their boots that will wear better under hard use? Do you simply stock up on a ton of spares and throw new laces in before you go out to ensure you are less likely to have an issue and back that up with spares?
I use my boots in an urban environ but go through laces like something else lately. Had a set of Danner laces on by Rocky SV2’s break after less than a month on.
Ordered a set of braided Old Kook laces and gonna see how they last. Next step I guess will be kevlar or if they don’t last back to paracord for cheapness.
I got some 5.11 hikers for casual winter wear and I had to replace the laces with just normal laces from Kmart. The factory laces wouldn’t tie tightly for some reason.
If you can get some of those heat shrink wrap thingys, you could make some great laces from para cord. And it would look good to boot… pun intended :haha:
I’m a tree climber/arborist and wear logger boots. After a while the brass eyelets get worn and burred resulting in laces that last only a very short time. Sometimes only a week. I use waxed Stay-ty boot laces by Shoe Gear. These things hold up great. Prevent me from having to throw out a good pair of boots with only worn eyelets.
First thing I do with any boots is pull the laces and replace with 550 cord with, as previously mentioned, shrink tubing over the ends. And I keep spares in my camelback.
Gotta be careful witht the tubing, the heat can occasionally melt the 550 cord if you’re not paying attention.
The laces on my Merrell Moab XCRs have been able to withstand a lot of use. I am now wearing them daily and I occasionally loosely tie my laces so they get walked on a lot. They still look new.
I looked online and it says the way to get replacement laces is to call Merrell customer service and they’ll send you free replacements for your Merrells. Not really sure if they would sell them…
I have even gone so far as to order 550 cord from supply captain in the desired color for my boots. Even though they are field boots, some Leaders can’t stand seeing me get off a 5 ton and walk into the barracks with OD green laces on tan boots. Crap happens but some guys are regulation sticklers.
Used to roll with 550 cord, until I got my but chewed real good over it. I now just avoid any more conflict and use the ones that come with my Bellvilles. So far so good, but I do keep spares on hand in my pack.
I don’t know why people keep having these problems, I hear this often. I got a few pair of Asolos, not SOO used, but used, and I haven’t encountered this after a few months. Are you pulling up or across when lacing?
I used REI laces for spares, and I’m guessing since you’re running Asolos that these are not duty boots that have heavy restrictions on what you can lace them. I’m sure paracord works just fine too.
I think in all my years I may have broken one lace in the field. Learned to tuck my laces back into the boot tops when in the field to keep from snagging on things (plus blousing the bottoms into the top of the boots).
Back in the day of green and later black jungle boots, 550 cord was the way to go, ungutted. Stronger and softer. We used to steal it from teh riggers or cut it off a parachute.
But as SKD stated, I once got it from the SMJ about greem 550 in my green jungle boots. After that I just dyed the laces black.
Newer soft tactical boots, like Oakley’s, I’ve tried stock, 550, shock cord, and the new GI type.
They all have good and bad,
the 550 is big for the lace holes, so they don’t pull thru and tighten easily, and sometimes will not stay tied.
The shock cord, was easy to lace, and had some give, but was easy to over tighten, and would need to be re adjusted a few hours into the shift.
The GI type, is slick so it laces fast and easy, low pro so I dont see it picking up much crap in the field, but they are “hard” so if you dont have a well padded tongue in teh boot, like old school jungles, tehy get very uncomfortable, as they bare down on your instep.
Overall, you almost cant go wrong with 550 cord.
Cool topic, as noted, its amazing how such a simple thing, that most people dont give a second thought too, could make a field problem or operation a real bitch.
Also cool, how guys like us, have put so much thought into this kind of minutia.
Bob
USGI boot laces like those that come OEM on Bellevilles or Altama boots seem to never wear out.
550 cord is another good bet. Like others have said, keep the guts in the laces. Real 550 cord has a teflon finish so it slides out of the pack tray of a parachute. It may not stay tied well until that finish wear off. A couple of things you can do is double knot them or use cord lock.
Personally, I like to put cord locks on all my boots - pull up on the speed laces, cinch down on the cord lock, stow the excess laces. It is a very fast set up. For some reason, on my Asolo boots I have to tie an overhand knot over the cord lock or it will slip.
