On the first look boot laces seem very trivial to any individual that sports a boot. However, we assure you the right boot lace can make immense enhancements to your footwear experience.
Whether you’re trekking through rugged terrain, working in harsh environments, or just want to step out in style, boot laces can be your boot’s best buddy and help you get the best grip on your shoes.
In this ultimate buying guide, we’ll explore the various types of boot laces available, examining their materials, strengths, and performance characteristics to help you make the right decisions for your footwear needs.
Without further ado, let’s get started on this lacey journey of ours!
Table of Contents
Types of Boot Laces
Boot laces come in a variety of types, each with its own distinct characteristics and intended use. When selecting laces for your boots, it’s essential to consider factors such as the material, width, and durability to ensure they meet your needs. Let’s explore the different types of boot laces.
- Flat Laces:
Flat laces have a wide, flat shape that can sit flush with a tabletop. They are easy to push through eyelets and are often found on classic hiker boots. The flat design provides a sleek appearance and enhances comfort.
- Round Laces:
These laces are wider and have a rounded shape that tapers at the tip. Round laces offer a traditional look and are commonly used in various types of boots.
- Waxed Laces:
Waxed laces are popular for dress boots as they offer a refined finish. Typically thin and easy to use, waxed laces are coated with wax to enhance durability and resistance to wear and tear. They provide a polished look and are suitable for formal occasions.
- Leather Laces:
Leather laces are known for their durability and strength. They are thicker than other types of laces, which can make them slightly more challenging to tie but ensures they withstand heavy use. Leather laces are often found on high-quality boots and add a rustic charm to the footwear.
- Taslan Laces:
Taslan laces are made from high-tech woven polyester fabric, and tightly wound to prevent pilling and enhance durability. They are commonly used in boots designed for outdoor activities, such as hiking or work boots. Taslan laces offer excellent strength and resilience, making them ideal for rugged environments.
How to Pick the Best Boot Lace Material?
To select the best boot lace material, several key factors must be considered to ensure optimal performance and durability:
Security of your Knots
Evaluate the material’s ability to hold knots securely. Look for materials with textured or fibrous surfaces that provide good grip, preventing knots from coming undone during various activities.
Durability
Assess the tensile strength and abrasion resistance of each material to determine how well it withstands regular wear and tear. Choose materials that offer high durability and resilience, ensuring longevity even under demanding conditions.
Water Resistance
Consider the material’s ability to repel moisture to prevent weakening or rotting. Opt for materials that are water-resistant or waterproof, keeping your laces dry and maintaining their strength even when exposed to wet conditions.
Environmental Resistance
Examine how the materials hold up against environmental factors such as UV radiation, chemicals, and harsh conditions. Prioritize materials with good resistance to UV degradation and chemical exposure, ensuring they maintain their integrity over time.
The Best Boot Lace Materials
Below are some of the best boot lace materials that you can consider.
Leather Boot Laces
Leather boot laces are revered for their timeless aesthetic appeal, but their performance in heavy-duty footwear leaves much to be desired.
Leather boot laces undoubtedly offer a stylish finishing touch to any pair of boots, but their practical limitations must be acknowledged. While they excel in enhancing visual appeal, wearers should consider alternative options for footwear that require durability and resilience in challenging conditions. Ultimately, the choice between style and functionality rests with the individual, who must weigh the allure of leather against its practical drawbacks.
Leather boot laces are synonymous with sophistication, offering a classic look that effortlessly elevates the style of any pair of boots. Their smooth texture and rich appearance add a touch of elegance to both casual and formal footwear choices.
- Do the Knots Stay Secured?
Despite their undeniable charm, leather bootlaces present practical challenges that wearers must consider. The smooth surface and natural stretchiness of leather make it difficult to maintain securely tied knots, leading to frequent untangling, particularly during active wear.
- Are they Durable?
While leather laces can endure regular wear, they are susceptible to damage under constant bending or heavy stress. The tanning and treatment process, crucial for achieving desired aesthetics, may weaken the laces over time, compromising their strength and longevity.
- Are they Water Resistant?
A significant drawback of leather boot laces is their tendency to absorb water. This not only renders them vulnerable to rot if stored wet but also presents challenges during freezing temperatures, as the absorbed water can cause the laces to freeze, making them brittle and difficult to untie.
- Are they Resistant to the Environment?
Leather boot laces lack significant resistance to environmental factors. As mentioned before, they absorb moisture, freeze in cold temperatures, and degrade under UV radiation. Regular care, including cleaning and conditioning, is necessary to preserve their durability and appearance.
Cotton Boot Laces
Naturally soft, flexible, and breathable, cotton boot laces exude a classic charm that complements various styles of footwear. Their tactile texture and traditional appearance make them a popular choice for those seeking a relaxed yet refined look.
- Do the Knots Stay Secured?
Cotton laces, with their textured and fibrous nature, generally stay tied well. However, over time, the fibers may become smoother and less grippy, leading to potential untangling. To mitigate this issue, waxed coatings can be applied, enhancing grip strength and protecting the laces from environmental wear and tear.
- Are they Durable?
While cotton bootlaces may lack the robustness of modern synthetic materials, they offer a unique blend of comfort and style. Their durability for everyday use is decent, although not comparable to high-strength options like UHMWPE or Kevlar. However, for users prioritizing a natural material and timeless aesthetic, cotton laces are a compelling choice.
- Are they Water Resistant?
One significant drawback of cotton boot laces is their absorbent nature, rendering them susceptible to moisture infiltration. When exposed to water, cotton laces can become heavy and saturated, potentially leading to mold and mildew growth. Furthermore, in cold temperatures, wet cotton laces may freeze, exacerbating their vulnerability and making them challenging to untie.
- Are they Resistant to the Environment?
Cotton boot laces, being a natural fiber, are biodegradable and environmentally friendly. However, they are prone to degradation when exposed to UV radiation, solvents, or strong acids, limiting their lifespan in harsh conditions.
Polyester Boot Laces
Polyester, a widely used synthetic polymer, finds its way into various textiles, including boot laces, owing to its affordability and versatility since its inception in the 1940s.
Affordable and Accessible:
Polyester boot laces offer a cost-effective and readily available option for footwear enthusiasts. Their widespread availability and reasonable price point make them a popular choice for those seeking budget-friendly solutions without compromising too much on quality.
- Do the Knots Stay Secured?
Untreated round polyester laces may have a tendency to release knots easily due to their slight elasticity and smooth texture. However, manufacturers have addressed this issue by altering the shape of polyester laces. Flat or ovalized polyester laces hold knots more securely, especially when treated with a wax coating.
- Are they Durable?
Polyester boot laces offer a good balance of strength and flexibility, outperforming natural materials like cotton or leather in terms of durability. While they may not match the exceptional strength of UHMWPE or Kevlar, they provide sufficient reliability for everyday wear.
- Are they Water Resistant?
One of the key advantages of polyester is its excellent water resistance. Unlike natural fibers, polyester does not absorb moisture, ensuring that the laces maintain their shape and strength even when exposed to wet conditions.
- Are they Resistant to the Environment?
Polyester exhibits resistance to most chemicals, oils, and acids. While it may degrade faster than UHMWPE under UV radiation, polyester lasts longer than materials like Kevlar and nylon when exposed to sunlight. This environmental resilience makes it suitable for regular outdoor wear, although it may not be the first choice for hiking or work boot laces.
How to Pick the Right Length?
Selecting the correct boot lace length is a big requirement needed to ensure comfort, functionality, and a secure fit. Here’s how to determine the right boot lace length:
- Count Your Eyelet Pairs
Before purchasing boot laces, count the number of eyelet pairs on each boot. Eyelets are the holes through which the laces are threaded. Counting the pairs ensures an accurate assessment of the lace length needed.
- Use the Eyelet Pair Count to Estimate the Length
Once you’ve determined the number of eyelet pairs, use this count to estimate the appropriate lace length. As a general rule:
- Boots with 8 or 10 total eyelets (4 or 5 pairs) typically require 36-inch laces.
- Boots with 12 eyelets (6 pairs) usually need 45-inch laces.
- Boots with 14 eyelets (7 pairs) generally require 54-inch laces.
- Boots with 16 eyelets or more (8 or more pairs) typically need 63-inch laces or longer.
- Consider Going Bigger if In Between Sizes:
If your eyelet count falls in between the standard lengths, it’s advisable to choose the longer option. It’s easier to manage slightly longer laces than to struggle with laces that are too short. Plus, longer laces provide extra flexibility for different lacing techniques.
- Factor in Boot Design and Personal Preference:
The length of boot laces can also depend on the specific design of your boots and your personal lacing style preferences. Some individuals may prefer shorter or longer laces based on how they like to tie their boots or the style of their footwear.
How to Pick the Right Width?
When selecting boot laces, choosing the right width is essential for both aesthetics and functionality. Here’s how to choose the right width:
- Boot Laces with a Diameter of 3-4mm
This is the most common range and is suitable for the majority of boots, including casual, work, and hiking boots. Opt for 3-4mm diameter laces for versatile compatibility and a classic look that complements various boot styles.
- Boot Laces with a Diameter of 3.5mm
Necessary for boots with pulley-style eyelets, commonly found in high-performance hiking and mountaineering boots. If your boots feature this eyelet style, choose laces with a diameter of 3.5mm or less to ensure proper fit and functionality.
How to Pick the Right Shape?
Choosing the ideal boot lace shape is crucial for ensuring both functionality and comfort. For hiking boots, dress boots, and work boots, round laces are the preferred choice. With reliable knot retention and exceptional durability, they’re well-suited for demanding outdoor activities and rugged work environments.
Conversely, for running shoes and sneakers, flat or ovalized laces are recommended. These shapes offer excellent knot retention while also providing some natural stretchiness. More importantly, they distribute pressure evenly across the forefoot, minimizing discomfort and promoting orthopedic health during active movements.
How to Choose the Right Boot Lace Color?
When selecting the perfect boot lace color, consider factors such as versatility, contrast, and overall aesthetic appeal. Black laces offer a safe and polished option, complementing a variety of boot colors and creating a seamless look, especially with black footwear or colorful boots where they provide contrast.
For a dynamic and timeless style, red laces paired with brown leather boots add a bold touch while maintaining sophistication and versatility across casual and dressier settings. Grey laces serve as a neutral base, ideal for visually complex boots with intricate designs or colors, while also blending seamlessly with grey boots or synthetic materials, enhancing their modern style.
Final Words
Boot laces might seem a very trivial element to your footwear, but they surely do play a very integral role. The many factors that influence the perfect boot lace for you can help contribute to your style, comfort, and overall experience. Characteristics such as the lace’s material, length, and color must be kept in mind while making a purchase online or from a physical store. We hope this ultimate buying guide has been insightful enough for you to choose the best boot lace for your precious boots.
