Boot Lacing Tricks for Steep Descents

Toe bang on the way down is a lacing problem, not a size problem. When your foot slides forward, it slams into the toe box, and no amount of padding fixes a heel that is not locked in.

Three lacing patterns change the whole descent.

• The heel lock uses the top two eyelets to cinch the ankle down
• Skip the instep eyelet to relieve pressure on a high arch
• Crisscross tighter at the ankle, looser at the toes, for downhill control

Re-tie at the top of every steep section. Two minutes of adjusting saves you from limping the last three miles on black toenails.

Practice the heel lock at home until it is second nature. The day you descend two thousand feet of loose rock, your toes will thank you for the five minutes you spent learning.