Alpina Alaskas lacing pattern: technique

[freedom glider]

Yeah, I didn't just skip the open hooks, but came back to them. I'll try to find a picture online.

i got a pair of alpinas and would love to know how this is done. can the OP or someone else post a photo or more detail on the technique? thanks

[dace]

Hi all - since I'm currently deciding between two sizes in the Alaska, this is a pretty interesting thread for me. I took a couple pictures of what I think is being described here. Happy to upload more pictures if neither of these are correct.

The first picture uses all of the eyelets, hooks, and loops on the boot. Skipping the hooks at first to go to the cloth loops, and then coming back down to the hooks, then back up to the upper hooks.

The second picture is a very literal following of what was described and just uses the first three pairs of eyelets, skipping the fourth, but this may have just been a typo as there is no other mention of skipping the fourth eyelets.

From the toe, use the first three pair of closed eyelets normally, skip the first open hooks and cross over to use the loops first, cross over back down to the first open hooks, cross over past the loops to the next open hooks above, and continue. I hope I don't need a picture... I've never done it here.

[fisheater]

This works for me very well.

[lilcliffy]

Some questions↓

B7311AAD-3F21-4822-BFCE-FD4290C18ECF_1_105_c.jpeg

What is the objective of this lacing pattern- what are you trying to achieve, or avoid?
Is it comfortable having all of that mass of lacing at your instep?

5C1A4788-C295-4518-A837-E99F19F620FB_1_105_c.jpeg

What is the purpose of skipping that fourth lacing position?

[lilcliffy]

This works for me very well.
37BB1D57-A2EC-488C-BBE5-B6D0F35C5576.jpeg

Bob's lacing pattern is an example of effective use of surgeon knots to isolate different sections of the boot for a custom fit.

In his example-
- the entire footbed is under the same tension;
- the knot below and above the instep allow him to tighten down and lock the instep-heel to the desired tension;
- then the ankle can be adjusted-tightend as desired- without loosening the lower sections of the boots.

Question for Bob-
What is the function of the highest knot?
Is it simply to facilitate cranking down on the top of the boot?
Or are you trying to get some micro-adjustments at the top of the boot?

[lilcliffy]

Adding surgeon knot(s) in the toe box allows one to isolate sections and get custom tension-fit.
In this example, the lowest knot allows me to have less tension accoss my toes then the next section through my metatarsus.

One of my tur partners is very wide across the toe box- the "duck-foot".
His first surgeon knot is at position three to accomodate this.

I find myself confused by the complaints on the Alaska's lacing system...

With the lacing starting at the toes, this boot allows customizable tension from the toes to the top!
Love it.
....
If the toe box is too tight- even under no tension→ size up.
Once sized-up- if they are too large volume- add a thicker insole.
Done.

[fisheater]

@lilcliffy Gareth, I use that top knot to “lock” in everything below. I then don’t pull the top two eyelets quite as tightly. I think once the ankle bone protrusions are locked in, I get at least a little more comfort by loosening the top two eyelets.
I know I made some adjustments to lacing style this season. What I am doing now feels good. I was on my Ski March last weekend. I skied for about a half hour, decided adjusting the surgeon knots and lace tensioning would improve things. The adjustments made a world of difference.
Gareth, my first leather boot was my Ski March. I was on that boot last weekend, and was again so pleased with it’s performance. I may never have even broken it in correctly without your advice to utilize the surgeon knot. Thank you again my friend. Time to go skiing now!

[エイダン.シダル]

Hi all - since I'm currently deciding between two sizes in the Alaska, this is a pretty interesting thread for me. I took a couple pictures of what I think is being described here. Happy to upload more pictures if neither of these are correct.

The first picture uses all of the eyelets, hooks, and loops on the boot. Skipping the hooks at first to go to the cloth loops, and then coming back down to the hooks, then back up to the upper hooks.

B7311AAD-3F21-4822-BFCE-FD4290C18ECF_1_105_c.jpeg

The second picture is a very literal following of what was described and just uses the first three pairs of eyelets, skipping the fourth, but this may have just been a typo as there is no other mention of skipping the fourth eyelets.

From the toe, use the first three pair of closed eyelets normally, skip the first open hooks and cross over to use the loops first, cross over back down to the first open hooks, cross over past the loops to the next open hooks above, and continue. I hope I don't need a picture... I've never done it here.

5C1A4788-C295-4518-A837-E99F19F620FB_1_105_c.jpeg

Well you got me. I meant the first picture, but as I wrote from memory, I misremembered how many closed eyelets there are from the toe. Thanks for the picture.

[エイダン.シダル]

Some questions↓

B7311AAD-3F21-4822-BFCE-FD4290C18ECF_1_105_c.jpeg

What is the objective of this lacing pattern- what are you trying to achieve, or avoid?
Is it comfortable having all of that mass of lacing at your instep?

5C1A4788-C295-4518-A837-E99F19F620FB_1_105_c.jpeg

What is the purpose of skipping that fourth lacing position?

The "mass of lacing" is just above my instep, and pulls my heel right into the heel pocket. Only tried it once: no blisters.

[lilcliffy]

The "mass of lacing" is just above my instep, and pulls my heel right into the heel pocket. Only tried it once: no blisters.

Cool.